What's happening at Penn State? Here's a look at some of the cultural events — both in-person and virtual — taking place across the University:
Performances
Ivyside Dance Ensemble — 7:30 p.m., Nov. 10-11, Wolf Kuhn Theatre, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. The campus' Ivyside Dance Ensemble will perform with Allied Motion Dance Company. Free, but tickets required.
"Rent" — Nov. 15-18, 29-30, Dec. 1-3; Pavilion Theatre, University Park campus. Penn State Centre Stage presents the famed rock musical.
Nate Bargatze — 7 p.m,, Nov. 17, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Comedian Nate Bargatze brings his "Raincheck Tour" to Penn State.
Lectures
Fall Food Justice Lecture Series: Erika Perez and Edgar Aquino-Huerta — 6:30 p.m., Nov. 15, HUB Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. Erika Perez and Edgar Aquino-Huerta will discuss farm labor rights and their experiences as labor organizers in Pennsylvania. Free.
Lynd Ward Prize for Graphic Novel of the Year: Lee Lai — 7 p.m., Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus. Lee Lai, 2022 winner of the Lynd Ward Prize for Graphic Novel of the Year, will receive her award and provide a visual presentation of discussion of her debut graphic novel "Stone Fruit." Free.
Events
Veterans Day ceremony — 11:11 a.m.-noon, Nov. 11, Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus, and via livestream. Hosted by the Penn State Student Veterans Organization, the event honors those who have served in the armed forces. Free.
Student veteran panel — 2 p.m., Nov. 11, Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus, and via livestream. A panel of student veterans will engage in an open conversation focused on debunking myths and misconceptions, their student experience and transition into civilian life.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: a•pi•ar•y: An Evening in the Garden — Nov. 16, Café Laura, Mateer Building, University Park campus. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Café Laura restaurant. Reservations required.
"Jabari Dreams of Freedom" — 6 p.m., Nov. 16, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. Suited for grades 3 through 12, "Jabari Dreams of Freedom" tells the story of a young Black boy from the South Side of Chicago who loves to paint. Free.
"Food Chains" — 7 p.m., Nov. 16, via livestream. The Student Farm at Penn State will host a free screening of the film "Food Chains." Free, but registration required.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: Viva Las Vegas: Wine & Dine Like a Winner — Nov. 17, Café Laura, Mateer Building, University Park campus. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Café Laura restaurant. Reservations required.
Virtual exhibits
"African Brilliance and the Purpose of Art" — This interactive virtual tour accompanied the Palmer Museum of Art’s spring 2020 special exhibition "African Brilliance: A Diplomat’s Sixty Years of Collecting" and will remain available throughout the current academic year. Explore the exhibition installation, images of selected works, videos for guided viewing and related art-making activity suggestions. Free.
"Celebrating the ADA: The Legacy and Evolution of Disability Rights and Lived Experiences at Penn State" — The University Libraries virtual exhibit explores the first 100 years of national disability rights legislation and the movement's impact on the Penn State community. Free.
"Global Asias: Contemporary Asian and Asian American Art from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundations" — This web-based, interactive program from the Palmer Museum of Art features guided video tours of selected exhibition artists in addition to an introductory overview by the curator. Learn about the “Global Asias” concept of personal and cultural identity in a contemporary world. Artists featured include: Jacob Hashimoto, Dinh Q. Lê, Hung Liu, Takashi Murakami, Roger Shimomura, Do Ho Suh and Rirkrit Tiranvanija. Free.
"Pandemic Spaces (1918 Edition)" — The University Libraries' virtual display explores architecture related to the devastating influenza epidemic of 1918. Free.
"Who Am I? Art and Identity" — This self-directed, interactive, online tour features a selection of objects from diverse areas of the Palmer Museum of Art’s collection, related through a common exploration of personal or cultural identity. Free.
"Women in Art: Activism + Resistance" — This self-directed, interactive, Palmer Museum of Art online tour is intended for college-level courses and features a selection of objects by female artists in the museum’s collection. In celebration of the centennial of the 19th Amendment, this tour highlights artists working in a variety of mediums during the 20th and 21st centuries who have contributed to political, social and cultural change. Free.
"The World According to Doyle: Editorial Cartoons from The Jerry Doyle Papers at Penn State" — This Penn State University Libraries digital exhibition examines Jerry Doyle, one of the preeminent editorial cartoonists of the 20th century. Free.
In-person exhibits
"Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact" — Through Nov. 22, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library, University Park campus. The exhibit explores the intersection of the environment, human activity, climate change and the documentary record. Free.
"Fluidity of Gender" — Through Dec. 3, Ronald K. De Long Gallery, Penn State Lehigh Valley. Linda Stein's multimedia "Fluidity of Gender" exhibition consists of sculpture, collage, prints and video that strive to broaden awareness and inspire empathy by presenting multiplicities and diversities to her work. Free.
"GEOmatrix: A Perfect Proof" — Through Dec. 10, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. “Geomatrix: A Perfect Proof” features a body of work by Ivyside Juried Art Exhibition winner Reni Gower that recognizes geometric perfection as the matrix of humanity and the blueprint of the cosmos. Free.
"Paper Planes" — Through Dec. 10, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. “Paper Planes,” a body of work by Ivyside Juried Art Exhibition winner Jennifer Seo features paper recreations of objects found in Seo’s old family photographs. Free.
"Haiti: Liberation of the First Black Republic" — Through Dec. 16, Paterno Family Reading Room, Pattee Library, University Park campus. The exhibit examines the history of Haiti, the first modern Black republic resulting from its successful fight for liberation from the French. Free.
"Looking at Who We Are: The Palmer at Fifty" — Through Dec. 18, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. This exhibition of 74 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculptures from the Palmer's permanent collection explores how history, place and community shape our conception of museums and ourselves. Free.
"The Art of Remembering: A Selection of Gifts" — Through Dec. 18, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. The exhibit honors the gifts to the permanent collection of the Palmer Museum of Art and features works on paper by 19th- and 20th-century European and American artists. Free.
"ARC Studio's Premiere" — Through Jan. 29, Art Alley, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. Photos and paintings by Andrew Castañeda mirror the structure of a day in TV programming. Free.
"Zombie Ant Experience" — Through August 2023, Perkins Student Center, Penn State Berks. This interactive art installation also serves as a teaching tool to illustrate spore trajectories and how ants are transformed into "zombies." Free.
"Evan Pugh: Student to Scientist" — Through October 2023, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum and Art Gallery, Deike Building, University Park campus. The exhibit explores two distinct stages in the life of Evan Pugh, Penn State's first president. Free.
Gall wasps exhibit — Through October 2023, Frost Entomological Museum, University Park campus. This new exhibit is aimed at cultivating awareness about gall wasps and showcasing their beauty and diversity. Free.
"I Am a Penn Stater: Nittany Lions in World War II" — Through June 2025, Penn State All-Sports Museum, Beaver Stadium, University Park campus. Timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the conflict, "I Am a Penn Stater" chronicles the contributions of Nittany Lion varsity lettermen and Women’s Recreation Association athletes during the conflict and follows their service from training in the United States, to fighting on battlefields around the globe, to their postwar occupations. Free.