Athens State 2nd Annual Downtown Mardi Gras Parade

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

February 06, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State 2^nd Annual Downtown Mardi Gras Parade

ATHENS, Ala. - Athens State University art professor Gail Bergeron and students from her Special Workshop in Sculpture class will hold a Mardi Gras parade in Athens at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12.  This 2^nd annual parade will kick-off from Athens State’s Center for Lifelong Learning located at 121 S. Marion Street on the Limestone County Courthouse Square.

“Last year’s event was well received and a lot of fun,” states Bergeron.  “For a one-block parade, we make the best of it and I really think that’s what makes it so special.”

The parade route is to travel Marion Street back and forth between Washington and Market Streets in Athens - - just one block.

The theme for this year’s parade is Alice in Voodooland and the Athens State revelers will be in costume with sculpted heads.  Music for the marchers will be provided Retrobics. 

The parade is open to the public and marching and participating is encouraged.  Bergeron said anyone who would like to donate Mardi Gras beads for the Athens event can leave them at the Center for Lifelong Learning prior to the parade.

“I can say without a doubt,” continued Bergeron, “this will be the best, most fun one-block parade in the world.”

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Attached:  Picture from last year’s parade.

Calhoun Community College Announces 2013 Black History Month Events Calendar

1/31/2013

Calhoun Community College has planned a number of events to take place throughout the month of February in celebration of Black History Month.  Events are free and open to the public, with the exception of the Off-Broadway play “Dream Girls”, scheduled for February 15 and 16.

Calhoun Black History Month Events Calendar

February 6th and 14th
Film Festival
“Won’t Turn Back”
11:00 AM, Decatur Campus
Chasteen Student Center, Second Floor

February 13th
Film Festival
“Won’t Turn Back” 
3:00 PM, Huntsville Campus
Student Center

February 15th and 16th
Off Broadway Play
“Dream Girls”
7:00 PM
Decatur Campus, Fine Arts Auditorium
Admission:  $10

February 19th
Panel Discussion for Calhoun’s Big Read
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”  
10:00 -11:00 AM
Decatur Campus, Health Science Auditorium

February 26th and 28th
Gospel Workshop
featuring
Dr. Reginald Jackson
12:30 – 2:30 PM
Decatur Campus, Fine Arts Recital Hall

February 27th
Historical monologue
“Lost in the Shuffle”
featuring
Elaine Rice
11:00 AM
Decatur Campus, Chasteen Student Center

March 1
23rd Annual Gospel Fest
Showcasing a variety of local talent including singing, liturgical dance and step groups
6:00 PM
Grand Foyer - Huntsville Campus

March 7th
Minority Male Summit
featuring motivational speaker
 Tim Worley
 former running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears
7:00 PM
Huntsville Campus

For more information about these events, contact Pamela Little at 256/306-2634 or the Calhoun Office of Public Relations at 256-306-2560.


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Athens State University Celebrates Black History Month with “A Focus on Black Art in America.”

Athens State University announces its lectures and exhibits planned to celebrate Black History Month during the month of February. All events are free and open to the public. The theme for the University’s month-long celebration is “A Focus on Black Art in America.”

A lecture by African American sculptor John Solomon Sandridge is planned for Tuesday, February 12 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Alabama Center for the Arts located at 133 2nd Avenue in Decatur. A reception for Sandridge will be held prior to his lecture at 6:00 p.m. in the Center’s main gallery.

Sandridge’s bronze sculptures of African American cowboy and western-themed subjects are a large part of the University’s recently obtained Wideman Collection. Sandridge’s work with other bronzes by Marshall Mitchell and reproductions of works by Frederic Remington are on display now through February 25 in the main Gallery of the Alabama Center for the Arts. Gallery hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. After the initial showing, the University plans to place the sculptures into its permanent collection, as well as making them available for exhibition at other venues. 

A lecture by African American artist Debra Raffe will be held on Thursday, February 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel on the second floor of Founders Hall.

Although Riffe is a Mississippi native, Birmingham, Alabama has been called home since 1996.

Riffe rediscovered her love of illustrating when she taught herself how to needlepoint. In 2004, Debra decided to convert her needlepoint art into designs for linoleum block relief prints. She has taught linoleum block printing, locally and regionally, and she has received the honor of many juror awards.

Riffe’s latest exhibition focuses on and celebrates the 50 year anniversary of the civil rights movement. Her collection titled “Holding the Line” consists of portraits of the leading activists of the movement.

“My linoleum block relief prints reflect my love for the south and all things southern,” states Riffe. “The majority of my compositions depict singular, figurative images of African Americans placed in rural settings of the American South. Individuals are represented at work or at play performing everyday tasks in timeless, solitary, reflective moments; tasks which represent concepts of social status and identity.”

Currently on display in the University’s gallery in the Sandridge Student Center are posters from the Library of Congress’ Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection. The collection consists of reproductions of ten portraits taken by American photographer Carl Van Vechten between 1932 and 1964. The portraits on display consist of portrait photographs of artists and celebrities synonymous with the Harlem Renaissance.

The gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located on the upper floor of the Sandridge Student Center.

For more information about these or any events at Athens State University please call 256-233-8296.

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