BLACKSBURG, Va., April 10, 2005 – ArtsFusion 2005 will once again unite Virginia Tech and Blacksburg in a weeklong celebration of the arts from April 10-17. Sponsored by the Virginia Tech School of the Arts and the Department of English, this second annual affair includes more than 55 events in music, art, theater, dance, film, and creative writing at various venues around the community.
The overarching goal for ArtsFusion is to provide an opportunity for town and gown to come together through a vibrant observation of the arts. ArtsFusion has been designed to appeal to a variety of audiences as its offerings range from chamber music to jazz, street theater to fully-staged performances, children’s art workshops to gallery exhibitions, student projects to faculty readings to international film festivals, and tap performances to DJ dance nights.
ArtsFusion 2005’s opening celebration will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the Lyric Theatre with a free performance by Seed Is…, a Norfolk-based band known for their eclectic musical style including jazz, reggae, rock, funk, soul, and hip hop. Other featured events during the week include the Department of Theatre Arts’ production of Far Away, art lectures and exhibits sponsored by the Department of Art and Art History, and concerts by the Miro Quartet and the Department of Music’s jazz and wind ensembles. Virginia Tech's own acclaimed writer Fred D'Aguiar will do a reading at the Nerv (upstairs) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, along with English department colleagues Lisa Norris and Jeff Mann.
Another key event will be the return of Michelle Krusiec to her alma mater to conduct a film acting workshop on Friday, April 15. Krusiec graduated with degrees in both Theatre Arts and English. Since, she has made a name for herself as an actor, appearing on television shows such as ER, Without a Trace, Monk, and Cold Case. Krusiec's film credits include, Sweet Home Alabama, Daddy Day Care, Duplex, Pumpkin (2002 Sundance) and the yet to be released Cursed. Next month, Krusiec’s most recent film work will be released as she plays the lead opposite Joan Chen in the romantic comedy, Saving Face. Saving Face premiered at the recent Toronto film festival and also at Sundance Film Festival 2005. Garnering media attention for its unique story line and strong performances, the film has been acquired by Sony Classics. Krusiec also will do a Q&A session on the film industry at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at The Lyric.
ArtsFusion is proud to partner with The Lyric and DLP Concerts, Virginia Tech Union, and the Council of International Student Organizations. Virginia Tech Union will present a production of The Full Monty and sponsor Soundfest. ArtsFusion 2005 coincides with the Council of International Student Organization’s International Week, featuring an international film festival and talent show. Other highlights include A Capella Night, starring the student groups Soulstice, Juxtaposition, and Sensations, and lunchtime events in music, dance, and film. The Lyric and DLP Concerts will present CHICAGO CITY LIMITS, a New York-based comedy troupe, as the closing event at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 17.
Sponsored by the School of the Arts, the purpose of ArtsFusion is threefold:To celebrate the vibrant artistic scene that thrives year-round at Virginia Tech and in Blacksburg; To offer a wide variety of artistic experiences; and To increase the visibility of the high quality performances and exhibits offered by the departments of art and art history, music and theatre arts.
Started by the School of the Arts last year, ArtsFusion 2004 included more than 30 events in theater, art, music, and dance, and reached an audience of thousands. This year, the artistic offerings have expanded to include events in film and creative writing.
“After only one year, the number of events, sponsors, and participants has increased greatly,” said ArtsFusion 2005 Producer Katherine Keefe. “People are approaching us, wanting to be included. The excitement of this year's ArtsFusion is only matched by the promise of what following years could bring,”
Established as a unified entity in 1996, Virginia Tech’s School of the Arts is committed to providing a broad spectrum of public performances and gallery opportunities for the university and local community. For a complete listing of ArtsFusion 2005 events, visit http://www.artsfusion.net/ or contact the School of the Arts at (540) 231-5200.