Arts Events OCT. 25 – OCT. 31
Arts Events OCT. 25 – OCT. 31 Friday (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) Architecture/HTC Book Talk, Kristel Smentek, “Art and History in the Age of Enlightenment” — 10-401 (3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) Hack Lore: Cows, Cars, and Cannons Special Lecture — MIT Museum (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Architecture Lecture: Mimi Hoang, “Control” — Room 7-429 (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) Film Screening: FAUST, a 1926 Silent Film by F. W. Murnau with Live Musical Accompaniment — 14W-111 (7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) Boston Ballet presents La Bayadère (Oct. 24 – Nov. 3) — Boston Opera House (8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.) Garden Jargon: Roadkill Buffet Improv Comedy Show — 6-120 (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) Family Weekend Concert presents: Celebrating Master Composers — Kresge Auditorium Saturday (10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) MIT Press Loading Dock Book Sale — E38, 292 Main Street, Cambridge (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) Family Day at the MIT List Visual Arts Center — E-15, MIT List Visual Arts Center Sunday (10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) MIT Press Loading Dock Book Sale — E38, 292 Main Street, Cambridge Monday (12:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) Architecture Lecture/BT Fiona Cousins, “Two Degrees: Climate Change and Our Built Environment” — Rm 7-429 Tuesday (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Architecture Lecture: RCR Architects, “Recent Work” — 7-429 (8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.) Halloween Contra Dance with live music — W20-491 Wednesday (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) “How Our Brains Learn and Remember” with John Gabrieli, MIT Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience — MIT Museum (8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.) Israeli Dancing — W20-491 Thursday (12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.) Organ Concert in the MIT Chapel — W15, MIT Chapel (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Exploring the National Recording Preservation Plan — 14N-132 (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Architecture Lecture: Greg Lynn, “Carbon Dating” — Room 7-429 Send your arts events to arts@tech.mit.edu.
Retrospective of an innovative filmmaker
La Jetée (The Pier), Chis Marker’s best-known film, kicked off the comprehensive retrospective of his films, and the wide variety of other media he produced over 60 years, which is underway at the MIT List Center for the Visual Arts and the Harvard Film Archive. Introductory receptions and talks were held on Thursday, Oct. 17 at both institutions.
Being mindful of your mind
The MIT Museum’s Soap Box lecture series kicked off last Wednesday with MIT Professor Matthew Wilson leading a discussion on “Sleep, Memory, and Animal Dreams.” This was the first in a series of 3 free neuroscience-related discussions being given at the MIT Museum. The way that a Soap Box discussion works is the following: the guest speaker gives a context to the audience, framing the discussion to be had and inspiring questions within the audience. Some time later, the audience breaks off into small groups to discuss the topic and to develop questions to ask the speaker via Twitter. Audience members reconvene after they’ve had ample time to fill the #MITSoapBox Twitter feed with questions and ideas. The speaker then tries to provide insight to as many questions as possible in the time remaining.
A dramatic and intense classical performance
There was no doubt the entire room was awaiting the legendary Yo-Yo Ma to take the stage at Boston Symphony Hall as the sold-out room stood with thunderous applause as he walked onto stage. Yo-Yo Ma’s presence was undeniably that of a prodigious musician as his first bow strokes of the cello resonated powerfully in the hall. French conductor Stéphane Denève engaged animatedly with Yo-Yo Ma in the intense Cell Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat, Opus 107 by Shostakovich.
Finding Haven in Jamaica Plain
As a student at MIT, it is often hard to find reasons to branch out from the standard food options surrounding campus. However, staying in the “MIT bubble” deprives students of the chance to eat out at many of the great restaurants a little farther away from this part of the city.
Janelle Monáe: electrifying and astonishing
Upon entering Boston’s House of Blues on October 16th, the attendees were given a short pamphlet entitled “The Ten Droid Commandments”. Besides instructing the audience on how to get the most out of Janelle Monáe’s conceptual concert, the pamphlet also contained Monáe’s special request for the audience — to never reveal the show’s secrets to their friends. Before the Electric Lady appeared on the stage to actually share the mysterious secrets, Roman GianArthur (one of the key figures in the production and arrangement of Monáe’s albums) opened the show with a stellar musical and vocal performance. In addition to performing some of his own songs, he also delivered several fantastic covers, including MGMT’s “Electric Feel” and Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady”. Similarly to Monáe, his continuous communication with the audience and the ability to instill the “jam” factor into each of his songs made his appearance nothing less than mesmerizing.
A prison escape artist’s nightmare
When you go to see a movie starring Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and 50 Cent, you know you are in for an action-packed, blood, bombs, and guns style movie. This movie did not disappoint, but did add an unexpected and thoughtful plot.
An evening of Bach and bluegrass
Greeting the crowd with good wishes for the 20th day of Oktoberfest, mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile took the stage at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, playing a set of Bach compositions intermixed with bluegrass, jazz, and gospel jams of his own and by others. Setting out on the evening’s program, he described the set list as “Bach, ill-advisedly broken up and played with bits of stuff in between.”
Igniting the Steinway
Yuja Wang, moving vigorously to music in a bright red dress and silver stilettos, was a ball of life in stark contrast against the still black Steinway; her rapidly movwing fingers pulling powerful strings of melodies from the grand piano. Her fervent movements threw her hair dancing and accented the notes she drew from an instrument that she had clearly mastered. In her musical interpretation, it was clear her Tweet quoting Mahler, “Tradition is tending the flame, it’s not worshiping the ashes,” was deeply embedded into her modern, energetic style.
Delicious, elephantine dishes
The Elephant Walk has locations in both Cambridge and Boston, and its most unique aspect is that it serves from an extensive menu of both French and Cambodian dishes. At the Cambridge location for a casual dinner, it took me a while just to read through the menu and choose dishes that would allow me to taste a variety of the restaurant’s offerings.
From MIT to Ice Rink
The Tech: When did you start ice dancing, and how did you keep up with it at MIT?
Breathing life into a long-gone European empress
Whether it is just another attempt by feminist revisionist historians to rehabilitate female historical figures by distinguishing their personal views and deeds from that of their husbands or fathers, or merely an expression of the personal and professional views of Evelyne Lever, a leading contemporary French historian and author, Marie-Antoinette in Her Own Words at the very least invokes sympathy for her gruesome fate, if not also empathy for her long suffering through a passionless marriage and the backstabbing of cruel panjandrums in the 18th century French imperial court.
Ice Theatre of New York graces Boston, starring an MIT alumna
The audience filled bleachers around the ice rink, wrapped in their coats in the chilled warehouse-like building, eagerly anticipating the show’s start. The Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) didn’t disappoint. After sneaker-clad Artistic Director Douglas Webster explained the company’s aim to “elevate dance on ice as a performance art,” ten dancers glided onto the ice to the familiar “Awake My Soul” by Mumford & Sons, mesmerizing spectators with their athleticism and grace.
Synth-pop beats of Scotland
Lauren Mayberry, Ian Cook and Martin Doherty, otherwise known as the Glasgow-based synth-pop band CHVRCHES, have entered the music scene with quite a fanfare. After the relatively unrecognized premiere release of their singles “Lies” and “The Mother We Share” in 2012, the band suddenly took over headlines in early 2013. BBC ranked them fifth in their poll “Sound of 2013,” after which the band released their EP Recover to positive critic reviews, and within a few months CHVRCHES were already touring around the world.
Overcoming failure to succeed, Pixar-style
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to interview Kori Rae, a producer from Pixar, about the upcoming DVD and Blu-ray release of Monsters University. Rae has been working at Pixar since 1993, and has contributed to films such as A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Up, The Incredibles and Monsters University.
Minimalism and transient intimacy realized
The José Mateo Ballet Theatre of Cambridge opened its 28th season with a performance of Shadows Fleeting, the first of five ballet repertory performances of the 2013–2014 season. Shadows Fleeting features three unique works — Dark Profiles (2001), Covens (2006), and Vanished Verses (premiering this season) — by José Mateo, the company’s impresario, choreographer and artistic director. The recurrent theme of the night was exploring the darker side of Mateo’s provocatively expressed repertory.
Admiring our musical peers
Last semester, I went to my first MITSO concert to write a report for 21M.011 Introduction to Western Music. I remember enjoying the concert very much and wishing that I had known about MITSO performances earlier. Since I had somewhat put western classical music in the back of my mind, I decided to start off my Columbus Day Weekend by attending the first MITSO concert of the 2013–2014 season, in hopes of refreshing my musical knowledge. While I was perhaps only partially successful in that regard, the student orchestra was once again nothing short of spectacular.
From Italy to Kresge
In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi, the celebrated Italian operatic composer, and in support of the relationship between Eni and MIT, the La Scala Chamber Orchestra performed a special MIT-exclusive concert at Kresge Auditorium on Oct. 7. The concert performance was proceeded with brief introductory remarks by MIT President Reif and Eni’s Chairman
Events Oct. 18 – Oct. 24
Events Oct. 18 – Oct. 24 Friday (5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.) Architecture/Computation Lecture: Pablo Garcia, “A Brief History of Drawing Machines, Since 1425,” — 7-429 (5:15 p.m.–6:30 p.m.) Ancient & Medieval Studies Speakers Series | “Form as Theory: the Case of Medieval Boethius” — 14E-304 (5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.) Rob La Frenais: Future of Transport/Transport of the Future — E15-207, Wiesner room (8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.) Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre presents Shadows Fleeting — Sanctuary Theatre, Harvard Square (8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.) Celebrity Series of Boston presents Pianist Yuja Wang — Jordan Hall (11:59 p.m.) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (FREE, with shadow cast!) — 26-100 Saturday (8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.) Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre presents Shadows Fleeting — Sanctuary Theatre, Harvard Square Sunday (8:00 p.m–11:00 p.m.) International Folk Dancing — Sala de Puerto Rico Monday (2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.) Bobby Few and Don Byas Featured on WMBR’s Research & Development Program — 88.1 FM WMBR Radio (7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.) ACT Lecture | Lovett/Codagnone: Re-adapting Cinematic Traces — E15-001 (7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.) Angels in America, an ITS ALIVE reading — 14W-111 Tuesday (5:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.) Places in the Making panel discussion — E15, Bartos Theater (7:00 p.m.–8:15 p.m.) Australian Short Film (FREE admission) — 10-250 (7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.) Harmonix co-founder presents Rock Band and Beyond — Cambridge Innovation Center (8:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.) Klezmer Contra Dance with live music! — W20-491 Wednesday (5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.) MTA Composer Forum presents: Martin Marks, MIT Senior Lecturer in Music and Theater Arts — 14E-109, Lewis Music Library (8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.) Israeli Dancing — W20-491 Thursday (6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) Architecture/Allen Lecture: William F. Baker, “Geometry, Structure and Architecture” — 10-250 (7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.) Urban Films: Good Fortune (2010) — 3-133 (8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.) Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre presents Shadows Fleeting — Sanctuary Theatre, Harvard Square (8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.) Screening of “Three Colors: Blue” by Krzysztof Kieslowski — 4-231 Send your arts events to arts@tech.mit.edu.
‘An eagle in a dove-coat’
“What if Mick Jagger stopped singing ‘Honky Tonk Woman’?” asked MFA curator Erica Hirshler at the opening of John Singer Sargent Watercolors. By 1907, the renowned Gilded Age portraitist John Singer Sargent had effectively abandoned his lucrative career as a portrait artist in favor of landscapes and figure studies in watercolor. It came as a shock to the art world, as if Jagger had given up “Honky Tonk Woman.”