Annual Arts Week begins

It is a celebration of all forms of art and a partnership between Bloomington and IU. \nThe 19th annual 'Arts Week' begins today at 5 p.m. at the IU Art Museum Atrium. \n"Arts Week allows both the students and the faculty from IU to go off campus and see organizations and programs that are happening beyond the gates," said Jan Skinner, Marketing Director for the Bloomington Area Arts Council. "At the same time, it allows Bloomington residents and those from surrounding areas to go on-campus and find that it's not such a threatening place after all."\nThe series of events started out as a seven-day long celebration. But the festival's evolution over the years has turned it into a widely diverse series of performances, exhibits, lectures and receptions that stretch over 19 days. At its core, Arts Week is a joint effort to bring awareness about the availability of diverse art forms in Bloomington. \n"We want to raise awareness of how much art there is here, what the talent pool is in Bloomington," said Alain Barker, Director of the Bloomington Early Music Festival. "Our program especially relies heavily on talent that comes off campus."\nArts Week begins with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. today. The reception also presents "The Bloomington Biennial 2003," a diverse exhibit featuring faculty art from the Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts. Taking place every other year, this exhibit of contemporary art highlights faculty print, pottery and jewelry makers, graphic designers, photographers and painters.\n"Hopefully, visitors will realize that there's new and exciting art in Bloomington," said Joanna Davis, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator. "Some people have the notion that they have to go to the coasts to see contemporary art. This is a great opportunity to see art in our own backyard."\nThe reception will begin with a panel discussion across the arts on "inner beauty."\nGerald L. Bepko, IU Interim President, Sharon Stephens Brehm, IUB Chancellor, and Tom Guevara, representing the City of Bloomington, will join the opening reception to address the community.\n"Arts Week is a great way for the arts community to combine and get a message out that Bloomington is rich with arts opportunities," Davis said. "This is time to showcase and let people know what's out there."\nTHE EVENTS\nThe mission of Arts Week is to present the array of arts available to full-time Monroe County residents and IU students. Arts Week events are designed to promote a celebration of diverse arts. \nHighlights include a special creation for Arts Week 2003, "The Welcome Table, A Midwinter Feast of a Song, Dance, Theater, and Pie." The performance will be followed by a gathering on Kirkwood Avenue outside the theater for a potluck dessert dinner. Audience and performers alike will gather around a fire built on a limestone table sculpture, specially commissioned from acclaimed sculptor Dale Enochs. The performance will take place Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre. \nThe Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) -- one of the many venues spread across Bloomington -- will hold two special panel discussions and lectures to promote interest in books and publishing. January 27 features a workshop titled "Writing about the Midwest," with non-fiction authors, essayists and IU faculty members Scott Sanders and James Madison. MCPL will also host "Music Publishing Trends at IU Press" on Feb. 3. \n"We like to work in cooperation with the University or other agencies in the county whenever we can," said LouAnn Dillon, MCPL librarian. "The Indiana Room focuses on Bloomington and Monroe County. These lectures feature local speakers and have a local bent."\nOther events feature lectures by artists and literary figures, performances, evenings of dance, exhibitions and series of youth-oriented events. \nFor a full schedule and information on participants, venues and parking, visit www.iub.edu/~artsweek.\nAn Arts Week shuttle bus will operate from Jan. 24 to 26 (noon to 11 p.m.), transporting passengers to and from the Monroe County Courthouse in downtown Bloomington and Jordan Avenue on the IUB campus. \nFor information about specific arts groups or programs, contact the Office of the Dean of Faculties at 855-0230.