Public Programs and Events for Spring 2013
MARCH
Wednesday, March 20, 5 pm
Third evening of four in the West African Film Series: "La Genese"
(Coykendall Science Bldg. Auditorium)
The Bible's Book of Genesis is given a new spin by director Cheik Oumar Sissoko in his film La Genèse which recasts a famous story by relocating it in the nation of Mali and using a cast of African actors. Covering chapters 23 through 37, in which the world is reborn after the great flood, Esau (Salif Keita) has his birthright stolen by his brother Jacob (Sotigui Kouyate) in exchange for a plate of beans. Esau plots revenge against Jacob, who is lost in grief after the death of his beloved son Joseph. When Jacob's daughter announces she wishes to marry the son of Hamor the Canaanite, his brothers insist the Canaanites must be circumcised. After the surgery is performed, however, one of Jacob's sons launches an attack on the men, still weakened from the mutilation. To Jacob's horror, soon every male in the village is dead. Esau later makes peace with Jacob when he informs him Joseph is not dead, but has been sold as a slave to wealthy men in Egypt, where the brothers then travel together to reclaim him.
CLOSED FOR SPRING BREAK: SATURDAY, MARCH 23 THROUGH TUESDAY, APRIL 2
APRIL
Tuesday, April 2, 5-7 pm
Codhill Press Poetry Reading "Spring, again"
David Appelbaum, Larry Carr, Steve Clorfeine, Dennis Doherty, Harry Stoneback, and Pauline Uchmanowicz
Wednesday, April 3, 5 pm
Final film of the West African Film Series: "Bamako"
(Coykendall Science Bldg. Auditorium)
Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako, the film depicts Melé, a bar singer, and her out of work husband, Chaka, on the verge of breaking up. In the courtyard of the house they share with other families, a trial court has been set up. African civil society spokesmen have taken proceedings against the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, whom they blame for Africa's woes. Amidst the pleas and the testimonies, life goes on in the courtyard.
Sunday, April 7, 2 pm
First Sunday Free Gallery Tour with guest educator Kevin Cook
Tuesday, April 9, 5 pm
West African concert featuring music played by Yacouba Sissoko, a Master kora player from the Djely griot tradition, with Famoro Dioubate on the Mandeng balafon.
(Alice and Horace Chandler Gallery)
Yacouba Sissoko is a Master Kora player from the Djely griot tradition. As such he is member of a caste responsible for maintaining an oral record of tribal history in the form of music, poetry, and storytelling. Born in Kita, Mali, his grandfather, Samakoun Tounkara, began teaching Yacouba when he was 12 years old. Samakoun's wife Bintouba Diabate was a famous singer in her own right. They raised Yacouba and educated him in his griot heritage.
He is in demand as one of the best kora players in the world, playing with jazz, Latin and R & B bands as well as traditional African ceremonies. As leader of his own band, Siya, and member of the group Super Mande, Yacouba continues to record with many famous musicians, including the groups Source, Tamalalou and Fula Flute.
Famoro Dioubate was born in Conakry, Guinea to a griot family. He is the grandson of El Hadj Djelli Sory Kouyate, a living legend of the Mandeng balafon. During his teens he spent a five years in Abidjan and worked with Cheik Smith-Sherif and Sekou Camara Cobra. Back in Conakry he co-founded "Les Heritiers" with Sekouba Kandia Kouyate and recorded the albums "Kandia Dinke" and "Nyoumekela" with this group. Concurrently, he was the understudy of his grandfather in the Ensemble Instrumental National and routinely performed for the President and visiting foreign dignitaries. He was a member of Mory Kante's orchestra for the performances and recording of the "Traditional Symphonie." In the early nineties, he was a member of the "Groupe Standard" which accompanied most of the visiting great stars of African music in Guinea. In the United States since the late nineties, he has worked as a free-lance musician for a variety of groups and dance companies in performances and recordings.
Friday, April 12, 2013, 5–7 pm
Opening reception for Fields of Vision: Works by SUNY New Paltz Art Faculty
Friday, April 26, 5–7 pm
Opening reception for BFA I Thesis Exhibition
(exhibition is open Friday–Tuesday 4/26–30)
MAY
Friday, May 3, 5-7 pm
Opening reception for BFA II Thesis Exhibition
(exhibition is open Friday–Tuesday 5/3–7)
Sunday, May 5, 2 pm
First Sunday Free Gallery Tour with guest educator Kevin Cook
Friday, May 10, 5–7 pm
Opening reception for MFA I Thesis Exhibition
(exhibition is open Friday–Tuesday 5/10–14)
Friday, May 17, 7:30–9:30 pm
Opening reception for MFA II Thesis Exhibition
(exhibition is open Friday–Tuesday 5/17–21)
JUNE
Sunday, June 2, 2 pm
First Sunday Free Gallery Tour with guest educator Kevin Cook
All events take place in the museum unless otherwise noted.
Support for museum exhibitions and programs is provided by the Friends of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art and the State University of New York at New Paltz.
If you are a person with a disability who will require special accommodations please contact Amy Pickering at 845.257.3844 before the event.
