James Madison University August 2015 calendar of events

Events at James Madison University in August 2015.

Aug. 3-31: Art in the Arboretum, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Frances Plecker Education Center, Edith J. Carrier Arboretum: Manita K. Bentley presents a photo art exhibit titled “Spring-Summer-Fall-Winter.” The collection showcases “a full circle of life in the place where I spend most of my time capturing the nature from the Shenandoah Valley including the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which I call ‘the sanctuary for everyone,’” write Bentley. For information, checkhttp://www.jmu.edu/arboretum or call (540) 568-3194. Free.

Aug. 5: Arboretum Summer Brown-Bag Lunch Lecture Series, noon-1 p.m., Pavilion, Edith J. Carrier Arboretum: Dr. Katrina Gobetz, associate professor of biology at JMU, presents “Bats, Our Night Visitors.” For information, checkhttp://www.jmu.edu/arboretum or call (540) 568-3194.

Aug. 11: Storytime in the Understory, 11 a.m.-noon, Edith J. Carrier Arboretum: The monthly program helps children develop an understanding of the importance of nature from children’s literature selections. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and a brown-bag picnic lunch for after storytime. For more information, check http://www.jmu.edu/arboretum.

Aug. 31: Fall semester begins. Classes meet as scheduled.

Aug. 31-Oct. 9: Duke Hall Gallery, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Duke Hall: Award-winning faculty members from JMU’s School of Art, Design and Art History display their work in an exhibition that includes two- and three-dimensional design pieces, as well as books, periodicals and other writings.

Attractions

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, open daily dawn to dusk, off University Boulevard: Contains a wide variety of trees and plants native to Virginia; call (540) 568-3194 for tours; free.

JMU Meteorite Collection, open daily, first- and second-floor hallways, Physics and Chemistry Building: Features fragments of meteoroids that survived passage through the atmosphere to fall to the earth’s surface as masses of metal or stone; includes specimens from Diablo Canyon, Ariz., the Sahara Desert and the Central European Strewn Field; free.

North Korean Refugee Youth Artwork Exhibition, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday through Sept. 18, 2015, Memorial Hall first floor: The first showing of refugee art in the College of Education, the exhibition features work by students at the Yeomyung School in Seoul, South Korea. The school’s students are all refugees from North Korea, and their art expresses both the issues of fleeing North Korea and self-identity. From Oct. 1 to 31, the display will be on exhibit in the Prism Gallery in the Festival Conference and Student Center. Supported by JMU’s College of Education. Also available online at http://www.jmu.edu/coe/aayae2015.shtml. Free.

Eighth Annual Area Youth Art Exhibition, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday through Dec. 14, 2015, Memorial Hall first and second floors: More than 120 works of art created by students from Rockingham County Public Schools showcase creativity and talent. Art teachers from 23 schools in the RCPS system selected some of their prekindergarten through high school students’ best work for this open exhibition, which includes a wide range of media. Supported by JMU’s College of Education. Also available online at http://www.jmu.edu/coe/aayae2015.shtml. Free.

Masks from Around the World Collection at the College of Education, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, lobby of War Memorial Auditorium, Memorial Hall: Featuring 50 masks, this collection was donated to the college for use by its students interested in studying the interplay between cultural ideals and masks; the collection includes masks used in performance, masks of Asia and masks of Europe; for information and to view the online gallery, see http://www.jmu.edu/coe; free.

JMU Mineral Museum, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Room 6139, Memorial Hall: The Department of Geology and Environmental Science opens its collection of over 550 crystals and gemstones from around the world to the public; for information, call (540) 568-6130; free.

JMU Libraries and Educational Technologies’ Special Collections, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and by appointment, Room 207, Carrier Library: Features manuscripts, rare books and periodicals, oral histories and other resources for study, including many acquisitions focusing on the Central Shenandoah Valley; for information, call (540) 568-3612 or send email to[email protected]; free.

John C. Wells Planetarium, Miller Hall: The planetarium offers full-dome shows and special events for the public; groups can schedule visits by calling (540) 568-4071; check the planetarium’s website at http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/index.shtml for the latest information; free.