Open House features culture, arts

The arts will make a strong showing at the university Open House Aug. 18-20.

The university is opening its doors to the community, offering public glimpses of many corners of the campus and scheduling nearly 200 entertaining and educational activities.

Parking in university lots will be free, and buses will shuttle visitors between major areas of activities Saturday. Visitors can pick up detailed information at the event, or plan an itinerary in advance using the online schedules and maps.

Among other arts presentations:

— The UW–Madison Art Department plans to showcase sculptures that use neon light as a medium Aug. 18-19 from 7:30-11 p.m. outside the Humanities Building, 455 N. Park St.

— Kitt Reuter-Foss will perform an evening of song from the Met to Broadway, Friday, Aug. 18, from 8-9 p.m., in a free concert at Mills Concert Hall, Humanities.

— From 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday between Humanities and the Elvehjem Museum of Art, visitors will be able to walk among mechanized, movable sculptures created by master of fine arts candidate Keven Burnett.

Art exhibits and galleries around campus will be open as well:

— Mixed media and oil paintings by Brian Marse, incorporating “scraps” from his own life into abstract pieces, will be displayed each day, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., in Memorial Union Class of 1925 Gallery.

— “Brought to Light,” a campus photography exhibit, will be open 8 a.m.-midnight in Memorial Union’s Theater Gallery. The exhibit emphasizes textures and patterns from visually interesting yet less-noticed locations on campus.

— “Cloth to Clothing,” 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at the School of Human Ecology, showcases student work from the Environment, Textiles and Design program.

Elsewhere, films will be screened:

— “Americanos: Latino Life in the United States,” a vibrant documentary celebrating the richness and diversity of Latino life, will be shown Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18-19, from 7-9 p.m. in 4070 Vilas Hall. Informal post-film discussions led by Lucia Nuñez, executive director, Centro Hispano (Friday) and Alfonso Zepeda-Capistran, president, LUChA (Saturday).

— Also Friday and Saturday, students in the 2000 Advanced Film Production course will screen three of their short films, 9-10:30 p.m. in 4070 Vilas Hall.

Finally, “Everything Must Go!” at a collaborative installation by Joey Fauerso and Leslee Fraser in the Porter Butts Gallery of Memorial Union. Fraser and Fauerso attempt to prove that art can have a social conscience, be fun and match your sofa. The installation transforms the gallery space into a furniture showroom. Each piece of art will be sold during the exhibition throughout Open House weekend. The artists pledge: No reasonable offer refused!

During the Open House, food will available at the Stock Pavilion, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Babcock Hall, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Memorial Union, 11 a.m.-midnight; and Union South, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Campus Open House is sponsored by the UW–Madison Office of Visitor Services, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, UW Health, The Wisconsin State Journal, WISC-TV, Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Company, and A to Z RentAll and Sales.