The first week of performances for CSU Summer Arts, a month-long showcase of world-class performances and lectures hosted at Fresno State, is underway with a variety of events open to the public. Events include a cinematography talk with Bruce Logan, who’s known for his special effects work in “Star Wars,” plus an internationally renowned urban Latin dance troupe and the “One-Woman Show” by Vicki Lewis.
The Summer Arts action began Sunday with the FOOSA Festival/Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy and continues Monday:
Monday, June 26 (7 p.m.): CONTRA-TIEMPO Urban Latin Dance Theatre at the John Wright Theatre at Fresno State (5201 N. Maple Ave.) Tickets: $20 regular/$15 discount.
CONTRA-TIEMPO’s work is rooted in salsa and Afro-Cuban and draws from hip hop, urban and contemporary dance theatre. The group created an invigorating blend of physically intense and socially astute performance that pushes the boundaries of Latin dance as an expressive cultural and contemporary form.
Tuesday, June 27 (7 p.m.): Byron Wolfe Photography Lecture at the John Wright Theatre (5201 N. Maple Ave.). Tickets: $10 regular/$8 discount.
Wolfe discusses his journey with cultural geographer Dr. Scott Brady as they traced Eadweard Muybridge’s travels through Guatemala and Panama to create photographic and textual analyses of the sites, spaces and cultures that Muybridge encountered.
Wednesday, June 28 (7 p.m.): Bruce Logan Cinematography Lecture at the John Wright Theatre (5201 N. Maple Ave.). Tickets: $10 regular/$8 discount.
Logan, known as the special effects Jedi who blew up the Death Star in “Star Wars,” will discuss his journey in the film industry. As a director of photography, Logan has worked with a variety of Hollywood legends such as George Lucas, Stanley Kubrick, Jonathan Demme, Joel Schumacher, John Huston and Terry Gilliam.
He taught a Summer Arts course last year and said he returns because the experience was so inspiring to him. His Fresno State lecture is a unique opportunity from one of the top minds of the “Star Wars” franchise that continues to grow with yet another movie set to be released this year.
Thursday, June 29 (7 p.m.): Readings with Ricardo Cortez Cruz, Joshua Edwards and Janice Lee at the John Wright Theatre (5201 N. Maple Ave.). Tickets: $10 regular/$8 discount.
Hear these writers read their works. Lee’s most recent work is “The Sky Isn’t Blue.” Edwards is the author of four collections of poetry including “Castles and Islands.” Cruz is the author of the book “Straight Outta Compton.”
Friday, June 30 (7 p.m.): Chamber Music Ensemble at the Concert Hall at Fresno State (2380 E. Keats Ave.). Tickets: $20 regular/$15 discount.
This collaborative chamber music concert features Lorenz Gamma and Mitchell Newman on violin, Dale Hikawa-Silverman on viola, Thomas Loewenheim on cello and Ming Tsu and Peter Nelson on piano.
Saturday July 1 (7 p.m.): Vicki Lewis One-Woman Show at the John Wright Theatre (5201 N. Maple Ave.). Tickets: $20 regular/$15 discount.
Best known as Beth on the television show “NewsRadio,” Lewis is also well known for her starring, recurring and guest starring roles on programs such as “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Seinfeld.”
Summer Arts, hosted by Fresno State’s College of Arts and Humanities, runs from June 25 to July 22 and offers more than 25 events for the public to enjoy. A full performance calendar can be found at www.csusummerarts.org.
For more information, contact Tanya Osegueda, community relations specialist at (559) 278-5858 or tosegueda@calstate.edu.
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