A cross section of performers fine tuning before performance at Seeger Chapel. Photo by Ike Ndulue
April has been very eventful for the arts at Milligan College. The school has offered both students and the public a number of events celebrating the accomplishments of students in the fine arts programs. Art events for the month kicked off with the Photography Minors Exhibit. The exhibition, which took place on the April 7 at the Milligan Art Gallery in Derthick Hall, featured print and digital photography works from photography minors, Samantha Steadman, Janae Rangel and Bethany Sodergren. Each of the seniors’ works were themed and reflect the seniors experiences traveling.
“There’s beauty everywhere, and it’s not hard to find, but it might not be in the places you expect,” said Sodergren. “For me I found a lot of inspiration in the places I went and the people I met.”
On Saturday April 13, the Milligan College Orchestra performed in “The Music of the Seasons” at the Mary B. Martin auditorium in Seeger Hall. Directed by Dr. Kellie Brown who is a chair of the music department and director of the strings program. The concert celebrated the different representations of the seasons of the year. The highlight of the concert was composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Folk Songs of the Four Seasons” which requires a large women’s choir.
Assistant professor of musical theatre, Dr. Carrie Klofach also performed two-award winning songs with the orchestra. “The Last Rose of Summer” and ‘It Might as Well be Spring.” The latter is from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair.” It won the 1945 Academy award for best original song.
The Art Gallery at Derthick Hall played host to another exhibition; this time it was the Graphic Design Showcase. From 14 – 25 April, Senior Graphic Design Majors Kaci Sams, Gloria Vasquez, Samantha Steadman and Janae Rangel showcased their creative skills in print design, type design, digital illustrations and package design in an exhibition titled “Here.”
Still to come in the month is a juried art exhibition, on April 28. This will showcase artworks from Milligan students and display the very best in sculpture, photography, graphic design. Selected works will receive awards of merit. The opening reception is on Sunday, April 27, from 2-4 p.m., and it is both free and open to the public.