Dr. Michelle Simms has rewritten H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" to shift the location of the first alien invasion to Bryan-College Station. In this fantastical classic story inspired by Orson Welles' 1939 radio broadcast, students from Texas A&M will perform the new work live at the Grand Stafford Theater in Downtown Bryan. Bookending Dr. Simms' "War of the Worlds" performance will be a multimedia storytelling session in which students from a variety of classes will inject their creative takes on local folklore through live storytelling and podcasting performances. A variety of folklore-themed drinks conceived and created by students and local artisans will be available to sample alongside the storytelling and performances.

She made a name for herself as a professional artist at a time when the art world was marginalizing women. She was one of the few female faculty members at the Art Institute of Chicago prior to World War II, becoming an innovative teacher known for mentoring her students. During her over 30-year teaching career she influenced generations of art history students, embracing modernism, introducing them to African art, and instilling her constant drive to explore new things into her students. Join us for a Gallery Talk & Reception on Nov. 7, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Stark Galleries with guest speaker Victoria Hennessey Cummins, Ph.D.   This exhibition represents the eighth installation in the Texas Art Project (https://uart.tamu.edu/texasartproject/) series.

The concept of pattern in the arts provides artists with tools that can limit creativity or suggest new avenues for exploration. They can offer a maker innovative options to explore with their accustomed materials and techniques; at times present a designer a means of control; advance a range of new ornaments and motifs to work with; and impart a new understanding of the relation between functional and decorative form. This exhibition will look at the impact of pattern in the arts using the University Art Galleries collections. 

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For our primary night of festivities, students will perform their major works, including a puppetry and musical parade and cleansing ritual ("Lorefest Spectacle"); musical and dance pieces ("Lorefest Music Stage"); interactive theater performances ("Lorefest Ghost Walk" with Kathy Torabi and Lions Pride Wrestling with Houston Carson); and folk, carnival and AR/VR games ("First Friday Games Booths" with Dr. Daniil Leidermann and "Galveston Railroad Escape Room" with Dr. Edgar Rojas-Muñoz and Anne Quackenbush). Dr. Johnny Guajardo and Dr. Joey Lopez will be set up in the heart of First Friday to talk with passers-by and hear what spooky, fun and Texas-centric tales to outfit the Lorefest Story Repository. Tim Weaver and students will be hosting a cryptid-themed photobooth. Victor Lucio will be printing Lorefest T-shirts on site. Don't forget to sample new folklore-themed food outside the Parker-Astin Arts Center.