What Makes Sculpture Work?
Andries Fourie, WU Assistant Professor of Art, will explore the basic elements of three-dimensional design, which allow sculptors to articulate form successfully in space. He will examine the importance of elements such as negative space, repetition, scale, line, color, volume, mass, balance and texture, and will demonstrate their use as a means to engage the viewer and communicate meaning. The presentation will consider examples of both historical and contemporary sculpture, and show that design elements are crucial to the success of the representational and abstract approaches to sculpture.
1:00 p.m.
Smullin B-17
“Chinese Scholars’ Gardens” and “Imperial Chinese Architecture—the Forbidden City in Beijing”
Kevin Greenwood, who teaches Asian Art History at Willamette, will introduce two modes of Chinese traditional architecture, “Scholars’ Gardens" and “Imperial Architecture,” from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) through the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Scholars’ gardens are perhaps best known in the West through Chinese gardens constructed in various sites in North America, among them the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. We will examine the evolution and function of these gardens, as they shifted from simple productive gardens to sophisticated works of art and arenas for conspicuous consumption. In the second lecture we will be introduced to the spectacular and the sublime in Qing Imperial Architecture, as we analyze the diverse meanings of the Forbidden City (the imperial palace complex in Beijing), and then attempt to reconstruct the site where Scholars’ Gardens and Imperial Architecture met: the primary residence of the Qing emperors in north-western Beijing, known as the Garden of Complete Illumination (Yuanmingyuan), destroyed by European forces in 1860.
Thursday, March 6
10:00 a.m.
Smullin B-17
Culture of China
ICL member Betty Kasoff has been a frequent resident of China over the last 20 years. She has witnessed the enormous changes resulting from the rapid move to a “market socialist” economy. She will first present a brief history of the economic reforms, including a few critiques of the process and its outcomes, then share with you some personal observations on life in China before and after the reforms. Following her presentation other members who have visited China will share one experience or observation that helps us relate to this country that so shapes our foreign policy today.
1:00 p.m.
Smullin B-17
Mexican-American Movies and Dreams Willamette University Associate Professor of Anthropology, Peter Wogan, will discuss his current research on the owners of a Mexican video store in northeast Salem, two middle-aged brothers who grew up in rural Mexico and moved to Salem 20 years ago. After relating the story of his growing friendship with these brothers, Peter will focus on the cultural and personal significance of one of the brothers’ (nocturnal) dreams.
Click here to read the first three short chapters of Professsor Wogan's writing about his work. During his presentation Professor Wogan will solicit the class’s comments on his writing.
A Climate Change Solution (CO2 sequestration in Columbia River Basin Basalt)?
Most people now accept the reality of global warming. Deciding what to do about it remains a serious challenge. Ideas for alternative fuels are discussed, but in the short term, we’re stuck with fossil fuels. This may mean we’ll have to capture and sequester all the resulting CO2 underground. Unlike other parts of the country, the Pacific Northwest has few accessible deep saline aquifers or old oil and gas wells in which to store the CO2; the region is covered by many layers of flood basalt. However, it turns out that flood basalt itself may be able to immobilize CO2 even better than aquifers and wells can. Experiments by researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington, are under way to find out. Freelance science writer Valerie Brown, now living in Salem and particularly concerned with environmental health and climate issues, will discuss basalt’s potential as a regional solution to global warming .
For a bibiography, click here for an Adobe Reader (.pdf) file, or here for a Flash Player (.swf) file
1:00 p.m.
Smullin B-17
History of Church-State Issues in the USA
Professor Steven Green of the College of Law at Willamette University is a specialist in First Amendment issues, with a doctorate in history. He is the first director of the new Center for Law, Religion, and Democracy at Willamette and in this presentation will trace the complex history of Church-State issues in the USA.
Thursday, March 13
10:00 a.m.
Smullin B-17
Contemporary Literature Book Discussion
In preparation for our visit by historical dramatist Debbie Dimitri as Anne Hutchinson, our selection for reading this term is American Jezebel by Eve LaPlante.
Colonial era preacher, midwife and mother of 16, Anne Hutchinson just didn’t seem to know a woman’s place. She was called an "American Jezebel" for publicly teaching and interpreting scripture. A century and a half before the American Constitution erected a barrier between church and state, Anne Hutchinson defended herself against judges who proclaimed God was on their side. Banished from Massachusetts, Hutchinson helped establish religious tolerance in the new colony of Rhode Island.
Our ICL discussion leaders are to be announced. Several ICL copies of the book are available for your reading.
11:00 a.m.
Smullin B-17
“Photography-Enhanced Music” and/or “Music-Enhanced Photography” ICL members Dorothy Stewart and Evelynn Smith collaborate to share their personal passions: Dorothy’s love of music and Evelynn’s love of photographing the American west.
1:00 p.m.
Smullin B-17
A Visit from Anne Hutchinson
A courageous exponent of civil liberty and religious tolerance, Anne was banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1637 for challenging the leaders of her day. Popular dramatist Debbie Dimitri returns with another interpretation of an historical female character.
Tuesday, March 18
10:00 a.m.
Smullin B-17
Microfinance
Microfinance is flourishing within the financial markets of developing economies in ways that are integrating previously marginalized populations into the economic mainstream. The story of how development-motivated micro-loan projects evolved into a vibrant international industry has significant lessons for anyone working with development or philanthropic ambitions. In fact, philanthropists and others who fund development have evolved with the microfinance industry in ways that have created new vehicles and set new benchmarks for effective philanthropy.
The presentation will cover:
• an overview of microfinance around the world;
• a summary of key milestones in the evolution of microfinance;
• a discussion of the particular significance of performance monitoring and reporting in the development of best practices;
• an overview of how the role of donors and other providers of financing has changed during the evolution of the industry with particular emphasis on the role of new philanthropic individuals, foundations, and the funding vehicles they have created.
Mark Flaming, our presenter, is a development finance specialist with 20 years of international experience in developing financial institutions, regulatory frameworks and funding market instruments. He is currently the president of Frontier Ventures and provides advisory services to banking authorities and socially responsible investors and philanthropists who are working in the microfinance industries in developing economies.
1:00 p.m.
Smullin B-17
Great Decisions 2008—Philanthropy
We are fortunate to have our morning speaker, Mark Flaming, build on his morning presentation on microfinance to launch a complementary discussion about new trends in philanthropy in the USA. The role of philanthropists in the microfinance industry is mirrored in broader trends that are driving significant and promising changes in how philanthropists are organizing themselves and channeling their support to service organizations.
Our Great Decisions discussion will address the question: Can private donors be more effective than governments in tackling world problems?
Thursday, March 20
10:00 a.m.
Smullin B-17
Franz Joseph Haydn: Part 2—The Symphony Video Series
Under the influence of the Sturm und Drang movement Haydn added emotional elements to his music, which elevated the symphony to its position as the most important form of instrumental music.
11:00 a.m. Smith Auditorium
Do Oboe, Banjo and Shamisen Have Anything in Common?
Mitch Iimori is well known in Portland and Salem as a “doubler,” a musician who handles multiple instruments in one performance setting. The list of his instruments encompasses over 40, including: all the woodwind instruments (oboe, clarinet, flute, bassoon, saxophone, recorder, etc.); strings (banjos, guitar, mandolin, hammer & mountain dulcimers, etc.); and ethnic instruments (shamisen, shakuhachi, koto, erhu, suona, etc.).
For this hour, he will talk about and perform on the oboe and its relatives, banjo and its relatives, and the Japanese shamisen.
Oregon Economy—Review and Prospects
Chief State Economist Dr. Thomas Potiowsky makes a return visit to ICL. Dr. Potiowsky will review Oregon’s economic performance and future prospects, and will focus on the challenges faced by private companies and public policy makers.
For an abbreviated version of Dr. Potiowsky's PowerPoint presentation, click here for an Adobe Reader (.pdf) file (broadband connection recommended).
