Westminster College Receives MHC Grant to Help Fund Presentation by World-Renowned Artist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fulton, MO ‒ Aug. 8, 2022: Westminster College is pleased to announce it recently received a Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) grant of $1,250 to help fund “An Evening With Nick Cave,” which will take place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2022, in Champ Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.
Along with sponsors such as America’s National Churchill Museum, the Callaway Bank, and Victor Pasley, the MHC grant helps Westminster bring Cave ― an acclaimed artist celebrated worldwide ― back to Fulton, MO, where he was born in 1959.
Cave’s studio is located in Chicago, where much of his art has been on display since the early 1990s: Following the 1991 Rodney King beating and 1992 L.A. Riots, the artist was inspired to create his first “Soundsuit.”
Designed to cover the body from head to toe, Soundsuits are colorful creations made from a variety of objects and based on the scale of Cave’s form. The works of art disguise identifying details such as race, gender, or class, forcing the viewer to observe without judgement.
Described by the New York Times as “the most joyful, critical artist in America,” Cave’s work is noted for its vibrant, shifting mediums.
His recent “Forothermore” exhibit that opened on May 14, 2022, at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art exemplifies these characteristics, many of which Westminster anticipates will be highlighted during Cave’s presentation at the College.
Cave will also discuss his life and the role of art in political and cultural discourse.
The evening will include a video presentation and discussion moderation by Columbia, MO, artist Kenny Greene, who will conduct a question-and-answer session with Cave following the presentation.
Hancock Symposium Chair Heidi LaVine, PhD, explains that “An Evening With Nick Cave” kicks off the College’s 17th Hancock Symposium, a three-day event featuring lectures and workshops given by approximately 20 experts in their fields.
Considered one of Westminster’s “signature” events, classes are paused during Hancock Symposium, allowing students, faculty, and staff to learn together in support of the College’s liberal arts mission.
LaVine adds that Cave’s presentation fits perfectly with this year’s Symposium theme, “The Changing Nature of Work and Play.”
“Nick Cave is an international art superstar, and we are thrilled to be able to welcome him home to Fulton in September,” LaVine says. “We hope that Nick’s talk will be a chance for our students and the entire mid-Missouri community to celebrate his achievements and learn about the vital role that working artists play in fostering empathy, compassion, and hope.”
For more information about the grants program of the MHC, please call 314-781-9660 or 800-357-0909, or write to the MHC at 415 S. 18th Street, Suite 100, St. Louis, MO 63103-2269.
ABOUT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Founded in 1851 and home of Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, Westminster College in Fulton, MO, is ranked prestigiously by U.S. News & World Report as the only National Liberal Arts College in Missouri. The institution is in the top 16 percent for graduate earnings and boasts a 98 percent placement rate. Westminster also is a Forbes Best Value College. Westminster focuses on educating and inspiring students to become the world leaders of tomorrow. To find out more about Westminster, please visit the College’s website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sarah Backer at 573-220-9038 or [email protected].
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