Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- September brings the rock band Foreigner, tap dancing, guest artists, new art exhibitions and much more to the Kansas State University campus. Events, most free and open to the public unless otherwise noted, include:

* The exhibition "Konza: Sculpture by John Douglas Powers" is on display through Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Beach Museum of Art. Powers' kinetic sculpture, which evokes the Konza Prairie near Manhattan, is constructed from brass, aluminum and stainless steel.

* The collaborative, interdisciplinary exhibition the "Museum of Wonder" is on view at the Beach Museum through Saturday, Oct. 12. The exhibition celebrates Kansas State University's sesquicentennial and land-grant heritage by showcasing artifacts from numerous university departments.

* The exhibition "Pure Photography: Pictorial and Modern Photographs" is on display through Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Beach Museum of Art. This exhibition traces photography's evolution as an art form, influenced by countless individuals, thematic styles and chemical processes. It is organized by the Syracuse University Art Galleries, New York.

* The K-State Tap Dance Ensemble's "Improv Night" will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Beach Museum of Art. Enjoy the free performance by the ensemble and bring your tap shoes and join in the fun.

* The exhibition "Life is Brief, Art is Forever: Selections from the Sarah Katherine Watt Memorial Collection" opens Friday, Sept. 6 -- with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. -- and runs through Dec. 22 at the Beach Museum of Art. Works of art by regional and American artists have been donated to the museum in honor of Watt, a Kansas State University student who died in a 2006 car accident.

* The internationally renowned Boston Brass will be on campus for a variety of events for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. On Friday, Sept. 6, the quintet will perform a recital in All Faiths Chapel at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Boston Brass will join the nearly 400-member Kansas State University Marching Band for a halftime performance at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The ensemble and band will play a medley of Blood Sweat and Tears tunes. The show will include about 100 high school trumpet players from around the state of Kansas as part of Trumpet Day activities. It's also Band Directors Day, with about 75 high school directors joining the band and the Alumni Band. Football tickets are required for the Sept. 7 events.

* The Family Day Open House will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Beach Museum of Art. Come see the photograph "Flavio Amuses Smaller Brothers and Sisters" by Gordon Parks, the 2013 Common Work of Art. Event includes a self-guided gallery activity and refreshments.

* The Latin Jazz Ensemble will perform a concert at 11a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the K-State Student Union's Bosco Plaza as part of the university's Family Day. The ensemble is directed by Kurt Gartner, professor of music.

* The McCain Performance Series presents the rock band Foreigner at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, in McCain Auditorium. With 10 multiplatinum albums and 16 Top 30 hits, Foreigner remains one of today's most popular rock acts. Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office, by phone at 785-532-6428 or online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain.

* Guest artist Mark Babbitt will perform a trombone recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in All Faiths Chapel. Babbitt is an associate professor of trombone at Illinois State University and the principal trombonist of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.

* "Margaret Wertheim: Making Space" will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in 109 Justin Hall. An acclaimed science writer and exhibition curator, Wertheim will discuss the history of Western understanding of space as seen by scientists, mathematicians and artists. She traces the evolution of thinking about space from Dante to the Internet, and considers ways in which representations of space may be realized in physical and tactile form. The event is in collaboration with the Beach Museum of Art and the university's art and physics departments.

* A recital by faculty artist Patricia Thompson, mezzo soprano and assistant professor of music, will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. She will be joined by K-State faculty members Amanda Arrington, staff accompanist; Cora Cooper, professor of music; Kristin Mortenson, instructor of music; David Littrell, university distinguished professor of music; and Robert Edwards, professor emeritus of music.

* Homeschool Tuesday at the Beach Museum of Art is 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. The ArtSmart class will be "Media Madness: Pastels (oil and chalk)." Classes are $3 per child or $1.50 for Friends of the Beach Museum of Art members. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting 785-532-7718 or klwalk@k-state.edu. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please call the museum with cancellations.

* The K-State Orchestra, under the direction of David Littrell, university distinguished professor of music, will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, in McCain Auditorium. The concert will feature Rossini's "William Tell Overture;" Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, first movement; Smetana's "The Moldau";and Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto No. 2 with soloist Amanda Arrington, staff accompanist.

* "Book One: Target Earth" of the "Intergalactic Nemesis Live-Action Graphic Novel" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, in McCain Auditorium as part of the McCain Performance Series. Enjoy this mash-up of radio theater and comic book adventure. Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office, by phone at 785-532-6428 or online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain.

* The Student Recital Series kicks off with a General Student Recital at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in All Faiths Chapel. This one-hour recital features students from the music program's wind, string, keyboard, brass, percussion, and/or voice divisions. Student recitals are listed on the music calendar outside the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance main office, 109 McCain Auditorium.

* "Book Two: Robot Planet Rising" of the "Intergalactic Nemesis Live-Action Graphic Novel" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in McCain Auditorium as part of the McCain Performance Series. Enjoy this mash-up of radio theater and comic book adventure. Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office, by phone at 785-532-6428 or online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain.

* "Night of Wonder," the 2013 Friends of the Beach Museum of Art gala fundraiser, will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at the museum. Enjoy food, entertainment and surprises. More information is available from Sarah Hancock at sarhan@k-state.edu, or Janet Cooper at SJMPL@aol.com.

* The Konza Wind Quintet, the university's faculty woodwind quintet, will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 24, in All Faiths Chapel. Members of the ensemble include: flutist Karen Large, assistant professor of music; clarinetist Tod Kerstetter, professor of music; oboist Nora Lewis, associate professor of music; French hornist Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter, associate professor of music; and bassoonist Susan Maxwell, instructor of music.

* Experience the phenomenon of the Blue Man Group, a McCain Performance Series presentation, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, and Thursday, Sept. 26, in McCain Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office, by phone at 785-532-6428 or online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain.

* "Behind the Scenes: Library of Wonder" will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in the Hemisphere Room at Hale Library. Thomas Bell and David Allen, Hale Library, and Adrianne Russell, Beach Museum of Art, will discuss the origins of the collaborative exhibit, "The Library of Wonder." The exhibit, a companion to "The Museum of Wonder exhibition celebrating the university's 150th anniversary, features books, digital resources and hands-on activities.

* The Beach Museum's School Day Off Workshop will be 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. Learn more about collecting with a behind-the-scenes tour, a visit to the "Museum of Wonder" exhibition and design your own collector’s shadow box. Cost is $15 per participant or $12 for members. Preregistration required at 785-532-7718.

* Aggiefest comes to the Beach Museum of Art from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. Enjoy music groups in the UMB Theater. Galleries will remain open until 9 p.m.

For more information on all Beach Museum events, call 785-532-7718; for School of Music, Theatre, and Dance events, call 785-532-5740; and for McCain Performance Series events, call 785-532-6428.