Things to Do, June 16-Aug. 4, 2017

new exhibition of offbeat art
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
Artist Louis Michel Eilshemius inspired “The Best Way to Prepare Bananas,” a new exhibition of offbeat art at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. Shown: “Springtime Song” (1902), a bequest of Abby ’48 and B. H. Friedman ’48 to the museum.

Cinema under the stars

Cornell Cinema will present Outdoor Terrace Screenings of four films under the stars on the Willard Straight Hall Terrace this summer.

The lineup begins with Jonathan Demme’s 1984 Talking Heads concert film, “Stop Making Sense,” Wednesday, June 21. Other films showing are Wes Anderson’s 2009 animated feature “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” adapted from Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, Thursday, June 29; Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly’s classic 1952 musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” Wednesday, July 12; and Billy Wilder’s 1944 film noir landmark “Double Indemnity,” Wednesday, July 26.

Tickets are $13 general, $11 students and senior citizens, available at CornellCinemaTickets.com. Terrace screenings typically sell out in advance, and advance tickets can be picked up the night of the screening. Any tickets unclaimed by 9:15 p.m. may be resold; cash only at the door.

All screenings feature a cash bar and complimentary snacks for patrons. Doors open at 8:15 p.m. for a cocktail/picnic hour before the film starts after dark, around 9:30 p.m. Drawings for three pairs of Cornell Cinema guest passes will be held at each of the four shows.

Screenings will be in Willard Straight Theatre in the event of rain. For more information, call 607-255-3522.

Out of the mainstream

The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art will showcase some of its more intriguing and offbeat holdings this summer in “The Best Way to Prepare Bananas: Fruits of the Soul from the Permanent Collection,” on display June 24 to Aug. 13.

Many of the works are being exhibited on campus for the first time. Curated by museum registrar Matt Conway, the exhibition features alumni gifts and several artists with local connections.

It draws its inspiration from artist Louis Eilshemius (1864-1941), who attended Cornell from 1882-84. “Everybody can make academic art, but everybody cannot produce soul art,” Eilshemius said in a 1920 speech to Marcel Duchamp’s modern art club.

“In the spirit of Eilshemius, we ask that visitors approach the show with an open mind, and enjoy the works just as they are,” Conway said. “The show is not about technical virtuosity, but creativity and imagination.”

Some of the artists featured were self-taught – including Thornton Dial Sr., whose art often related his experience in the Deep South; the Rev. Howard Finster, who created album covers for Talking Heads and R.E.M.; and Clara Seley (1905-2003), whose work will be shown alongside her gifts of Haitian art to the museum. She was married to sculptor Jason Seley ’40, who was dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning from 1980 to 1983.

Rare “Dinny the Dinosaur” stop-motion animation shorts by Cortland native Robert Goodnough (1917-2010) are included in the exhibition. Conway will introduce a selection of the films not being exhibited, at a screening of John Waters’ art-world satire “Pecker,” July 13 at 7 p.m. at Cinemapolis. Tickets are free for Johnson Museum members and $5 for the general public, at the Cinemapolis box office.

Art for all

The Johnson Museum celebrates “The Best Way to Prepare Bananas” and the rest of its summer exhibitions with a Summer Party, Friday, July 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is open to all, with free refreshments and the opportunity to make abstract expressionist paintings inspired by Robert Richenburg (1917-2006) – who taught art at Cornell from 1964 to 1967; his work is on display July 1–Sept. 10.

Also showing: “All for One and One for All: Portfolios from the Permanent Collection,” June 24-Aug. 27, and the participatory exhibition “Empathy Academy: What is left is felt,” continuing through July 30.

Summer workshops and family programs at the museum include Screenprinting 101, June 21 at 1 p.m.; “Let’s Look, Baby!” for parents and caregivers of young children (infants to age 4), June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17 (all Thursdays at 10 a.m.); and Workshop Wednesdays, July 5-Aug. 2 at 2:30 p.m., involving a different medium each week: Islamic-inspired tiles, linocuts, paper marbling, fabric stamping and monotypes.

As part of a national program, active duty military personnel with ID and their families receive member gift shop discounts and member rates for workshops through Sept. 3.

For information, email museum@cornell.edu or call 607-255-6464.

Free all summer

The Savoyards Musical Theatre will perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Sorcerer,” June 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts’ Kiplinger Theatre. An encore performance is Wednesday, June 28.

The shows open the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions’ 2017 series of free summer events on campus. Tuesday performances in the series also feature singer-songwriter Joe Crookston, July 11; Falling Waters Sampler (fiddle tunes), July 18; Galumpha (dance), July 25; and Stanley Chepaitis’ Jazz-Baroque Project, Aug. 1. Free tickets are available in the Schwartz Center lobby at 6 p.m. before each show.

Lectures by faculty and alumni in Kennedy Hall’s Call Auditorium, Wednesdays in July at 7 p.m., begin July 5 with Glenn Altschuler presenting “‘The Future Belongs to Those Who Tell the Best Stories’: Advocacy Techniques in Great American Trials.” Featured presenters also include writer Diane Ackerman, MFA ’73, Ph.D.’78, July 12; astrophysicist Jonathan Lunine, July 19; and novelist Robert Morgan, July 26.

Picnickers and kids are welcome at Friday concerts, 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the Arts Quad, with Stone Cold Miracle, June 30; The Destination, July 7; Diana Leigh and the Savoy Stompers, July 14: The Pelotones, July 21; Not From Wisconsin, July 28; and Annie and the Hedonists, Aug. 4.

For more information, email cusce@cornell.edu or call 607-255-4987.

Concert series season

The Cornell Concert Series (CCS) will present seven performances in its 2017-18 season, featuring top artists in classical, jazz and world music traditions.

CCS has launched a new ticketing website for this season as well as a $25 elementary through graduate school student membership program, good for individual shows or the entire season; and a community membership supporting master classes and other programs.

The season features the Simón Bolívar String Quartet, Saturday, Sept. 9; Turkish musician Latif Bolat, Saturday, Oct. 14; the St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig, Friday, Nov. 10; singer Alicia Olatuja, Saturday, Feb. 10; gospel ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, Saturday, March 3; concert pianist Jeremy Denk, Friday, March 16; and the Danish String Quartet, Wednesday, April 11.

Single tickets range from $29 to $36 and season subscription options are available online. Seats will be renewed for ongoing annual patrons.

Media Contact

Lindsey Knewstub