Free arts performances and programs January and February
Now in its 13th year, Modfest is a series of free performances and programs in dance, drama, visual art, film, literature, poetry and music, taking place Jan. 28 to Feb. 14. Participants in Modfest 2015 include guest artists, Vassar students, faculty, alumni, as well as students from Poughkeepsie area schools.
This year’s Modfest features several events tied to the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland. Vassar’s Thompson Memorial Library’s exhibition opens on Feb. 12, and a series of Alice-related events will lead up that, including:
“Alice in Our Times: Fantasy, Surrealism and Nonsense” concert (Jan. 31) featuring works by Vassar professors Susan Botti, Jonathan Chenette and Richard Wilson
ChoralFest (Feb. 5) will feature music inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the voices of the Vassar College Women’s Chorus, the Vassar College Choir and the Cappella Festiva Treble Choir.
Vassar College Improv will host a performance using characters, themes and lines from Alice in Wonderland (Feb. 12).
Additionally, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center will open its exhibition of large-scale paintings from its permanent collection, XL. The opening event (Jan. 30) will include a lecture by Joyce Kozloff, an artist whose work is featured in the show.
Several Vassar alumni return to campus to participate in Modfest: choreographer Bella Kosmacher ’14, composer Jesse Greenberg ’13 and percussionist and music software developer Patrick Litterst ’07.
The series concludes with a Valentine’s Day jazz concert (Feb. 14) featuring Brian Mann, associate professor of music.
All events are free and open to the public. The Vassar campus is located at 124 Raymond Ave. in Poughkeepsie. For a full list of events or additional information, call 845-437-5370 or visit arts.vassar.edu.
