The Spelman spotlight. (Atlanta , Georgia) 1957-1980, April 03, 1964, Image 4

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Page 4 THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT APRIL 3, 1964 Pictured left to light: Mrs. Carol Blanton Diggs, Professor Harreld, Mrs. Josephine Harreld Love. MUSICAL NOTES (Continued from page 1) lenc. This number was outstanding in many aspects and was enthusias tically applauded. Mrs. Love and Mrs. Diggs have been a piano team since their under graduate days here at Spelman. They first joined their forces for a student production by performing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Music majors were fortunate to have an opportunity, before and after the concert, to question the artists on their techniques and reasons for se lection of their repertoire. After the concert, there was a large reception in the Polly Kline Lounge where the two artists had an opportunity to renew old friendships with former classmates. For those of us still at Spelman, it was indeed a treat to experience the return of two such outstanding graduates. On April 9-11, the opening per formance of the new Fine Arts Building will begin. An operetta, “The Ballad of Candy-man Beechum” has been produced through the col laboration of the Art, Drama, and Music Departments. This production is unique in origi nality for all props and designs are being done by the Art Department, production and staging by the Drama Department, and music composed by Dr. Willis L. James, chairman of the Music Department. The operetta should prove to be an exciting and memorial event. Before making its annual northern tour, the Spelman College Glee Club will give its home concert on April 19, in Sisters Chapel. In the month of May the AMS Chorus will present its annual concert in the same hall. CAMPUS PROFILE (Continued from page 1) “An Artistic Manifestation” At a recent Phi Beta Kappa dinner Mrs. Ostrower expounded on a ques tion raised concerning the differences in children’s art and that of the ma ture artist. She stated that: “A child’s art is simply an artistic manifesta tion.” All children are endowed with some art talent—they are all potential artists. The differences lie in selec tivity. The child is not selective, he does not see what is good and what is bad. The adult tries to learn from his own work. He dismisses certain things because he finds them not good. Other things he will take up from his own work and develop them further. We find differences in style because the adult changes—Gothic, Renaissance, Modern. A child’s work never changes as long as he is a child. The practice of rotating outstand ing works of art such as was done last year when Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” was moved from its location in the Louvre for showings in our country has created consider able controversy. When asked her views on such a practice the Spel man artist said: “The practice would have a more positive effect on people if they were allowed to look at a work or art for more than one- tenth of a second. One work of art is not really important. Many works of art should be touring the entire country. There should be no Religious Emphasis Week Profitable Experience The Annual Spelman Religious Emphasis Week was held March 1- 6. Because of the excellent planning by Miss Lorna Wilson, chairman of the Religious Emphasis Week Com mittee, and other members of the committee, the week was very suc cessful. The theme this year was “Your Religion and Your World.” Dr. Clarence Jordan, director of the Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia was the campus speaker. His distinct personality added much to the week’s activities. The student body listened to Dr. Jordan during the regular chapel services of the week and found his messages very inspiring. During the evenings Dr. Jordan visited the dormitories to have more informal discussions with the students. They enthusiastically chal lenged Dr. Jordan on his convictions. As he met these challenges he gave the Christian religion a stronger and more positive meaning to all who listened. His insight on the meaning of a true Christian life is something to be admired. Even though the ses sions each night lasted well past the scheduled time, they seemed to have been over too soon. Another interesting feature of the week was the seminar. Participating in it were the student body and com munity religious leaders. After Dr. Jordan’s talk on Wednesday morning, the assembly divided into groups of about fifteen students and one or more consultants to discuss various topics under our theme. Other events of the week were organ meditation on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and private con ferences with our speaker. The Atlanta University Center Re ligious Emphasis Week was held during the same week and the Spel man students were able to take ad vantage of some of its activities. The Center’s speaker was Dr. Mor- decai W. Johnson. Two of the most outstanding events were the presen tation of “Murder in the Cathedral” by the St. Bartholomew’s Players un der the direction of Katherine Hock ing and the Holy Communion service held on Wednesday evening. The Religious Emphasis Week was one of the most outstanding events on campus this year and will long be remembered. Judith P. Fennell circus made of a great art work. If the Italian Government should allow a real showing of Renais sance art works in the United States, this would provide for more comparison which is a basis for art appreciation. People should go to see an exhibit of art work, not a name.” To promote aesthetic interest on the campus Mrs. Ostrower suggested that the following might be done: 1. Collect the fine number of repro ductions scattered about the camp us and assemble them in one very conspicuous place for viewing. 2. Exhibit student art works at the end of each semester. 3. Visit the Art Institute here in At lanta frequently. We welcome Mrs. Ostrower as a valuable addition to the Spelman fac ulty and look forward to viewing her works in the Spring. —Janice Joyner DEDICATION (Continued from page 1) prevalent in this part of the country, he felt, needed immediate attention. And so he set his goals and fund raising talents in this direction. Truly, Spelman’s interest in the arts goes back to the founders them selves. The first teacher secured by Miss Packard and Miss Giles, after they founded the college in April, 1881, was a teacher of music, and, in May, 1882, the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary (Spelman) and the Atlanta Baptist Seminary (Morehouse) jointly presented the first spring con cert, which is still continued in the annual concert series of the Atlanta- Morehouse-Spelman Chorus. In the more than eight decades of Spelman’s existence, deliberate em phasis has been placed on the fine arts. In music, art and drama, vigor ous programs in student-community cultural enlightenments have been advanced. It was the desire of the college to expose its students and the community to the best offerings available in the fine arts and to de velop in them taste and appreciation in these creative fields. Hence, over the years, Spelman has been unique in the dissemination to its students and community of fundamental stand ards of artistic appreciation and a growing awareness of the beauty and joy in life which is available to any one who has the ears to hear, the eyes to see and the ability to under stand the media by which artists express the beauty and joy of human existence. In both its curricular and extra-curricular programs, fine arts have played an integral role in the development of the Spelman young woman. Now, to stimulate even more the study and achievements in the various phases of fine arts, and to meet the increasing demand for training in these areas, Spelman has the added facilities of its new John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Fine Arts Build ing, a generous and welcome gift of the Rockefeller Brothers (Fund) in memory of their father, the late John D. Rockefeller, Jr., for whom the building is named. It is the sixth building on the campus to bear the name of a member of the Rocke feller family. Spelman itself is named for Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Buel Spel man, the parents of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Sr. During eighty-two years of the eighty-three years of Spelman’s existence, the members of five generations of the Rockefeller family have aided the college in its growth. This gift of a new Fine Arts Building is the most recent evi dence of the Rockefeller family’s in terest in the college. Situated just inside the gates of the college, commanding an impres sive view and entrance, the stately Georgian structure harmonizes with its own landscaping and with the other campus buildings without ever losing its own attractive character istics. The approach to the building for those on foot is by way of an eight foot brick sidewalk some seven ty-five yards to a gray slate outside terrace on through revolving doors and into a terrazzo finished, taste fully decorated foyer, the central entrance to all wings of the build ing. An imposing bust of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., rests on a mar ble pedestal in the center of the main foyer. This work was designed and executed by Mrs. Jay Buber of New York City who will make a special trip to Atlanta to supervise the lighting of the bust prior to its unveiling during the dedicatory serv ices. Behind the bust of Mr. Rocke feller, inscribed in the teakwood paneled walls is a portion of his credo. Each department in fine arts will have its own separate quarters, ex cept for three spacious classrooms, an audio-visual room, a small read ing room which they will share in common. In the West Wing of the building the department of music will be housed. In this section one finds ten air-conditioned, sound proofed practice rooms; one large chorus rehearsal room, with a seat ing capacity of 100; one large or chestra practice room with a seating capacity of 75 and with adequate instrument storage space; and one large listening room. Office space, complete with pianos, bulletin boards and blackboards, is available to de partment members also in this sec tion. The center section of the build ing is devoted to theatre. Its main feature is an ultramodern air-con ditioned, beautifully designed and tastefully decorated little theatre that will seat 302 persons. Just outside the little theatre is a little outer lobby, designed especially for late comers. Inside the theatre proper the muted blues and blue-greens of walls, seats and curtains give a rest ful and artistic touch that will be appreciated by all patrons. The flex ible proscenium stage looks out onto a spacious, sunken orchestra pit that will accommodate 40 musicians, who have three principal, subterranean en trances. The stage house itself is at least three times the size of the old cramped quarters in Howe Hall and features wing space enough to ac commodate two pre-set wagon stages, three trap doors, a complete counter weight system, and riggings and fly space for twenty lines. Looking onto the stage is the light control room, equipped with a modern control board, and just beyond, a front beam row of 12 ellipsoidal spotlights. Near er the stage, but still in the audi torium and on cither side, arc two recessed openings for additional frontal lighting fixtures. Behind the stage is a large area for scene build ing and painting. Just to the right of the scene shop is an experimental theatre, a small room, with a seating capacity of 50. This small theatre is fully equipped with its own lighting system and will be used primarily for student productions and play readings. In the basement of the building, just underneath the stage, modern dressing rooms for men and women, a costume room equipped with sewing machines, cutting tables, ironing boards, irons, lockers and racks will be found. There is also space in the basement provided for costume, property and light storage, as well as a small locker room for the personal possessions of drama students. A special feature in the section devoted to theatre is the Green Room, an elegantly furnished but nonetheless comfortable room for leisure lounging between classes or during offstage moments during rehearsal or production. This room will also be used for small recep tions or teas. Just off the Green Room is a small but fully equipped kitchen. The East Wing of the building is devoted to art. Included in this sec tion are corridors equipped for ex hibitions; a ceramics room with an adjoining kiln room; a sculpture studio; a graphics room; and a crafts room. There are also individual of fices for departmental faculty. President Manley with Religious Emphasis Week speaker, Dr. Clarence Jordan. On the occasion of the celebra tion of the dedication of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Fine Arts Build ing, in connection with the Eighty- third Founders’ Day Celebration, the departments of art, music and drama, working closely with the Founders’ Day Committee, have planned several concerts and other activities. On Sunday, March 15, at 4:30 p.m. in Sisters Chapel, two of Spelman’s own, Josephine Harreld Love and Carol Blanton Diggs, duo- pianists, were presented in concert. Alpha Brawner, a lyric soprano, and another of Spelman’s own, will ap pear in concert on Friday, April 3, at 8:00 p.m. in Sisters Chapel. The Anniversary Vespers Service in cele bration of Spelman’s Eighty-Third Founders Day will be held on Sun day, April 5, with the Reverend L. M. Tobin, Associate Professor of Re ligion, Morehouse College, as the speaker. The convocation on Monday, April 6, at 8:00 a.m. in Sisters Chapel, with Hale Woodruff as guest speak er for the art department, will initi ate the first of three convocations sponsored by the art, drama and music departments. The music depart ment will present as its guest speaker on Wednesday, April 8, at 11:00 a.m. in Sisters Chapel, Mme. Hedy Rose- laar, noted scholar in music litera ture and appreciation and a former concert pianist. She is the niece of famed Composer Gustar Mohler. Dr. Frank McMullan, Associate Professor of directing at Yale University will be the guest speaker for the drama department at the Saturday luncheon in the college dining hall at 12:30. The departments of art, drama and music will present an original folk musical, “Candy-man Beechum,” on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 9, 10, and 11, at 8:00 p.m. in the theatre of the John D. Rocke feller, Jr., Fine Arts Building. The events of Saturday, April 11, Founders Day, will begin with the decoration of the memorial plaques honoring the founders, Miss Packard and Miss Giles, by the Grand daughters Club. This will be follow ed by the Founders’ Day Rally and the report of gifts from students, alumnae and friends. Immediately after the rally the Spelman family luncheon will take place in the Mor gan Hall Dining Room. At 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 12, the formal Founders’ Day Exercises and the dedication of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Fine Arts Building will be held in Sisters Chapel. Speak ers for the occasion will be Dr. John Hope Franklin, chairman of the de partment of history, Brooklyn Col lege, Brooklyn, New York, and Mr. John D. Rockefeller, III, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rockefeller Foundation, New York City. At the close of the exercises in Sisters Chapel, the academic pro cession will go from the chapel to the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Fine Arts Building, where a brief cere mony of cutting the ribbon by Mr. Rockefeller will formally open the building. Culminating these events will be a concert by the Spelman College day, April 19, at 8:00 p.m. A special feature connected with the opening of the building to the public at the dedication services will be an art exhibit of the works of Mrs. Fayga Ostrower, a Brazilian visiting artist on the Spelman faculty, through the auspices of the Fulbright Agency and the John Hay Whitney Foundation. Mrs. Ostrower comes to Spelman from the Museum of Mod ern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she is a teacher. She is serv ing as artist-in-residence at Spelman during the second semester. Mrs. Ostrower’s artistic activities include drawings, paintings, murals, book il lustrations and modern textiles. She has won several international prizes and many of her works are displayed in museums in Europe and North and South America. There will be a corps of students and faculty members from the var ious departments to conduct our visitors through the building follow ing the dedication. The public is cordially invited to attend any or all of these events in connection with the celebration of Spelman’s Eighty- Third Anniversary.