As the snow piles up on campus and winter chills threaten the hopes of an early spring, one of the best ways to stay warm (and entertained) is to attend a local art event. This semester’s offerings range from paintings to theatre, each bringing their unique energy to the Middlebury community. These, of course, are only a handful of some of the exciting events, but the rest can be found listed in the Middlebury Art Events Calendar. Without further ado, here are some upcoming art events to brighten the cold, stressful days of spring semester.
In its 105th season, the Middlebury Performing Arts Series will continue to grace the community with its presence during spring semester, featuring musical performances whose genres range from classical to baroque to jazz. On March 7, Jordanian-Palestinian pianist Iyad Sughayer will captivate audiences with his raw, classical style. On March 28, the Isidore String Quartet will make their Middlebury debut with music that blends contemporary and classical forms.
British pianist Steven Osborne will follow on April 4 to dazzle audiences with infusions of jazz and classical music. To close out the season on April 27, violinist Alina Ibragimova and pianist Cédric Tiberghien will reimagine Beethoven's sonatas.
Music performances are not the only ones taking place this semester. Running from April 3–5, the Theatre Department will be putting on Gina Femia’s “The Virtuous Fall of the Girls from Our Lady of Sorrows”, which will be directed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Sheila Bandyopadhyay. The play follows a group of Brooklyn Catholic school girls as they lead a revolution to protest the authoritative environment around them.
The department will also put on Griselda Gambaro’s “The Walls” from May 1–3. Directed by Claudio Medeiros, this play follows a young man who is detained in a room, prompting him to question the world around him.
Aside from performances, there are also plenty of interactive art events to attend. Maybe try a West African Dance and Drum Class on Mondays in Wilson Hall, bring out that instrument you wish you could play more in Friday Jazz Workshops, or dance your heart out at the Middlebury College Radio (WRMC) Rave on March 28 featuring Arab/SWANA DJ collective Laylit.
There are plenty of other opportunities to be discovered, especially through the various campus organizations. Creating Art Together hosts workshops for all art levels for students to detox from their busy academic schedules by socializing and creating art. The Ceramics Club always has opportunities to make your next cereal bowl, or maybe you’ll learn how to shape metal into rings and necklaces with the Middlebury Jewelry Club. Whether it’s visual or performing arts, there are plenty of student organizations to get involved in.
For those who prefer looking at art rather than create it, the Johnson Exhibition Gallery has a new exhibit every month. Currently on view is “Textile Conversation,” which features both historical clothing displays and interactive experiences that teach about the history and art behind the textile.
The Middlebury College Museum of Art also offers exciting exhibitions. Currently, MuseumLAB: Teaching with the Collection is running until April 20. and focuses on interdisciplinary teaching. Professors select pieces from the museum’s collection and use it to facilitate larger conversations in their classes. The museum also invites visitors to come and contemplate how art can be a vital learning tool that intersects across multiple disciplines.
Of course, this is only a small sample of all of the awesome art events and performances going on this spring. There are plenty of performances to see, club meetings to attend and museum exhibitions to explore this semester to help you stay warm. Plus, if you ever find yourself leaving an event with a craving to write about it, you know where to find us…
Ellie Trinkle ’26 (she/her) is a News Editor.
She writes a column called “Makes Ya Feel” for Arts & Culture where she discusses different art mediums. She is a Film and Creative writing major and previously served as a Staff Writer for The Campus. In her free time you can find her obsessively making Spotify playlists, reading, and spending time outside.
