Arts and Culture

History is replete with "black legends," conflations of truth, myth and bad press that have caused individuals, families, and whole nations to have what English poet and dramatist John Dryden called "a name to all succeeding ages curst." The term "Black Legend" originated as a reference to the world-wide loathing of Spain during its conquest of the New World, but an expert in the production of such cultural narratives says history, in one sense, may be repeating itself.

The University at Buffalo Humanities Institute will serve as principal sponsor of the First Annual Bloomsday Buffalo Film Festival, June 14-16 in the Market Arcade Theatre, 639 Main St.

A $75,000 grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. to the University at Buffalo Art Galleries will help produce a scholarly catalogue to accompany "The Wall: Reshaping Contemporary Chinese Art," the largest exhibition of contemporary Chinese art ever to travel beyond that country's borders.

Twenty-six students were honored for being the outstanding graduating senior in departments within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University at Buffalo's 159th general commencement ceremony held on May 15.

Three University at Buffalo faculty members were among the 52 State University of New York faculty members recognized for their research and scholarship by the SUNY Research Foundation at a recent dinner in Albany.

The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present "Explore the Arts," its theatrical arts summer program for children entering grades 5-8. The program will be held from July 11-15 in the Center for the Arts. Registration and fee are required.

The University at Buffalo Department of Media Study will offer a hands-on, two-week intensive workshop to teach filmmaking and digital arts as collaborative tools for exploration of movement.

A performance by Canadian mezzo-soprano Megan Latham on April 29 will be one of several concerts presented by the Department of Music in April and May as it winds down its concert schedule for the academic year.

The University at Buffalo Art Gallery will host four installations in the second floor gallery for artists and UB Master of Fine Arts candidates Jay Ariaz, Wanyen Chou, Rachael Hetzel and Kate S. Parzych. The exhibition will open with a reception in UB Art Gallery on April 21 from 5-8 p.m. and will be on view through May 7.

Beyond/In Western New York, the largest collaborative art exhibition ever held in Buffalo Niagara will premiere on April 15 with openings and performances at UB Art Gallery (5-7 p.m., performance 6 p.m.) and UB Anderson Gallery (8-10 p.m., performance 9 p.m.). The exhibition, which is free and open to the public at both UB locations, will be on view through June 19.