October is a busy month at Roanoke College. Events include art exhibits, performances, lectures and talks and two historic re-enactments. Join us! For event changes or additions, visit www.roanoke.edu/events.

Art Exhibition

Open until Sunday, Oct. 8

Olin Gallery – TEN YEARS AFTER! – Steve Keene
Smoyer Gallery – Chickpea Power  – Steve West

Steve Keene

New York-based artist Steve Keene’s exhibition marks 10-years since he first produced and sold hundreds of his brightly colored, hand painted multiples in Olin Gallery. Keene’s artistic process consists of replicating hundreds of painted images a day, emphasizing the temporality and performance-based nature of his art. Keene believes art should be accessible to all.

Steve West

Chickpea Power showcases a collection of Steve West’s paintings and drawings. The exhibition consists of portraits, cityscapes, and images from commercial advertisements.

Paper Blooms Project Workshops (with several photo options)

Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 3 (2 – 4 p.m.)

Sept. 13, 20, 27(1 – 4 p.m.)

Smoyer Gallery, Olin Hall

Individuals are invited to attend paper-flower making workshops at Roanoke College. Materials will be provided. These workshops are part of the Paper Blooms Project, a collaborative-based exhibition that will be composed of a collection of hand-made paper flowers to create a community garden. Works for this exhibition will be made by local and regional volunteers to unite and support the community through art. Groups and individuals are invited to participate in Paper Blooms Project by creating single or multiple pieces for this exhibition that will be on view at Roanoke College’s Olin Hall Gallery, January to March, 2018.  For more information, contact Talia Logan, gallery director, at mlogan@roanoke.edu or 540-375-2332.

Lessons in Leadership: The Cost of Sacrifice, Mike Harris  

Wednesday October 4, 7:30 p.m. I Colket Center, Wortmann Ballroom

Mike Harris is a retired veteran and state police lieutenant. He also served in the U.S. Air Force in the Vietnam War assigned to a squadron flying the F-4 Phantom and then advanced to be a squadron Commander of the Civil Air Patrol.  After the Air Force, Harris began a career with the Virginia State Police where he served as a lieutenant and officer in charge of many units. On September 11, 2001, he was given an assignment that lead to the present day establishment of an anti-terrorism unit.  Harris received numerous awards with the State Police, including officer of the year for Virginia, 1995.  Harris is currently volunteering with the traveling Vietnam Veteran’s War Memorial, The Wall That Heals with his service dog, Gracie.

The event is sponsored by Pi Lamda Phi Fraternity, in partnership with Roanoke’s Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Innovation.

Roanoke College Coffee Shop Talks

Thursday, Oct. 5, 8 p.m., Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea, Salem

Witches and Witch Hunters in Early Modern Europe” – Dr. Whitney Leeson, professor of history Roanoke College Coffee Shop Talks provide a relaxed forum for discussion and inquiry on a wide range of topics. Each one-hour talk includes a short presentation, followed by questions and discussion.

VACTE/ATE Education Conference

Thursday and Friday, Oct. 5-6, Colket Center

The Virginia Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, in conjunction with the Association of Teacher Educators in Virginia, will team up to host the biannual conference at Roanoke College. Attendees will include Virginia General Assembly representatives, deans and directors of teacher education programs throughout the state and representatives from the Virginia Department of Education.

This conference is sponsored by Roanoke’s Education Department. Pre-registration is required.  For more information contact Dr. Maria Stallions at stallions@roanoke.edu.

Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness

Saturday, October 07, 2017 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Cregger Center, Roanoke College.

The Roanoke/Salem Walk is part of a national Out of the Darkness walk movement, consisting of Community Walks, Campus Walks and two Overnight walks each year. In 2016, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosted more than 500 Out of the Darkness Walks spanning all 50 states, uniting more than 240, 000 walkers and raising millions for suicide prevention research, education and advocacy.

Performing Arts Series: Didgeridoo Evolution
Sunday, Oct. 8, 3 p.m., Olin Theater

Tickets: $12 Adults/$8 Senior Citizens and Students

Tickets available at www.roanoke.edu/events or by calling 540-375-2333.*

Didgeridoo Down Under features master didgeridoo players Rob Thomas and Tanya Gerard. Didgeridoo Evolution takes the audience on a musical journey to the Australian Outback, coastal rainforests and beyond, enhancing the experience with a dazzling multimedia display.

RC Wind Ensemble with the Blacksburg Community Band
Thursday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m., Olin Theater

The band will perform with guests under the direction of Dr. Joseph Blaha, director of the RC wind ensemble, and Jay Durner, director of the Blacksburg Community Band.

Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Michael DeJonge 

Thursday, October 12, 6:00 p.m. Colket Center, Wortmann Ballroom

Dr. Michael DeJong of the University of South Florida will speak about one of Luther’s most famous 20th century disciples, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a German martyr under the Nazis. In this lecture, Dr. DeJonge analyzes Bonhoeffer’s relationship to the Reformation legacy. This Reformation 500 lecture is sponsored by the Blakely Endowment.

A Panel Discussion on Refugee Crises: Past and Present with an International Response

Wednesday, October 25, 7:00 p.m. I Colket Center, Wortmann Ballroom

Panel members from area universities come together to provide viewpoints related to their areas of expertise. The purpose of this panel is to discuss the historic response to refugees, the current crisis on the plight of refugees; as well as the history of armed conflict and famine that produces displacement. An audience question and answer session will follow the panel discussion.

This event is sponsored by Roanoke College Community Programs, the Department of International Relations, and the Roanoke Refugee Partnership.

Art Exhibition

Friday, Oct. 27 – Sunday, Dec. 3 

Olin Gallery: Legacy – Highlights from the Roanoke College Permanent Collection (1842 – 2017) Smoyer Gallery: We Are All Homeless – Willie Baronet

“War of the Worlds,” a Roanoke recreation and joint production by Theatre Roanoke College and WRKE

Monday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m., WRKE 100.3 or WRKE.org (radio broadcast)

For the first time ever, Theatre Roanoke College and WRKE Roanoke College Radio are coming together for a joint production. Directed by Dr. Lisa Warren and produced by Roanoke student Elijah Wilhelm, this will be an adaptation of the radio play “War of the Worlds,” made famous by Orson Welles, and starring Roanoke College theater students.

When this play was first played on air on Oct. 30, 1938, many took it for fact, believing that a real Martian invasion was underway. WRKE and Theatre Roanoke College hope to honor this play, on its 79th anniversary, for the piece of art that is it and for its influence on radio and mass media.

The Next America: The View from Congress, former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte

Monday, October 30, 7:30 p.m. Bast Center

Kelly Ayotte was elected to the Senate in 2010, where she was ranked as one of the most bipartisan senators working across party lines to find solutions to our nation’s biggest challenges. During her tenure in the Senate (2011–2017), Ayotte chaired the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, and served on others.

She became a recognized expert on foreign policy, military readiness, revitalizing the private sector to create jobs, tax reform, and fighting the scourge of opiate addiction, among other issues. Prior to her Senate service, both Republican and Democratic governors appointed her as Attorney General of New Hampshire.  Before that, she was deputy Attorney General and chief of homicide prosecution for New Hampshire.

A Wittenberg Happening: A reenactment of October 15, 1517 at the beginning of the Lutheran Reformation

Event on Tuesday, Oct. 31, Noon, Beginning in the outdoor area surrounded by Clay Street, High Street, Lucas Hall, Alumni Gym and Colket Center and moving into the Olin Hall Courtyard

On Oct. 15, 1571, Martin Luther nailed a copy of his 95 Theses, which were a list of questions and proposition for debate, to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church. The following program will reenact this historical event.

Starting at noon (with the ringing of the West Hall bell), instrumental musicians (mostly brass players), spread throughout the campus, will begin playing the melody to “A Mighty Fortress” at their own pace and phrasing. After performing the melody one time, they will reposition themselves closer to Olin Hall and play the tune another time.  On the third playing of the hymn (still with individual tempi), all players will be in the Olin Hall Courtyard.

The cacophony stops.

An actor, dressed as an Augustinian monk, pushes through the crowd and marches up to the side entrance to Antrim Chapel where a facsimile of the Wittenberg Cathedral door is affixed.  The actor will “post” a document on the door and exit, once again pushing his way through the assemblage.

A guest speaker will address the audience and participants for no longer than five minutes on what this brave (or possibly insane) act of 500 years ago means to students, teachers and everyone today.

All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Roanoke College on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat. For additional information, call the Roanoke College Public Relations Office at (540) 375-2282 or visit Roanoke.edu.

-Submitted by Roanoke College Public Relations Department