Arts This Year

The Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
August 29-September 14; reception on September 14 @ 7 p.m.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The gallery will close at noon on the show’s last day.

Paul Jacobs ’63’s carefully curated collection of sculptures from western and central Africa teaches not only about art, but also a lesson on sociology. “These pieces are utilized in their societies as part of their daily lives,” Mr. Jacobs explained. “To reach the highest level of authenticity, the piece must be made for and used by the tribe. They hold spiritual meanings, connect the tribal members with their ancestors and often relate to superstitions that are central to the tribe.” The collection will help the Blair community to understand the strong roots of different societies and cultures, crucial to a diverse community. “Every object has meaning and connection, and to understand the purpose of the item helps in understanding how robust the society is,” Mr. Jacobs said. 

The Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
September 19-October 13; reception on October 13 @ 7 p.m.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The gallery will close at noon on the show’s last day.

Professional photographer and filmmaker Joe Guerriero has been honing his craft for more than four decades. The U.S. embargo of Cuba is a topic that has fascinated Joe since he began documenting its effects in 2010. Through his intimate and crisp use of photography, he seeks to share work that will open people’s eyes to the struggles and strength of the Cuban people who have endured more than half a century of obstacles and oppression.

The Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
October 17-November 18; reception on November 9 @ 7 p.m.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The gallery will close at noon on the show’s last day.

Painter Ramon Peralta brings elements of both realism and magic to his larger-than-life canvases. Through rich use of color and an abstraction of the subject, his paintings blend surrealist elements with natural forms to create unique and vibrant explorations. Though he has created work in all kinds of sizes and has explored a wide range of ideas in his career, his current focus channels power through grand canvases. The figures in his paintings invite their viewers to interpret personal meanings and relate to various aspects of the art. This mix of otherworldly abstraction, pattern and form on the canvas blends together to create a mysterious and evocative experience.

Wean Studio Theatre
October 26, 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m.

While the “Mercury Seven” captivated a nation during the “Space Race” era, Jerrie Cobb and her fellow female pilots were completing the same NASA training—and sometimes outperforming their male counterparts—with little notoriety. They Promised Her the Moon follows Ms. Cobb’s true story of grit and determination in the face of an unjust system that prohibited her from becoming an American astronaut. Broadway World called Laurel Ollstein’s powerfully theatrical tale of events an “illuminating, sometimes humorous and bittersweet account of the race to empower female pilots and the wall of misogyny they encounter in pre-ERA America.” The true story of this record-holding trailblazer.

DuBois Theatre
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
October 20, 6 p.m.

Blair’s singers, instrumentalists and actors perform works from their repertoires in this Family Weekend show.

DuBois Theatre
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
November 17, 7 p.m.

Blair’s vocal and instrumental musicians perform works from their repertoires.

The Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
November 30-December 11; reception on November 30 @ 7 p.m.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The gallery will close at noon on the show’s last day.

A celebration of all of the different media and concepts explored by the young artists at Blair, this show features the accomplishments and explorations of our talented fine arts students in the first semester.

First Presbyterian Church in Blairstown
December 8, 4:30 & 7 p.m.

Blair’s Chamber Orchestra and Singers perform as part of this traditional holiday service.

The Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
January 9-February 2; reception on January 25 @ 7 p.m.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The gallery will close at noon on the show’s last day.

Embracing spontaneity and relatability in printmaking and illustration is at the heart of artist Anjali Karustis’ practice. Fascinated by the personal mantras of others, her work seeks to show how those mantras can be represented visually through unique, illustrative elements, which often focus on capturing emotion expressed with the face and body. While creating her pieces, she values spur-of-the-moment instincts and has worked to let her intuition guide her practice. This results in unfiltered, sometimes quirky, honest depictions, which she has used to create items for her Etsy shop, prints on totes, illustrations for children’s books and much more.

The Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
February 13-March 9; reception on February 29 @ 7 p.m.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The gallery will close at noon on the show’s last day.

In this unique gallery exhibition, three up-and-coming artists display their emerging skills and talents as they embrace the beginning of their careers. Ava Luzzi showcases her painting techniques and vibrant color palette as she grapples with ideas involving thoughtful versus thoughtless religious engagement. Liam Fitting uses a variety of media while employing historical research and psychological concepts as he explores surrealistic narratives, which have a basis in his Pennsylvania upbringing. Liana Kardaras offers a tour de force in creative photography as her brilliant shots, printed on fabric and photo paper alike, celebrate dreamlike nostalgia and a glorious use of color.

DuBois Theatre
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
February 15, 16 & 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Faithful to the original film, Footloose bursts on the stage, telling the story of Chicago native Ren McCormack’s move to small-town America. Featuring hits from the film’s Oscar-nominated score as well as new songs, the musical chronicles the issues Ren faces in his new home as he rallies his classmates against the local government and Reverend Shaw Moore, who have banned dancing and rock music in their community. Based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford, with music by Tom Snow, lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman.

The Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
March 26-April 27; reception on March 28 @ 7 p.m.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The gallery will close at noon on the show’s last day.

Visual artist and ceramicist Ian M. Petrie’s delightfully inviting pieces belie a depth of meaning only made evident through how each owner and viewer chooses to approach his work. Employing two seemingly unrelated media, comic strips and ceramics, he places the two in conversation with each other to create single scene panels printed on everyday dinnerware. By intentionally receiving only part of the story, the viewer is invited to determine what the rest of the narrative might be. In living with these objects that can be used daily, the meaning of the scene may change or grow with years of use, which ultimately places empathy, interpretation and connection at the heart of these multifaceted objects.

DuBois Theatre
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
April 17, 10:30 a.m.

Featuring chamber choir & singers, chamber orchestra & symphony orchestra. 

Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration
Forum
April 19, 7 p.m.

Featuring digital music students work. 

DuBois Theatre
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts 
April 26, 7 p.m.

Featuring jazz ensembles, chamber choir & singers, chamber orchestra & symphony orchestra.

Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts 
May 2-May 24; reception on May 2 at 7 p.m.

After a months-long journey spent working on their sustained investigations, Blair’s Advanced Placement art students unveil highlights from their portfolios of work in either two-dimensional media, three-dimensional media, or drawing and mark-making. This exhibit represents the culmination of investigative thinking, creative problem-solving, and technical talent that our advanced students have worked so hard to practice and perfect.

Romano Gallery
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts 
May 10-May 24; reception on May 10 at 7 p.m.

Through the exploration of a uniquely wide range of media and concepts, Blair’s young artists showcase their voices and perspectives along with the technical skills they have worked so hard to hone during the final semester. In this end-of-year exhibit, the success and growth of Blair’s talented art students is on full display. 

DuBois Theatre
Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts Patio
May 10, 7:30 p.m.

Robert J. Evans Open Air Theatre
May 16, 17 & 18 at 7:30 p.m.

In Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman’s modern depiction of a timeless Greek myth, the audience ventures on a mythical journey through time alongside Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece. The Los Angeles Times said Argonautika “generates eye-widening, gasp-inducing excitement” as viewers encounter everything from mythological sirens and centaurs to gods Hercules and Hera on a fantastic journey full of laughter and love. Adapted from The Voyage of Jason and the Argonauts by Roman poet Gaius Valerius Flaccus and translated by David R. Slavitt, Argonautika.