Arts And Entertainment

Alex is brilliant, admired and close to the center of a nation’s power. But he has two problems. The first is that in a world of flattery-to-your-face and snark behind your back, he says exactly what he thinks. About everything and everybody. All the time. Somehow this offends people.

The College of Arts, Humanities and Sciences and Humboldt State University has partnered with USA Projects, a social networking and crowd funding site for aspiring artists.

The HSU Symphonic Band follows Handel in the Strand with some Strange Humors, and the Jazz Orchestra takes Seven Steps to Heaven in their shared concert 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

The Vipisa Trio (Cindy Moyer on violin, Virginia Ryder on saxophone and clarinet and John Chernoff on piano) performs a program of new musical works by composers associated with Humboldt State on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

Humboldt State University’s Goudi’ni Gallery presents Fixing the Earth: NOW! February 21 to April 27, an exhibition that sheds light on the traditional tribal practice of healing the earth through World Renewal Ceremonies.

Bay Area classical guitarist Lawrence Ferrara performs “Dream Tango” by contemporary American composer Philip Rosheger and other compositions for guitar in a Guest Artist concert at Humboldt State on Friday evening, February 15.

Opening on Valentine’s Day, Humboldt State University’s Reese Bullen Gallery will present an exhibit of collaborative artwork by members of the campus community based on the themes of acceptance, diversity, tolerance and inclusion.

Twelve honors students chosen by the HSU Music Department faculty for excellence in this year’s first semester will perform in the annual Music Honors Recital on Sunday afternoon, February 3.

Pianist Winston Choi brings a rare solo piano performance of selections from Bach’s “The Art of the Fugue” to the Humboldt State campus on Saturday, February 2.

Humboldt State University's First Street Gallery presents, "Golden States of Grace: Prayers of the Disinherited," a photo documentary exhibit by Rick Nahmias, made possible by alumni gifts to the Humboldt Loyalty Fund. Programs benefited by the Fund span the university and include student scholarships, faculty research, academic programs, the library and special projects.

The Humboldt Symphony and a chorus comprised of the Humboldt Chorale and University Singers perform the ultimate big finish to their holiday concert: the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, and the audience is invited to join in.

Jazz of different styles and from different eras gets the big band treatment in two concerts by HSU ensembles: the AM Jazz Band on Thursday, Dec. 6 and the Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 8.

Humboldt State University’s Art Department will host a Fall Art and Artisans Fair in the Reese Bullen Gallery, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 3-7 p.m., and Thursday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Humboldt State University's First Street Gallery presents _Midnight Sun: Works by Julie McNiel_. Produced and curated by the students in HSU's Museum and Gallery Practices Program, the exhibit runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 3.

Humboldt State University’s First Street Gallery presents _Works by the Giant Squid: A Print Makers Collective_ featuring affordable works of art for the Holiday Season. The exhibition, which is produced by students in HSU's Museum and Gallery Practices Program, runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 23.

The HSU Madrigal Singers present their annual holiday show of 16th century English hits, followed by the Mad River Transit Singers creating some spontaneous jazz combustion in their joint concert on Sunday, Dec. 2 at Fulkerson Recital Hall.

The Humboldt State Calypso Band performs a steel band classic and the HSU Percussion Ensemble features dramatic rhythms of a Balinese chant in their joint concert on Saturday, Dec. 1 in the Van Duzer Theatre.

It’s a holiday show with a difference: the story is one of the oldest in India. Yet it has all the elements of western fairy tales: it’s Cinderella with a twist. “Though we try to be true to the essence of Sanskrit drama,” said Margaret Thomas Kelso, who adapted it for the 21st century stage, “we present it as a fairy tale story with a rich cultural history.”

It’s a bugler’s holiday with the HSU Symphonic Band Friday, Nov. 30 at Fulkerson Hall, but there’s more. It’s also, a tribute to gum-suckers, a dramatic sunset, a visit to Electric Park, a Mexican anthem and a rare demonstration of the art of “the smear.”

There may be no such thing as too much jazz, but this fall there was too much for one Jazz Combos concert—so Fulkerson Recital Hall will host two separate shows with a total of five combos on Sunday, Nov. 11.

The Humboldt Bay Brass Band salutes veterans and the Olympics in its “Heroes and Warriors” concert on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

The HSU Guitar Ensemble explores twentieth century music in its fall concert on Friday, Nov. 9 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

The Humboldt State University Department of Theatre, Film & Dance presents an authorized staged reading of “8,” the celebrated play about Proposition 8 and marriage equality, for one benefit performance Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre.

The HSU Opera Workshop puts the comic back in opera with a series of spoofs on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3 in Fulkerson Recital Hall at HSU.

Fresh from a “vividly dramatic” performance in Manhattan lauded by the New York Times, mezzo-soprano (and Arcata High grad) Hai-Ting Chinn returns home to perform a recital of spooky songs from the classical repertoire on Halloween night, Oct. 31 at the HSU Fulkerson Recital Hall at HSU.