Arts events: Friends singing frenzy, Native American stories under the stars, George Bellis exhibit
Friends’ singing frenzy
It must be spring. Birds are signing, and so are the voices of Friends University students. Three vocal concerts are scheduled in the next week at the university: the Singing Quakers’ “Venimos Cantemos!” Home Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday ($16, $13 seniors and students); the Concert Choir’s “Lost and Found Musical Treasures” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday ($16, $13 seniors and students); and the Jazz Vocal Ensemble’s Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday ($9, $6 seniors and students). All three are in Sebits Auditorium on the campus at 2100 W. University. Information: www.friends.edu/choral, 316-295-5677.
Storytelling under the stars
Jan Brooks of the Ojibwe tribe will tell Native American stories of the stars around a campfire Friday evening at Lake Afton Public Observatory. The first story will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the field to the west of the observatory building, which is on MacArthur Road at 247th Street West. If the weather is cloudy, call 316-978-7827, option 1, after 6 p.m. to see if the program has been postponed or canceled. The program is free, but regular admission to the observatory will be charged if you want to take in the regularly scheduled program or exhibits. Information: webs.wichita.edu/lapo.
Carnival of art
An exhibit of the works of George Bellis (1865–1956), best known for his carnival and circus banners, opens Friday at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. Historian Jane Rhoads will give an illustrated lecture about Bellis at 5:30 p.m. Friday during a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. It is free. Bellis worked as an artist for many years in Wichita, producing theatrical scenery, silent-movie sets, store windows, circus wagons, midway banners, mechanized animatrons, and decorative framed paintings and religious art. The exhibit will be on display for the next year at the museum at 204 S. Main St. and will be included in regular admission. Information: wichitahistory.org, 316-265-9314.
Annie Calovich
This story was originally published March 24, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Arts events: Friends singing frenzy, Native American stories under the stars, George Bellis exhibit."