Pitt-Bradford Arts adds film series, children's art workshops

Pitt-Bradford Arts has expanded its offerings for 2018-19, adding a documentary film series and a series of children's art workshops.

Those new programs are in addition to the usual cavalcade of artists, musicians, dancers and more who come to campus.

The university offers three different series: Prism, Spectrum and Kaleidoscope. Prism offerings are premiere performances selected with input from a community council. Spectrum offerings are visual, literary and performing artists chosen by the faculty with an emphasis on academics and curriculum. Finally, Kaleidoscope is a matinee series that brings arts to schoolchildren.

New this year is a film series, On Screen/In Person, a touring series of independent films presented with filmmakers on site. The cost for each of the six films to be offered is $5 or a subscription of all films for $25. On Screen/In Person is a program of the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, Kaleidoscope will offer smART workshops that promote art to children PreK-4 with their families. These Saturday morning workshops are free.

All events are open to the public and free unless otherwise noted. Hours in the KOA Art Gallery are 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. For more information on individual events or tickets, contact the Bromeley Family Theater box office at 814-362-5113 or visit www.upb.pitt.edu/TheArts.

Sept. 10-Oct. 4 - “Mirrored: Artists' Self Portraits,” KOA Gallery, Blaisdell Hall. Free opening reception 7 p.m. Oct. 4. Self-portraits selected from the extensive collection of Gerald Mead, a noted Buffalo collector and educator. Part of the Spectrum series.

Sept. 11 - Silent films with live piano accompaniment by Donald Sosin, noon, Bromeley Family Theater, Blaisdell Hall. A program of comedy shorts from the Golden Age of silent film, screened in high definition. Part of the Spectrum series.

Sept. 21 - “Break the Chain,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater, documentary film on survivors of labor and sex trafficking. Part of the On Screen/In Person film series. $5.

Sept. 29 - Catapult, 8 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater. Shadow dancing group seen on “America's Got Talent.” Part of the Prism Series. $20 for public. $5 for all students.

Oct. 8 - Ryan Teitman, poet, 7:30 p.m., Mukaiyama University Room, Frame-Westerberg Commons. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Oct. 10 - “Holden On,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater, documentary film about Holden Layfield, a Georgia teen fighting with mental illness. Part of the On Screen/In Person film series. $5.

Oct. 13 - Colorful Yoga, 10 to 11 a.m., Blaisdell Hall, a smART Workshop for children pre-K through 4th grade and their families.

Oct. 18 - Buffalo Gamelan Ensemble, noon, Studio Theater, Blaisdell Hall. Experience the centuries-old musical tradition of Javanese gamelan. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Nov. 2 - “Tyrus,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater. An award-winning documentary film about the life, art and enduring impact of American painter and Disney legend Tyrus Wong. Part of the On Screen/In Person film series. $5.

Nov. 3 - Christopher Agostino's StoryFaces, 10-11 a.m., Blaisdell Hall. Audience volunteers will be brought on stage and face painted to illustrate the stories as Agostino tells them. A smART Workshop for children pre-K through 4th grade and their families.

Nov. 15-18 - “Julius Caesar,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Studio Theater. Shakespeare's play directed by Dr. Kevin Ewert, professor of theater. $6 for public; $2 for all students. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Dec. 3-14 - “Pitt-Penn Overlap: Full Circle Collaboration,” KOA Gallery. Opening reception 7 p.m. Dec. 5. A collaborative experience centering on the intersectionality of identities and inclusion in the art world and arts education. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Dec. 4 - Vocal Arts Ensemble, noon, Studio Theater, annual holiday performance directed by Dr. Joshua Groffman. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Dec. 6 - “The Nutcracker,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater, a family-friendly one hour performance by the New York Theatre Ballet. $10 for students; $15 for adults. Part of the Kaleidoscope children and families series.

Dec. 9 - 9th annual Advent and Christmas organ recital, noon, Harriett B. Wick Chapel. Recital by organist Roland Martin.

Jan. 11-24 - “Light and Shadow: Woven Paintings by Rick Minard,” KOA Gallery. Opening reception at noon, Jan. 11. Minard explores light and shadows in his woven paintings. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Jan. 12 - Family Folk Dance Party, 10 a.m., Blaisdell Hall. A smART Workshop for children pre-K through 4th grade and their families.

Jan. 23 - Baily's Beads annual literary magazine celebration, 7:30 p.m., Mukaiyama University Room. Unveiling of the 2019 magazine and open mic readings. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Feb. 5 - “Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater. For elementary school children and their parents. $10 for all seats. Part of the Kaleidoscope children and families series.

Feb. 7-March 14 -- “The Veterans Book Project,” KOA Gallery. Opening reception 7 p.m. Feb. 7. A library of books authored collaboratively by artist Monica Haller and those affected by the current American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, visit www.veteranbookproject.com. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Feb. 9 - Books and Brushes, 10-11 a.m., Blaisdell Hall. A smART Workshop for children pre-K through 4th grade and their families.

Feb. 12 - Chamber music performance by Christiana Reader and Alex Peh, noon, Studio Theater. A program of chamber pieces inspired by landscapes. Part of the Spectrum Series.

Feb. 15 - “Man on Fire,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater. Documentary examines racism in a small Texas town. Part of the On Screen/In Person film series. $5.

March 5 - “Tell Me What's Coming,” 7:30 p.m., Studio Theater, a play based on punk star Patti Smith and her collaboration with playwright Sam Shepard. A Spectrum presentation in conjunction with Women's History Month.

March 13 - Cherish the Ladies, 7:30 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater. Grammy-nominated, Irish-themed formed in New York City to celebrate the rise of women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene. Price includes a wine and cheese tasting before the show. $30 for the public; $5 for all students. For more information, visit www.cherishtheladies.com. Part of the Prism series.

March 19 - Beth Ann Fennelly, writer, 7:30 p.m., Mukaiyama University Room. Poet laureate of Mississippi. For more information, visit www.bethannfennelly.com. Part of the Spectrum Series.

March 22 - “From the Second Wave to the Tidal Wave” and “NextStepRun!” Two films - one about the 1960s Second Wave Feminist Movement and one telling the stories of four women running for elective office. Part of the On Screen/In Person film series. $5.

April 9 - “Nox Infernalis,” 7 p.m., Rice Auditorium, Fisher Hall, the final annual history lecture by Dr. Marvin Thomas, professor of history, on the burning of Dresden, Germany, by the Allies in 1945. Part of the Spectrum Series.

April 11 -- Vocal Arts Ensemble, noon, Studio Theater, annual spring performance directed by Dr. Joshua Groffman. Part of the Spectrum Series.

April 18 - Celebration of the Arts, 5:30 p.m., Blaisdell Hall. Presentations by interdisciplinary arts capstone students, visual and digital art, readings, acting, singing, dancing and music. Part of the Spectrum Series.

April 19 - “Chavela,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater. The story of game-changing artist Chavela Vargas. Part of the On Screen/In Person film series. $5.

May 3 - “Charlotte's Web,” 7 p.m., Bromeley Family Theater. Theatreworks USA's stage production of the beloved classic story for elementary school-age children and their families. $10 for all seats. Come at 6 p.m. for a petting zoo. Part of the Kaleidoscope children and families series.