Alliance of the Swope Presents

The Alliance presents engaging talks and demonstrations by area artists, designers, educators, and historians. The free Alliance presentations begin at noon on the third Friday of the month and are open to the public. For more information about the Alliance, please click on Support.

The 2020 schedule for the Alliance Presents is as follows:

JANUARY 17, 2020

Kira Kalonday – Indiana State University Ceramics Professor

Kira grew up in the remote, peaceful village of Namipiqua, in the mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico, where her and her art and life were profoundly influenced by the beauty and power of her surroundings. We can see evidence of this when we look at Kira’s flowing and serene organic forms. Kira has translated her origin story into all of her art, most notably her unique, clay vessels. The way Kira deconstructs and reconstructs her wheel-thrown pieces into fresh, new works and her use of flat, bright colors for her surface treatments allows the viewer to see many interesting positive and negative spaces, shadow, color and form.

Kira has been exhibited in shows in Mexico, Houston, Missouri, Oregon and recently won a prize at the Jurried Show at the Swope Art Museum. She also had a solo exhibit at the 2018 Brickyard Ceramics and Craft Show in Indianapolis.

Hostesses: Cathleen Hogan and Jane Conner

 

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Fred Nation – Swope Executive Director
The State of the Swope

Fred J. Nation has served as the Executive Director of the Swope since October 1, 2018. With his wife, Nancy, Fred has been active in the Swope for many years. Nancy has been a member of the Board of Overseers for several terms and as a member and sometime officer of the Alliance for three decades. Fred is a native of our city and was educated in local schools, including Indiana State University. His occupations have included, Reporter at the Terre Haute Star, Vice President of Development and Public Relations at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Editor of the Saturday Spectator, Press Secretary for Senator Birch Bayh and Governor Evan Bayh, and Executive Vice President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He has been active in many local and state organizations, including, Riverscapes, Wabash Valley Community Foundation, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and WFYI. Nancy and Fred have four children and fourteen grandchildren.

Hostesses: Brenda Milliren and Marlene Bilyou

 

MARCH 20, 2020

Brad Venable – Professor of Art Education at Indiana State University
Charting Past and Current Trends in Art Education: Who’s at the Controls?

Dr. Brad Venable has worked in the field of art education for over 40 years. He began his career in art education in the mid-1970’s. His education at ISU resulted in a Bachelor’s Degree and later a Masters Degree. After teaching art for over twenty years in Clay and Vigo Counties, he entered Purdue University where he earned a PH.D. In 2002, he joined the Art Department of ISU where he is currently the Coordinator for the Art Education Program.

His presentation will focus on the history of art education in the United States, the various trends that alter the direction of art education practice and curriculum development that takes place in schools as a result of those forces.

Hostesses: Patty Thoms and Eileen Prose

 

APRIL 17, 2020

Patricia McIntyre
Walls That Stand the Test

 

When Notre Dame Cathedral burned in April of 2019, the roof collapsed but the walls stood proudly against the flames. They were built well. Come hear the story of the ways stone and brick masons of history built walls that scoffed at fire, towers that defy gravity, and design systems that created buildings both strong and beautiful, historically important, and practical in function. “Load-bearing walls” don’t sound exciting – until the fire starts. Learn the story of craft and design that gave the world its wonders of architecture.

Presenter Pat McIntyre is an Ethicist. She is retired from teaching at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and ISU. She lives in Terre Haute with her husband, composer John McIntyre, and Mac the Dachshund, who runs her life.

Hostesses: Roberta Marietta and Nancy Nation

 

MAY 15, 2020

Mary Jo Maraldo
A Dialog of Images

Born and raised in Terre Haute, Mary Jo Maraldo lived in Japan for eight years. She began her studies of Japanese language and culture in 1971 at Sophia University, Tokyo, and in 1972 began formal lessons in the Ikenobo School of Ikebana (flower arranging). In 1984, she received teaching credentials in Ikenobo. She did numerous gallery installations of large sculptural Ikebana works at the Jacksonville Art Museum from 1982-1986. She began formal study of calligraphy in 1987. In addition to exhibiting in many group shows, she has had solo shows in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Ponta Vedra, and Sarasota in Florida, New Mexico, Terre Haute, and Marshall, Illinois.

Hostesses: Officers of the Alliance of the Swope – Cathie Laska, Eunice Pate, Pay McIntyre, and Elizabeth Friedman