Posts Tagged ‘UMSL’

Every month, the public can enjoy free viewings of the night sky at UMSL's Schwartz Observatory. Photo credit: Mark Scott Abeln, Rome of the West*

You may already know that North County played a huge role in the history of the US space program and that all of the Gemini and Mercury space capsules were built right here, at the former McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. But did you realize that NoCo is also home to two of the three public observatories in St. Louis?

Both UMSL and the Pattonville School District have observatories that are open to the public, for free, at least once a month for most of the year. And wow, what an amazing view they offer!

Technically, UMSL has the stronger telescope – a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain Celestron versus Pattonville’s new 10″ Meade – but Pattonville has the distinction of being the first school or college in Missouri to open its own observatory and planetarium, way back in 1967. Perfect for cloudy evenings, the planetarium can hold up to 25 people and offers a 360-degree projected view of the galaxy. And yes, it’s free too!

Both observatories have staff or students on hand to answer astronomy questions, so come prepared to learn. And if you’re heading to UMSL, dress for the weather. The observatory is outdoors.

For more info and specific directions to the upcoming open houses, just follow the links below:

Pattonville Observatory: March 5, 7:30pm. See Saturn, a near full moon, celestial six pack, M42, star birth, star life cycle and star colors.

UMSL’s Schwartz Observatory: March 20, 7:30pm. See Saturn, Mars, Venus, a first quarter moon and the Beehive Cluster.

UPDATE, 2/26: Turns out NoCo has THREE observatories open to the public! Thanks to Max Slover and KCFV’s Tim Gorry for letting me know that Flo Valley’s observatory, located on top of the college library, will be open for tours as part of the campus open house: April 10, 11am-2pm.

(*The lovely image in this post was taken by Mark Scott Abeln, a very talented photographer who runs a fascinating blog about Catholic St. Louis called Rome of the West. Check it out!)

"A Small and Slightly Curious Book" by Becky Adams is one of many unique artist journals on display through May 8 at UMSL's Gallery 210.

More than 500 years worth of diaries, journals, sketchbooks and letters are on display at UMSL’s Gallery 210 right now, showcasing the creativity and intimate thought processes of artists from all over the world. “The Art of the Book: Journals Then and Now” is an international traveling exhibit that just opened last week, and it is definitely a must-see!

Reproductions of very fragile documents from Michelangelo and Arapaho chief Little Shield are fascinating, but the real stars of this show are the original pieces from artists you’ve probably never heard of. UMSL’s Department of Art and Art History collaborated with six other institutions to gather the collection, including two British universities renowned for their book arts programs, and the result is a rich assortment of beautiful and intriguing eye candy. Highly recommended!

Gallery 210 is located on UMSL’s north campus, right next door to the Metrolink station. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm.”The Art of the Book” runs through May 8. Admission is free.

In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday this coming Monday, UMSL and St. Louis Community College will each host MLK celebrations featuring noted guest speakers. Both events are free and open to the public.

Gilberto Pinela

On Sunday, January 17, the Flo Valley campus will welcome Hispanic entrepreneur and local civic leader Gilberto Pinela, whose television show “Ahora San Luis” has been airing in St. Louis since 2001. Pinela, who serves on the board of several area institutions, including United Way and the Missouri Historical Society, will speak on the theme “Realizing the Dream through Civic and Community Engagement.”

The event will also feature performances by the Olivette Missionary Baptist Church choir, Florissant Valley’s gospel choir, and dancer Aaron “A-One” Reed, as well as an art exhibit by Flo Valley students and an oratorical contest sponsored by North County Churches United for Racial Harmony & Justice. 3pm at the Fischer Theatre, 3400 Pershall Road, 63135.

Jabari Asim

Over at UMSL, on Monday, January 18, acclaimed author and journalist Jabari Asim will be the keynote speaker, headlining a morning of performing arts at the Touhill. Asim, who gained national attention for his 2007 book, The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t and Why, is currently scholar-in-residence at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and editor of the NAACP’s magazine, The Crisis.

In addition to Asim, UMSL’s MLK celebration will also feature a dramatic performance depicting a community’s response to violence, directed by Adeniyi Coker, along with music by the Dickson Quartet, four talented sibling musicians from Oregon. 10am at the Touhill’s Anheuser-Busch Hall, 1 University Blvd, 63121.

If you’re looking for a way to warm up a cold Tuesday, head to UMSL for some red hot jazz. On January 12, the Des Lee Big Band Jazz Festival will host a free concert at the Touhill’s Lee Theater, featuring some of the most talented student musicians in the area, including several from North County.

The Ritenour Central Middle School Jazz Band and St. Joseph’s of Cottleville Jazz Band will kick off the show, but the highlight will be a performance by the Des Lee High School Honors Jazz Ensemble, whose members include students from Hazelwood East, Ritenour and McCluer North.

The concert begins at 6:30pm, and you can expect to hear some true jazz classics: “Splanky” by Neal Hefti, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by Joe Zawinul, “Satin Doll” by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and “Blue Monk” by Thelonius Monk, among other songs. For more info, visit the Touhill’s website or call (314) 516-5980.

"Wings of Freedom" by UMSL student Laura Pelsue is one of three pieces in the "Freedom Without Walls" installation at 7875 Florissant Rd.

Twenty years ago this month, the Berlin Wall fell, opening the borders between East and West Germany and heralding a new era of freedom and unity. To honor the anniversary of this landmark event, UMSL’s German Culture Center recently installed three student-designed sculptures to celebrate the U.S. German Embassy’s national “Freedom Without Walls” project.

"0813196111091989," resembling a stockade, was designed by Dustin Schmidt

Twelve UMSL students submitted proposals for the exhibit, but only three designs were chosen: those by Laura Pelsue, Dustin Schmidt, and Matt Grant and Kristen Franke. Probably because of its North County brilliance, UMSL was the only Missouri university invited to participate.

Under the guidance of sculpture instructor Noah Kirby (pictured in the video below), three teams of students installed the pieces in UMSL’s new Sculpture Garden, which sits right next to the fine arts building on Florissant Road.

You know you’ve noticed it, in that fun little nook just north of the bike bridge. The exhibits change every so often, and some look like sad craft projects gone awry. But some are also quite compelling, like this latest bunch.

To see the recent installation in progress and learn more about the art, check out this short video from Stephen Engelmeyer. The concepts behind each piece are actually pretty interesting.

"Light Beyond the Wall" (at night) by Matt Grant and Kristen Franke

If you’re looking to meet some interesting NoCo people and stimulate your brain, head to the Thyme Table in Ferguson this evening for a free reading and discussion by German-born poet Adrian Matejka.

Sponsored by UMSL’s Graduate Writers’ Association and the Northern Arts Council, tonight’s event features some of Matejka’s award-winning work from the 2008 National Poetry Series, as well as an open dialogue on the craft of poetry.

Drinks and light refreshments will be served. Doors open at 7pm. Thyme Table Cafe, 304 S. Florissant Rd, 7:30 – 9pm.