Framingham State To Start Arts And Ideas Program

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham State University is presenting Arts & Ideas 2019-2020: a year of must-see speakers, performances, exhibitions, films, and more. The feature series for this year & program explores the theme of ROOTS/ROUTES, and looks at issues as diverse as the roots of fascism to the scientific literacy around climate change and the route forward.

The series kicks off on Sept. 17 with an exciting visit from Regie Gibson: a former National Poetry
Slam Individual Champion, and Chicago Tribune Artist of the Year. Regularly featured on NPR, he has appeared on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. He will give a must-see performance titled Shakespeare to Hip Hop. Other highlights from the Roots/Routes series include:

 A mixed-media exhibition and artist talk with Esteban del Valle, whose work explores
gentrification, displacement, identity and assimilation in relationship to del Valle’s lived
experience. His talk is scheduled for October 3 rd , and his exhibit will remain on display in the
Mazmanian Gallery through Oct. 25.
 On Oct. 10 there will be a performance and talk with Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre, a two-
time national poetry slam champion.
 Professor Susan M. Schneider will give a talk in December on the struggle for climate
sustainability and the role that behavioral sciences can play in motivating social changes.
 Award-winning writer Clint Smith will give the annual Olivia A. Davidson Voices of Color Lecture
Series talk in February that will push audiences to wrestle with the complicated truths about the
history of the United States.
 Author Reyna Grande will visit on March 26 to share her personal story of traveling from Mexico
to the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant when she was nine and later becoming the first
person in her family to graduate from college.
 And much more!

Along with this year’s feature series, the Arts & Ideas program again features events in the ongoing Moon Landing in Context Series, which is an 18-month look at history and social environment surrounding humanity’s greatest achievement.

Other returning series include the Art & Community Series, featuring a return visit from Eguie
Castrillo and his 11-piece salsa band on September 20; the Midday Performance Series; Lifelong
Learning Series and more.