According to an artist’s statement:
鈥淪alt & Fury鈥� is an evocative body of work that delves into the profound connection between environmental forces and psychological states, utilizing the dynamic coastline as a powerful metaphor for internal experiences of anger, grief, and transformation. This collection comprises oil paintings of fractured shorelines, envisioned not as traditional landscapes but as 鈥渋mpact zones鈥� where human emotion confronts the boundaries of language, alongside abstract color works that surrender to pure sensation, embodying affect in raw, visceral form.

Gusler presented on her artwork at a sabbatical spotlight and opening reception on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

View a photo gallery of the reception below.

Gusler holds an MFA in painting and drawing. At 91短视频, she shares her love of immersion into these practices with her students.

To see more of her art, visit or follow her on Instagram at .

For girls into soccer:

Nike Girls Soccer Camp

For: Girls ages 5 to 13
Date: Monday, June 10, to Friday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Fee: $215
More info:
This camp offers a unique and engaging environment where girls ages 5 to 13 can have fun learning new skills, perfecting techniques, increasing their knowledge of the game and making new friends. Royals Head Women鈥檚 Soccer Coach Anna Hardin and her staff lead a curriculum blending traditional and modern coaching methods to help every camper progress to a higher level of soccer play.

For children interested in theatre:

Summer Musical Theatre

Students develop their skills in acting, singing and dancing in a supportive environment of highly-skilled, award-winning professionals and college faculty. 91短视频 Theatre Program Director Justin Poole and resident choreographer Ellie de Waal lead two three-week musical theatre intensives, each culminating in public performances of a major musical production. More info at emu.edu/summer-musical-theatre.

Junior Program
For: Rising 4th-8th graders
Date: Monday, June 24, to Saturday, July 13. Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Final shows on Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13, at 7 p.m.
Fee: $1,000 includes three weeks of instruction and rehearsal and two public performances
Deadline to register: June 14
Students explore the world of musical theatre and perform two musical revue shows in this three-week program. Auditions are not required.

Senior Program
For: Rising 9th-2024 high school graduates
Date: Monday, July 22, to Sunday, Aug. 11. Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Final shows on Friday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 11, at 2 p.m.
Fee: $1,200 includes full days of instruction and rehearsal as well as three public performances
Deadline to register: July 12
Students can choose between a dedicated three-week performance track or technical theatre track, culminating in the presentation of Seussical the Musical in the MainStage Theatre. Students in the performance track will engage in all morning classes and rehearsals and perform on stage. Those in the technical theatre track will engage in all morning classes and work with the costume designer, technical director, stage management team and others to support the production in all technical areas.

For children who like the visual arts:

Summer Art Academy

For: Ages 8-11
Date: Monday, June 17, to Friday, June 21 (first week); Monday, June 24, to Friday, June 28 (second week). Classes for both weeks are held from 9 a.m. to noon.
Fee: $180 per week of classes
More info: emu.edu/summer-art-academy
Cyndi Gusler, professor of visual arts at 91短视频, leads small classes for children as they explore the world of drawing and painting. Students in the Amazing Animals and Beautiful Botanicals class (first week) hike a trail, collect sketches on a nature walk and use that inspiration to make paintings and drawings full of vibrant color. Students in the Acrylic and Watercolor Painting class (second week) will improve their painting technique, build their artistic imagination and learn to paint from life in 91短视频鈥檚 art studio and outside on its beautiful campus.

For children who are science-minded:

Solar Solutionary Camp

For: Rising 8th-12th graders
Date: Monday, June 10, to Friday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fee: $250
More info: emu.edu/graduate/continuing-and-professional-education/solar-solutionary-camp
Campers will take field trips to local solar facilities and learn about solar energy as they build and deploy a to Africa for those without access to electricity. Students will gain a better understanding of the problems surrounding energy access and the threat of climate change. They will be divided into teams 鈥� assembly engineers, quality control engineers, reporters, community relations, and artists 鈥� and each team will have a set of tasks essential to the deployment of the solar suitcase.

Solar Solutionary Camp is in collaboration with the JMU Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Energy. 

Professor Cyndi Gusler’s are exuberant: they emanate a joie de vivre through vibrant foliage and flowers and inviting verandas where you wish you could spend a whole vacation. They were just what Susan Landes Beck envisioned putting on the walls when she began renovating a historic building in downtown Harrisonburg for her own and others’ counseling practices.

Beck is restoring the 1910 edifice, “356 S. Main,” alongside her husband, Eric, who runs Beck Builders and Green Hill Solar.听

“When I saw Cyndi’s art, it was exactly, exactly the type of bright, outdoor, colorful, peaceful scenes I wanted,” Beck said. “Cyndi and I got literally giddy together, coming in and putting her artwork up. And our counselors started coming in that day and saying, ‘oh my gosh, this is being transformed.'”

The exhibit has been beneficial for Gusler, too, as her normal slate of galleries and shows was wiped clean by the pandemic. Her studio space at home had filled up with painting upon painting leaning against one another.

“I wasn’t quite aware of how much it was contributing to artist’s block,” Gusler said. “When I physically took them out of the studio I suddenly had empty walls and empty spaces. And it must be an artist impulse or something 鈥� there was just something in me, I immediately grabbed a blank canvas and put it on my easel 鈥� as soon as I started painting, it was like fuel.”

The exhibit’s value goes beyond the aesthetic 鈥� Beck says it’s therapeutic. While many of the clients she and the other counselors see are currently receiving services virtually, there’s still a trickle of folks coming for appointments in person. Beck said that their grief has been palpable. She herself recently lost a close friend to COVID.

“We’re seeing the real intense grief and pain right now, and we’re seeing the loss. Loss of jobs, loss of our lives, just significant loss,” Beck said. “Honest to goodness, after we got this artwork up and I thought about who was coming in, I cried. Because I know who’s coming in here. I know what they’re going to experience through the joy of Cyndi’s art.”

In addition to the grief and stress brought on by the pandemic, Gusler said that painting helps alleviate the fatigue brought on by a cold, wet winter. 

“When I don’t see the sun break through at all, I can work in front of my easel. I have a canvas that takes up the majority of my peripheral vision. This is what I see, and I get into colors and shapes and it gives me that life that we’re just not getting 鈥� especially when it’s unbelievable freezing rain on freezing rain,” Gusler said. 

One of her current works in progress bears a tongue-in-cheek title most of us can get behind: “Dear February, I just don’t think things are going to work out between us.” And in the meantime, we have Gusler’s paintings to help us manifest warmer times and climes.

To view or purchase one of Gusler’s pieces, please visit , or contact Susan Landes Beck at susan.landesbeck@gmail.com to see the exhibit in person.

A colorful glitter makeover for Herm, 91短视频鈥檚 mascot, supplied by winning artist Violet Horst, took first place in this week鈥檚 Homecoming coloring contest. 

Approximately 50 entries were judged by Visual and Communication Arts professors Cyndi Gusler, Jerry Holsopple and Steven David Johnson.

Jennifer North Bauman, interim director of alumni and parent relations, was delighted with the turnout for the contest. 

鈥淗erm is usually wearing his coat of blue and white, but clearly he should be considering a trip to the store to pick out some other colors, or maybe he鈥檚 wearing them on the sly when we don鈥檛 see him, because these artists have given him many fresh new looks,鈥� Bauman said. 

Bauman said she planned to show all of the artwork to the new Herm when he appears for the Friday Opening Celebration. 鈥淚 think he鈥檒l be inspired and so pleased to see how our young fans have portrayed him.鈥�

This is likely just the first year of what will become a popular tradition, she said. 鈥淓specially this year, when we could not host our Lil鈥� Royals on campus for fun during the Fall Festival, Saturday afternoon of Homecoming and Family Weekend, the art contest was a great way to connect with kids.鈥�

The two designs for coloring were created by Rachel Holderman, media specialist in 91短视频 Marketing and Communications, and are still available on the Homecoming website for downloading if you want to have some fun. 

HERM COLORING CONTEST WINNERS

First Place: Violet Horst, age 7. Her proud parents are Mark Horst 鈥�05 and Debbie Boese 鈥�07.

Second Place:  Muhammad Babar, age 6. Proud parents: Nabeel Babar & Sharmila Afzal 

Third Place: Sydney Byler, age 8. Proud parents: Holden Byler 鈥�06 and Heidi Bowman Byler 鈥�04 

Fourth Place: Nora Sandberg, age 7. Proud parents: Daniel Sandberg 鈥�05 and Megan Yoder Sandberg 鈥�05 

Nine student artists have banded together to create 91短视频鈥檚 first virtual senior exhibition, which will be unveiled on Friday, April 24. Professor Cyndi Gusler said that when the group got word in March that they wouldn鈥檛 be returning to campus for the semester, the photographers, illustrators, printmakers, videographers, and painters decided to adapt their material to be shown online.

Seniors Emily Young and Kiana Childress took the lead crafting the website, and all nine students met over Zoom to review and critique one another鈥檚 work. 

鈥淚t’s been a whirlwind of activity, but the group has shown resilience and creative problem solving along the way,鈥� Gusler said. The show will remain online through Sunday, May 3. 

See examples of their work below, and be sure to tune in to the digital gallery at .

Sultan Alsulaiman

Alsulaiman is a digital media major from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He hopes to work in sports media. 

“Photography as an art has the ability to educate people about different cultures and give them general sense by documenting events and traditions using photos,” Alsulaiman said.

Alsulaiman鈥檚 photographs feature people wearing clothes from different cultures 鈥渢hat are strange to them 鈥� I think that coming to 91短视频 from the Middle East has helped me to discover other cultures and thoughts. My photographs may help viewers broaden their acceptance of different cultures.鈥�

Kiana Childress

Childress is a communications and photography double major, and intends to pursue her master鈥檚 degree at 91短视频 after graduation.

鈥淚 truly believe that my purpose is to tell stories and connect with others using my strong communication and visual skills,鈥� Childress said. Her senior show, titled Cultural Inclusion in Infrared, was inspired by the visual elements of infrared portraiture.

鈥淥ne can notice how it gives each human being the same enhanced dark eyes, dark hair, and pale-white smooth skin 鈥� with knowing these characteristics, it鈥檚 difficult to assume the person鈥檚 ethnic background or origin; allowing the viewer to see the world from a different perspective,鈥� Childress said. 鈥淚t has the potential to remove racial barriers that could definitely help with societal and social issues that have caused divides in our world today.鈥�

Stephanie Gilbertson

Gilbertson is a digital media major who plans to intern in Washington, D.C. following graduation. She was born in Niamey, Niger and moved with her family to America at age four.

Gilbertson鈥檚 show, titled 鈥淔aith, Hope, and Love 鈥︹�� is a collection of animations inspired by songs, stories, media, and her family. 

鈥淚 may tend to go more on the emotional side but, I can also go visual. I can visually perceive how astonishing a basic object can be. That鈥檚 the root of my perception of the world and people,鈥� Gilbertson said. 鈥淢y idea for this piece is to express myself, and display what I see and feel in a visual platform.鈥�

Bryan Luna

Luna is a digital media major whose future plans are 鈥渟imply to sharpen up his craft.鈥� He finds inspiration in existential philosophy.

Luna鈥檚 video work places himself in the spotlight, because 鈥渇or the longest time, I tried to separate my voice from my own work. Identity and purpose are things that I have always struggled with, and I created art devoid of me as a means to ignore that confrontation. Through this project, I set out to end that silence, without subtlety.鈥�

Raviv Monahan

Monahan is an art and bible, religion, and theology double major who intends to pursue a master鈥檚 in labor studies or a master of fine arts. He is inspired by Cuban pop art, leftist philosophy, and Leninist and Marxist political theory.

Monahan鈥檚 show, titled 隆Venceremos!, includes work of different media inspired by figures and movements like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, and particularly the radical political messages behind their art.

鈥淎rt has a message inherently, and I think that鈥檚 also what draws me to early Soviet art and Cuban pop art; much like Warhol and Haring, these movements made no secret of their affinity for leftism, by infusing their work with slogans, playful text, and revolutionary iconography such as Guerrillero Heroico,鈥� Monahan said.

Mandy Puffenbarger

Puffenbarger is a digital media art and communications double major from Linville, Va. She plans to return to 91短视频 in the fall to finish her college career, and assist with various productions on campus.

Puffenbarger鈥檚 show started out as a screenplay, which became a short film, which became black and white diptych images that 鈥減ortray different identities of the same person鈥� within the film. 

鈥淭he woman in the film deals with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. The photos on the left is the reality of the event and the image on the right is what the young woman is experiencing. The images follow closely to the script written to make it come to life,鈥� Puffenbarger said. 

Stephen Sheppard

Sheppard is a digital media major with a minor in business administration. He joined the Visual and Communication Arts department in his junior year, and has developed skills across multiple media. 

Sheppard鈥檚 surreal collage work is inspired by contemporary artist Robert Rauschenberg, whose 鈥渇ocus was directed towards political, social, and environmental movements taking place during the era,鈥� he said. Sheppard has taken this impetus to look into our relationship with media.

鈥淎s the media plays a huge role in our lives with regard towards the content that we have access to, these source outlets have the ability to form content in a biased fashion. As a result, we are sometimes left uninformed of what is really important.鈥�

Nik Tucker

Tucker is a marketing major who plans to take a position with the ministry Every Nation after graduation. 鈥淚 am an avid videographer and photographer that is first and foremost a missionary for the gospel of Jesus Christ,鈥� Tucker said.

Tucker鈥檚 senior photography show asks the viewer to 鈥渂e still. In a world full of chaos, the human mind and body takes little time to stop and recharge. We constantly keep moving until it鈥檚 too late to save our mental, physical, and spiritual health. The God of peace is allowing us to have peace within the pandemic,鈥� Tucker writes in his artist’s statement. “Using a wide angle lens and lots of empty space, you first would get the impression that the subject is alone鈥� yet in this case he is not alone at all.”

Emily Young

Young is a digital media and marketing double major who plans to return to her hometown of Fredericksburg, Va. and pursue a career in graphic design. She has also developed a cottage industry for herself creating hyper-realistic dog illustrations for pet owners.

Young鈥檚 digital illustrations are recreations of photographs made up of tens of thousands of painstakingly hand-drawn shapes. 

鈥淭he first ship that I created was a birthday present for my dad, which was the ship

that he served on while in the Navy,鈥� Young said. 鈥淓ven though this is a slow, time consuming process, the end result is always worth the wait.鈥�

For arts more broadly, until the late 20th century, many North American Mennonites limited the arts to purposes of functionality, as in hand-crafted quilts for beds or pottery to contain foodstuffs, or education, as in artistic creations with explicitly Christian themes.

As early as the 1920s some tentative steps were taken towards permitting visual and performing arts on campus, but that tension was not fully resolved until the 1970s. (This approximation is a venture based on this timeline, but perhaps alumni of that era may provide other evidence to the contrary.)

During mid-1960s through the 1970s 鈥� encompassing 15 years of great social change within Eastern Mennonite College and beyond 鈥� president and theologian Myron Augsburger BA 鈥�55, BTh 鈥�58, guided the institution from insularity into full acceptance of activities that undergird a liberal arts college, including art, instrumental music, drama and intercollegiate athletics.

Now at 91短视频, students learn to study and use art transform the world, discover purpose, deepen faith, reach across generations and enter into healing spaces.

This timeline of the arts at Eastern Mennonite was created by Randi B. Hagi ’15 and editor Lauren Jefferson. It was reviewed by professors Jerry Holsopple, John Fast, Joan Griffing, John Horst, Heidi Winters Vogel, Stephen Sachs and Barbra Graber, as well as by Gretchen Maust ’73.

We welcome additions or comments. Please use the comment box at the end of this article.

***

1913

The first constitution specifies that was to be taught, and no instruments were permitted.

1918

Noah D. Showalter joins the faculty as the first music teacher. He has a certificate from the American Normal School of Music in Harrisonburg, and had studied voice under renowned teacher J.D. Brunk.

1920

Students form music groups for entertainment: duets, quartets, choruses, trios, octets and double mixed quartets.

1921

Commencement includes music.

1922

The first president, J. B. Smith, resigns because he has a piano in his home, which his oldest daughter plays. (Instrumental music was officially banned from Mennonite churches.) The Smith family returns to Ohio. He was replaced by A.D. Wenger, whose wife Anna May Wenger then gave up her pump organ in support, although she was later chastised for subsequently playing at someone else鈥檚 home.

C.K. Lehman directs 鈥淭he Holy City鈥� at commencement, which becomes an annual performance until 1970.

1923

The first issue of the Eastern Mennonite School Journal is published, as well as the first annual.

1924

A faculty quartet is formed. Seniors were allowed individual photos in the school annual.

1927

Virginia Conference forbids bishops, ministers and deacons from possessing musical instruments and urges all members to do the same. (This is rescinded in 1947).

鈥淎ny instrument playing rag-time music had to be deposited with the business manager or sent home,鈥� says the student handbook.

The first visual art classes are taught at the high school level by a home economics teacher.

1930

The 鈥淴-Hall鈥� or 鈥淕uild,鈥� a small building behind Northlawn Residence Hall, is built as an exercise hall, but is eventually used as a . It is now a storage space.

More than 70 percent of the student body (148 at the time) belonged to one of three campus choruses, which sang only hymns and only a capella (without instrumental accompaniment).

1937

The Mixed Choir makes the first tour to Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

1939

Mark Stauffer 鈥�35, Juilliard-trained and a Madison College graduate, is the first full-time music instructor and first faculty member with a music degree. He expands offerings beyond the previously offered two courses, to appreciation, voice, introduction to music, history of music, church music, theory and choral conducting. Stauffer will lead choirs through the 鈥�60s.

The Christmas Cantata, first offered by faculty as a gift to students, becomes a tradition.

The Weather Vane newspaper begins as a one-page mimeograph, growing to a two-page pamphlet by its third issue.

1943

Lehman Chapel is built as an all-purpose space for chapel, music and theater, among other activities.

1944

becomes the first art professor. She also teaches physical education until her retirement in 1987, but then continued teaching a watercolor class until 1996.

Skits are allowed but must be 鈥減urposeful rather than merely entertaining.鈥� Costuming is not allowed, but draping (wearing of clothes over regular attire) is.

1945

The Shenandoah annual is established.

1947

A second touring choir is formed by 24 members of the mixed chorus. They visit Ontario churches.

The original farmer鈥檚 cottage, located near the current seminary building, is converted to EMC鈥檚 first art building.

1948

The faculty council expresses mixed concerns, but not consensus, about student attendance at opera and Shakespeare productions.

Guitars, phonographs and other instruments are allowed to be played in the recreation room in the basement of Northlawn Residence Hall.

Earl M. Maust joins the faculty. He teaches until his death in 1969.

1949

A faculty committee recommends allowing the use of motion pictures for teaching.

1952

The record player for instructional purposes is allowed.

1954

WEMC begins, with singing and spoken broadcasts. No instrumental music recordings are allowed. .

1955

The faculty adopt a statement about dramatics that limits productions to less than full performances, with costuming and props kept to a minimum.

1956

The merge, and the Weather Vane changes to a newspaper format, including halftone photographs.

1958

The Phoenix, 91短视频鈥檚 literary and visual arts journal, is founded by Professor听I.B. Horst ’39. Literature professor J. Herbert Martin ’59 serves as its first editor.

1959

Films are shown once a month for entertainment purposes in the assembly room.

1960

The first full-length theater production, sponsored by the Smithsonian literary society, is The Diary of Anne Frank.

A Festival of Fine Arts features plays, lectures on the arts, art displays and musical presentations.

1961

The Windsock, the Eastern Mennonite High School newspaper, separates from the Weather Vane. The first are run in the Weather Vane.

1962

A piano is permitted in the music department for 鈥渢echnical studies.鈥�

Instrumental music is no longer banned on college radio broadcasts.

A piano is accepted as an alumni gift for the student lounge.

1963

The Piranha, the first underground student newspaper, forms in the face of administration censorship of the Weather Vane. Censorship was dropped the following year, and the Piranha died with it.

1965

A small student instrumental group forms, which soon grows to an orchestra led by music professor Ira Zook.

1968

The new opens, and with that, the largest classroom on campus is used as a recital hall, theater, and general performance space.

Faye Garber Yoder graduates as EMC鈥檚 first piano concentration under the music major.

1970

“Rebirth,” a student group, releases their first album after first playing together during the 1969 Miracle Fund Drive for the new Hartzler Library. The group eventually went on two tours and in 2016, released a third and final album. Read more .

The Board of Trustees approves the commission of painted portraits of the five college presidents, to be placed in the new Hartzler Library. This building is dedicated in October 1971, with the portraits, painted by Oliver Schenk, hanging in the second floor “President’s Room.”

1972

graduates as the first art major, earning a degree in secondary art education. The current art building is named after her, and her sculptures can be found around campus, such as the Love Essence white figures by the seminary. She founds the EMHS arts program, which she runs until 1980.

1976

Lehman Chapel is for essentially the first time, becoming EMC鈥檚 first performing arts auditorium, with sound equipment, side stage exits, dressing rooms, and a rehearsal hall.

1981

Barbra R. Graber ’76 becomes the first theater professor (specifically, assistant instructor in drama)

1981

The 91短视频 JAZZ, a big band ensemble, and Swing Sisters, a female vocal ensemble, begin under the direction of Professor Stephen Sachs.

1983

鈥淏asileas鈥� forms, an eight-member traveling drama and music group which performs in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania church and schools.

Also in 1983, a cast of eight actors in “Storm: An Improvisation on the Theme of the Sexes” bring in poetry, monologues, sketches and skits, scenes from larger plays, even cartoons that are then woven together into an original show that introduces the larger culture’s discussion of feminist ideas through humor and improvisation. “It was quite an undertaking!” Barbra Graber remembers. “The audiences were enthusiastic. Sociology professor John Eby and his wife pulled me aside after the show to say, ‘We wish we had seen this show about 20 years ago!'”

1985

Bradley Swope graduates as the first organ major.

1986

The Weather Vane switches to desktop computer publishing.

1991

Working with Ted Swartz 鈥�89, M.Div 鈥�92, Professor Barbra Graber ’76 co-founds and directs AKIMBO, an award-winning community-based professional theater with Mennonite themes and participants. The group continues until 1998. Members included Lee Eshleman ’86, Suzanne Kiblinger ’91 Kratz, Jeremy Frey ’92, Pamela Frey ’92, Rose Stauffer ’85, Ingrid DeSanctis ’88, Duane Sider, Nancy Good and Joy McIlvaine ’88.

1992

The , a week-long summer music festival, begins.

AKIMBO is commissioned to create the 75th anniversary theater production. Barbra Graber, Ted Swartz and Duane Sider collaborate听 in the playwriting.

Also in 1992, “HomecomingHome,” a collaboration of Kenneth J. Nafziger and Barbra Graber, presents dramatic and musical segments “on the theme of coming home听to the Body, as sacred temple;听to the Earth, where all things are connected;听to the Family, with the tragedy of abuse and dysfunction as well as the joy of togetherness;听and to Death, our natural place of rest.”

1996

“Drippings of the Honeycomb” is a theatrical multi-media performance based on portions of the Psalms and Proverbs. Barbra Graber says of this production that she may have never experienced “a more profound creative experience. We would begin each rehearsal going into quiet prayer and guided meditation on the chosen Psalm or Proverb. Then we would get up and begin to embody what came to us during the quiet time. It was truly profound. I had the distinct feeling that the text was somehow infusing us with creativity.”

1998

The first digital media classes are taught by Jerry Holsopple, then a part-time instructor.

2000

A communication major is created within the Language and Literature Department, with an emphasis on digital media. (The first full-time faculty member, in 2001, is Jerry Holsopple).

2002

Previously housed under the expansive Language and Literature Department, communication and theater become autonomous departments, moving along with art into the newly renovated University Commons office suite.

2003

Professor Ken J. Nafziger leads the along with Ysaye Maria Barnwell, a member of the renowned gospel group Sweet Honey in the Rock. From 1999 to 2003, when President Bill Clinton opened the doors to Cuba through education-centered travel permits, Nafziger made 11 music-centered trips.

2004

The jazz band plays its final season.

2006

Digital media and photography majors are added. The Visual and Communication Arts Department, known popularly as VACA, is the result of a merger between the communication department and the art department.

2007

WMRA picks up the WEMC broadcast, retaining Mostly Mennonite, Mostly A Cappella, hosted by emeritus professor John Horst, from 8-9:30 a.m. Sundays (encore at 8 p.m. Wednesdays). Also retained is the Park View Mennonite Church worship services, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. 91.7 FM and online at.

2008

Theater professor Heidi Winters Vogel and student Pam Mandigo ’08 found , a summer high school theater workshop. This program is supported by Arts Council of the Valley and 91短视频 with students from area high schools.

2009

Professor Cyndi Gusler introduces to 91短视频. The biannual Mennonite Church convention begins featuring the show.

2009-2010

Renovations in the older part of the University Commons create two new theater spaces, a new digital media lab and the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery.

2010

Into the Window is the first exhibition in the new Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery, featuring icons painted by Jerry Holsopple during his year in Lithuania as a Fulbright Scholar.

Phase II construction of the University Commons is completed, including the renovated 200-seat MainStage Theater, the relocated Lee Eshleman Studio Theater, the new Margaret Martin Gehman Art Gallery and the new Kenneth A. Longacre Sr. Advanced Media Lab. The facility is in the spring of 2011.

2011

The Bus Stop by Chinese Nobel Laureate dramatist Gao Xingjian inaugurates the new . 听This production was directed by Heidi Winters Vogel and featured original music by Frances Miller.

The new Studio Theater space is to actor Lee Eshelman ’86, who also worked in the 91短视频 print shop and as a graphic designer.

2011

Theater professor Heidi Winters Vogel co-founds the 鈥淚nside Out Playback Theatre鈥� group, which employs a form of improvisational drama based on audience storytelling, after participating in informal Summer Peacebuilding Institute workshops led by .

2013

by playwright and immigration lawyer Kara Hartzler ’94, directed by Heidi Winters Vogel, is invited to the Mennonite National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

Visual and Communication Arts Department merges with the Theater Department.

2015

Emulate, a touring ensemble, forms under the direction of Professor Ryan Keebaugh.

Jonathan Drescher-Lehman ’15 is the first 91短视频 student to win entrance into the prestigious North American Nature Photography Association College Scholars program. He produces a , with other scholarship recipients and professionals, about the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

2016

Professor Justin Poole and his wife, Amanda, lead the first in Central Europe. The group of 22 students attended 35 plays, visited 38 theaters, and produced their own dramatic piece about the different stages of cultural integration.

Professor Steven David Johnson鈥檚 conservation photography course is one of two in the United States highlighted by ; the other is taught at Stanford University.

2017

Jazz band with the help of student saxophonist Harrison Horst ’17 and director Greg Curry.

Macson McGuigan ’17 is the to win entrance into the prestigious North American Nature Photography Association College Scholars program. He produces a film, with other scholarship recipients and professionals, about a proposed Florida wildlife corridor.

“,” a 400-ton sculpture by Esther Augsburger ’72 and son Michael ’80, is mounted at 91短视频 after years of display in Washington D.C.

During Homecoming and Family Weekend, Ingrid De Sanctis 鈥�88 and Ted Swartz 鈥�89, MACL 鈥�92, are joined by alumni actors to debut听What we bring. What we take. What we leave.

The 10 x 10 x 100 , curated by Ashley Sauder Miller ’03, features six prominent alumni artists and their 100 works measuring 10 inches x 10 inches. A percentage of the sales will be donated to the 91短视频 arts program.

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Professor and Ashley Sauder Miller will host an open studio in the gallery between the concert and the theater performance. Visitors are welcome to stop by, watch the artists at work and ask questions. Gusler works in mixed media. Miller, a 2003 graduate and director of the Spitzer Art Center in Harrisonburg, is managing 91短视频 Centennnial鈥檚 . This summer, she won Best in Show and $7,500 for her mixed media piece “Faded Memory” at the Boardwalk Art Show in Virginia Beach.

Gala Concert: 7 p.m., Lehman Auditorium

The 鈥檚 annual Gala celebrating the winter holiday season showcases the breadth of musical talent on campus.

The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of , will be performing Shenandoah by American composer, Frank Ticheli (b. 1958).

The Chamber Orchestra,听directed by , will perform Ralph Vaughan Williams’ (1872-1958) English Folk Song Suite.听

The second half of the program will be a combined performance of Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass, commissioned in 2007 by the Majorstua and Nova Chamber Choirs.听The work will feature members of the Women’s and Men’s choir, directed by ; the Emulate Chamber Ensemble, directed by ; the Chamber Singers, directed by ; and the Chamber Orchestra听.

Suggested donations are $10 per person and will benefit the music scholarship fund.

鈥淔ar Away鈥�: 9 p.m., MainStage Theater

Written by absurdist playwright Caryl Churchill and directed by Professor , Far Away centers around a young hat maker who faces her own complicity in a fictional world full of war and violent imprisonment. The play is appropriate for those middle-school-aged and older.

By depicting 鈥渁 culture where violence has become gradually acceptable,鈥� the play gives the audience a lens to examine their roles and responsibility in the violence of our actual world, says Winters Vogel. She adds: 鈥淲e need to talk about the little things that lead to the big things,鈥� referencing the Syrian War, Black Lives Matter movement, and election-centered extremism as examples.

A response session embedded in the end of the play will allow such discussion to happen within the theater atmosphere.

The visual focal point for the set design is 鈥淭he Horde,鈥� a 1927 painting by Max Ernst that evokes World War I’s devastation of Europe. For the set, , professor in the Visual and Communication Arts Department, has sculpted a giant burlap figure based on the painting 鈥� a symbol of the desperation and disconnectedness that is created by and fuels violence.

Other performances are Nov. 11 and Nov. 17-19.

The four sections of the alfombra, made of rice, flour and other materials and created by 91短视频鈥檚 Latino Student Alliance (LSA), represented immigration and refugees, salvation, hope and suffering.

Celebrants formed a processional around the artwork, walking together for brief periods of silent meditation between scripture readings and hymns sung in both Spanish and English.

A devotion of time

Members of the LSA, assisted by Professor , started creating the artwork on Monday. They would eventually invest approximately 40 hours in the creation. Their painstaking work drew the attention of the and WHSV (to view coverage, click .)

鈥淭丑别蝉别 alfombras are made to welcome Jesus in remembrance of His entrance in Jerusalem during Palm Sunday,鈥� said LSA leader Rebecca Cardwell, welcoming the community to the service. 鈥淚nstead of palms, the communities prepare these colorful rugs to welcome Him as their King.鈥�

Cardwell is one of 鈥� including Ana Cruz, Fernanda Hernandez and Paola Diaz 鈥� who have helped the Latino Student Alliance become more of a presence on campus. One goal of the group is to prominently feature the vibrant diversity of Hispanic culture.

Additionally, the group has hosted a variety of activities to strengthen ties with local Latino students, many of whom commute to campus, in addition to raising awareness among the broader 91短视频 community. Their annual banquet, held in September, is a sign of their success: With attendance growing each year to 180 people in 2015, they catered their last event.

Excitement generates ideas

Initial plans were to remove the alfombra before Easter break, but , director of multicultural student services, says interest from local church groups coming to campus to view the alfombra has changed plans and the artwork will be remain through March 31. [The university is closed for Easter break March 25-28 and will reopen March 29.]

Because of the excitement generated by this project, Lepley suggested that a wider Holy Week event and bilingual worship service could be a possibility for next year, with community groups and congregations invited to design and create their own alfombra.

The 91短视频 campus community has many connections to Central and South America in addition to students, faculty and staff native to those countries, including the club’s advisor, , a native of Bolivia. Noted in the crowd were many faculty and staff who have lived and worked in Central and South America. Additionally, a is spending the semester in Guatemala and Cuba, with Elaine Zook Barge and her husband, former MCC workers in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala for 15 years.

For more information about visiting campus, call (540) 432-4000.

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The theme this year was the question, 鈥淲hy do I continue to 鈥榗hoose鈥� Jesus?鈥�

The late February event features nightly faculty/staff sharing and conversation in residence halls, special gatherings for women and men, chapel events, retreats, and the much-loved tradition of meeting in the homes of faculty and staff for a meal and fellowship.

More than 100 students signed up for dinners hosted by 20 faculty and staff. 鈥淲e have been trying to do this every semester,鈥� said , undergraduate campus pastor and event coordinator, 鈥渂ut this semester, it was really successful.鈥�

Speakers at the informal nightly discussions included , professor of English, and , professor of visual arts; head baseball coach and assistant coach Adam Posey; physical education professors and ; undergraduate dean and , office coordinator for the Applied Social Sciences Department.

Professors and led a women鈥檚 gathering, while Wes Wilder, a ministry intern, hosted the men鈥檚 luncheon.

spoke in chapel about her years-long journey with glaucoma, a reflection titled “,” which was widely read and shared after posting to 91短视频 News and Facebook accounts. Schrock-Hurst teaches youth ministry, spiritual formation, and introduction to Bible courses in the department, in addition to overseeing the .

‘All their stories are sacred’

鈥淚 really enjoyed hearing the stories from the faculty and staff and their perspectives on following Jesus,鈥� said Christina Hershey, a pastoral assistant for campus ministries. 鈥淚t was interesting to go to multiple forums because everyone had very different stories, but all their stories are sacred, and it shows the diversity in the church.鈥�

She added, 鈥淚 really like the opportunity to hear the stories from the faculty and staff and to learn from their vast wealth of knowledge. Many of them do not get the chance to share about their faith in their classroom or other work contexts, and I enjoy hearing their perspectives on faith. I also attended both chapels and the faculty and staff meals.鈥�

鈥淚 admired Adam and Ben鈥檚 willingness to open up and discuss their personal faith journeys,鈥� said senior , who helped to host an evening forum and the women鈥檚 meal, which attracted about 50 participants to the West Dining Room. 鈥淐arl and Carolyn addressed the question, 鈥榃hat is the difference between living like Jesus and living in relationship with Jesus?鈥� [They] brought about a conversation that can be controversial and layered it in the love and grace of Jesus as they related it to attachment theory. They shared personal reflection laced with academic theory and profound passion for relationship with Jesus.鈥�

Care ‘extends beyond the classroom’

, chair of the Department, opened Saturday evening鈥檚 meal with a smile and a Punjabi song to bless the spread of Pakistani dishes before him. He and his wife, Deb, provided curried foods including lentils, chicken, potato with cauliflower, and mustard greens. In addition, they served roti, a flour-based flatbread, achaar, mixed, pickled vegetables, and raita, a tart yogurt condiment with mint and cumin to cool down the spicy Thai dragon peppers.

The dinner was typical of what he and his wife often prepare for special guests. Since a great number of 91短视频 students study abroad, Medley thought that the ethnic food would be very much appreciated.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a matter of identity,鈥� Medley says. After living in Pakistan for 11 years, their lifestyle has become heavily influenced by the food and way of living. The influence of Pakistani culture is evident not only in the dishes served, but also in the artwork and ornaments that adorn their home.

In the past, Spiritual Life Week has often involved bringing a well-known speaker to campus. Now those resources are focused on facilitating conversation and relationships between students and their faculty and staff counterparts.

鈥淭his is what is means for faculty and staff to enter into conversation with students, and to talk about life and faith,鈥� said Miller.

First year Grace Burkhart feels that 鈥渢hese meals highlight the fact that faculty care about students in a way that extends beyond the classroom.鈥�

鈥淲e want to ask: How are faculty and staff making themselves available to students out of class?鈥� said Miller. 鈥淎s a community we can sometimes speak better into people鈥檚 lives than a big name speaker would. So now, when you see someone across campus, there is a chance you actually know something about them, but a speaker, you probably will only see once.鈥�

Initially, when Medley received the invitation to host students as well as the indication that students wish to interact with the faculty more, he felt that it was important to open his home. He finds that encouraging community feeling on 91短视频鈥檚 campus is an important part of Spiritual Life Week. In the past, the Medleys have invited students and other faculty members in his classes and within the department for dinners and occasional seasonal events. However, Spiritual Life Week has made it easier to do so because of its efficient organization.

鈥淚 thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some people I had seen on campus before but never had the opportunity to get to know,鈥� said junior Maddie Gish. 鈥淚t is amazing how much we can learn from everyone around us. I am so glad I participated!鈥�

Portions of this coverage were reprinted with permission from the March 3, 2016, edition of the Weather Vane.

But this month, the paintings which began as an undergraduate class assignment, were hung with ceremony.

Burling thinks it’s fitting to have her painted offspring reside at her alma mater. 鈥淚 grew up there, in a way 鈥� I could not have found a better home for the paintings.鈥�

Ironically, the process by which 鈥淐reation鈥� came into being was almost tortured: the canvases were ripped off their stretcher bars, thrown away, re-stretched, repainted, displayed in the Margaret Gehman Gallery, and shown at Clementine’s downtown before being purchased by 91短视频 for $3,000 and lovingly cared for since.

Creation is also a metaphor for the artist Burling has become. The former major switched to halfway through her junior year, energized by her visual intuition and the hands-on productivity of the art studio. She suddenly switched to 18 credits of art classes, including Professor 鈥檚 papermaking class, which first excited her about the possibilities of making art professionally.

Her first two painting classes, though, were a struggle. In retrospect, Burling says that she had to learn the medium, making dissatisfying works before developing a 鈥渃ohesive visual language.鈥�

The 鈥淐reation鈥� series, inspired by Genesis, 鈥渨as sort of about mortality, existentialism,鈥� but its first manifestation so displeased Burling that she cut the canvases off their frames just before the class concluded.

After coming back to the canvases later with renewed inspiration, a student loan for art supplies, hours of disciplined work and some Jay-Z tunes, the final form of 鈥淐reation鈥� emerged. What began as seven paintings, representing the seven days of creation in Genesis, became six asking 鈥渨hat place creation has in our lives,鈥� says Burling.

At the Margaret Gehman Gallery opening of Burling’s senior show, art professor remarked that to chemistry professor that 鈥淐reation鈥� would 鈥渓ook knock out鈥� in the new Suter Science Center. 鈥淭he artwork is bold, colorful, layered with paint and meaning. It evokes rather than dictates viewer response,鈥� said Gusler.

Burling’s style, non-objective and playful, is 鈥渁bout a fusion of opposites.鈥� Its imperfections are intentional 鈥� meaning to convey incompletion, rawness and transparent mark-making (the name of her senior show was 鈥淭he Mark-Maker鈥檚 Playground”). Burling enjoys getting paint on her fingers, building frames, and scratching texture into the pigments 鈥� sometimes so much so that she rips the canvas.

鈥淢y aesthetic welcomes mess and madness whether it is on my physical body while working, or on canvas,鈥� said Burling in the artists’ statement for her senior show at 91短视频. 鈥淪o too do I invite the aesthetic of the imperfect, the mark of the human hand; for my hands are the most immediate and intuitive conduit for my ideas, my inner musings鈥攁n imperfect vehicle for divine inspiration. I want my aesthetic to honor that.鈥�

With not even a brush as an intermediary, Burling experiences 鈥淐reation鈥� as vibrant and life-giving, a process filled with both joy and anguish鈥攁nd now visible to those passing by its new home.

鈥淚n China, students are willing to listen to professors lecture,鈥� says Yan Wang. 鈥淗ere, there are a lot of group discussions. It is good for creative thinking. Every student has their own idea.鈥�

Wang is one of ten Chinese scholars visiting 91短视频 from Sichuan Province as part of a 鈥渧isiting faculty鈥� program. Eight are sponsored through (MPC), an exchange program that has been thriving in various formats since the early 1980s. The other two are on scholarship from the China Scholarship Council, a competitive, state-funded scholarship fund for research and study abroad.

For 16 years, Mennonite Partners in China has placed English teachers from the United States at Sichuan University of Arts and Science and many other schools. In turn, Sichuan sends visiting scholars to 91短视频. A cross-cultural group from 91短视频, co-led by MPC director , is currently in China (visit their cross-cultural blog).

The was formalized in January 2015. Administrators hope the agreement will facilitate 鈥渁cademic exchanges, scientific research cooperation, and communication between teachers and students.鈥�

Sichuan province is in Southwestern China, a region Wang describes as 鈥渄eveloping.鈥� She says English teachers there have little opportunity to study the language in an immersion environment.

Teaching, learning, research

Here at 91短视频 for the fall semester, the scholars are working on research projects, perfecting their spoken English, and auditing classes about world literature, writing, and听methods of language teaching. Some of the scholars will analyze the teaching techniques they observe in research papers that they will eventually publish on subjects as varied as the difference between the writing of Chinese and native English speakers and differences in American and Chinese teaching methods.

English professor is the on-campus liaison for the visiting faculty, which means, among other activities, he organizes a picnic when the group first arrives and a farewell luncheon at the end of the semester. He also provides an academic orientation, a campus tour, an explanation of the academic schedule and helps the scholars connect with 鈥渇riendship families鈥� so they have an opportunity to interact with the local community.

The scholars also interact with 91短视频 faculty at all university-sponsored faculty events and are often invited into classes to speak. Among those professors who have extended invitations to former and current groups are visual and communication arts professor and English professor . Nursing students have also benefited from visits to their classes.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a quite different educational experience,鈥� says Liu Yang of her time so far. One of the biggest challenges 鈥渋s learning how to manage our time.鈥�

Wang agrees. 鈥淚n American colleges, the students have to read a lot. In China, the students read, but not as much鈥here is a lot more out-of-class work here.鈥�

Sabbatical helps busy teachers ‘recharge’

Hongjuan Tang has been teaching English for more than 20 years and, except for a brief visit to the United States for her son鈥檚 undergraduate commencement, had never been to an English-speaking country. Shuli Chang, too, visited Canada and Australia for brief periods. Out of the group, these two teachers were the only scholars to have traveled to an English-speaking country in the past. For both teachers, coming to 91短视频 not only places them in an English-speaking environment, but also acts as a much needed sabbatical to 鈥渞echarge鈥� and further develop teaching expertise.

Back home, 鈥淚鈥檓 working on a nationally-funded research project studying the relationship between environment and children鈥檚 language competency in western China,鈥� she said. At 91短视频, she has the time to work on her project and access research resources not available at her home institution.

In part, the lack of research resources may be because of the rapid expansion of Chinese universities. 鈥淚n the ’80s and ’90s, most universities had 2-4,000 students,鈥� said Byler in a recent email. 鈥淲ith a 10-year expansion, most of these universities have grown to 30- and 40,000 students.鈥�

As a result, class sizes in China are normally large and professors become used to teaching to an exam in order to cope. Poorer provinces, such as Sichuan, don鈥檛 have the resources to reform.

鈥淭here is a gap in inequality between the big and small universities,鈥� said Yang.

Tang agrees. 鈥淭his program is a very good thing for the western part of China because it helps with development.鈥�

Past visiting artists at 91短视频 have included New York City-based filmmaker and cinematographer Jun Oshima, documentary filmmaker Lisa Madison, Student Academy Award winner Tal Shamir, and photojournalists Susan Sterner and Tyrone Turner.

鈥淎ll of these artists have an interest in culture and the way that media affects us,鈥� said associate professor of media arts and peacebuilding , who also serves as art galleries director. 鈥淏eing able to host visiting artists is rewarding both for our campus community and the wider community, but also for the artists themselves who are working on these issues of social justice.鈥�

Thirteen pieces of art for sale were donated by 91短视频 professors , , , and ; current student Katherine Burling; alumnus Frank Ameka; and other artists who are appreciative of 91短视频鈥檚 vision, including Winslow McCagg, Eric Kniss, Floyd Merrell Savage, Thomas Zummer, and Leslie Thornton.

Sterner and Turner have also donated two images from a February 2014 exhibit at 91短视频 titled 鈥�Sonhos e Saudades.鈥� The couple spent two years documenting issues in northeastern Brazil, including land rights, literacy, public health and women鈥檚 lives. Many of those photos are now being compiled into a book.

Turner says their donation is one way of supporting 91短视频鈥檚 message of initiating positive societal change.听

鈥�When we had our opening photo exhibition last February, it was such an amazing experience and such a wonderful community that is attuned to issues of social justice,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淏ringing working artists to interact and exchange ideas with students, and to exhibit art with important social justice themes is really important. I love that we can be part of and support that kind of work at 91短视频.鈥�

Bidding began听Nov. 7, at the Darrin-McHone Gallery, owned by the , at 311 South Main St. in Harrisonburg. The exhibition is part of the First Fridays Downtown event.

Photos of artwork with artist biographies is听available online at

The auction culminates with a reception and final bids at the Darrin-McHone Gallery Saturday, Nov. 22, from 2-5 p.m.

鈥淭he Arts Council of the Valley is happy to collaborate with 91短视频 in order to provide gallery space for the artists,鈥� said Lindsay Denny, marketing manager. 鈥淎s part of its mission, the Arts Council of the Valley provides memorable arts experiences for individuals in the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County through our visual, literary, and performing arts programs. The partnership with 91短视频 affords us another opportunity to support art and artists in our community.鈥�

The energetic Carnival troupe began its two-city tour with 10 days in Harrisonburg, camping on 鈥檚 lawn while promoting 鈥渃reation care鈥� through performance, artwork and service both there and at 91短视频. Carnival de Resistance is a new venture, with artist-members from around the U.S. and Mexico, says member Sarah Thompson, who holds an MDiv from and is outreach coordinator for . Four main shows addressed themes of earth, air, fire and water.

At 91短视频鈥檚 Thomas Plaza in front of the Campus Center Wednesday, more than 100 experienced the air-themed show, titled 鈥淥ut of the Whirlwind.鈥� Featuring its creators, Jay Beck and Tevyn East as Raven and Dove, it began serendipitously as a full harvest moon emerged from clouds:

Addressing human neglect of earth

Dove (East), a wordless dancer in white robes, cradles an egg. Hatchling Raven (Beck) appears, clad in black rags. Raven鈥檚 first word is 鈥渄eath.鈥� His narrative 鈥� angry, mournful, sometimes humorous 鈥� attacks humanity鈥檚 neglect of Earth:

鈥淔or the earth to stay alive, your way will have to die.鈥�

Raven and Dove briefly dance on a biblical-type ark, but Dove gets confined to a cage. 鈥淲e can scarcely fly in this soup of chemicals,鈥� shouts Raven, who warns of angering Gaia, envisioned as the mother of Earth.

鈥淭he concepts were thought-provoking,鈥� said 鈥�08, an 91短视频 staffer who brought a church youth group to the show.

At an earlier chapel service, the troupe led a Cherokee chant to 鈥渢he great spirit,鈥� along with the adaptation of a familiar spiritual鈥檚 words 鈥淲hen I die, hallelujah, by and by,鈥� to 鈥淲hen we live, hallelujah, how we live.鈥�

On the Carnival鈥檚 , inspiration is attributed to an array of influences, including First Nation and African earth-centered spirituality and activist theologians Ched Myers and William Stringfellow.

Resonating with students of sustainability

91短视频 biology professor observed that the Carnival 鈥渓inks oppressed people with the oppressed earth.鈥� The radicalism, he said, may reach some who ignore conventional messages.

Troupe members visited Yoder鈥檚 classes all week. They have committed to making no purchases while touring, relying on kindnesses when needed. The Carnival is supported both by grants and hospitality.

91短视频 junior Chris Lehman, an environmental sustainability major, served as one of many sound-powering bikers and directed parking. Everett Brubaker, a classmate in the same major, participated as co-president of the campus . This major has been attracting increasing numbers of students, with 30 now in the program.

Junior Erin Rheinheimer, an environmental sustainability minor and Earthkeepers member, helped make sunflower signs for a parade and enjoyed a Carnival 鈥渟kill-share show.鈥�

Lehman, who enjoyed the air show most, is considering a career in conservation or wildlife biology. Brubaker, who especially liked the Carnival parade, hopes to work in advocacy.

Gifting a mural to Cedarwood

The second-floor mural in began with images by Carnival troupe member and nomadic painter Dimitri Kadiev. These were selected by art professor from his previous works, and the two worked collaboratively on shaping the overall result.

On part of the mural, between a laundry-room window and custodial closet door, a figure with outstretched arms smiles joyfully. A river seems to flow from the figure鈥檚 heart. Nearby, a quetzal (Guatemala鈥檚 national bird) displays its tail feathers.

Gusler and Kadiev started with a yellow background, which she notes, 鈥済lows through wherever there is open space.鈥� Next, they filled in large shapes with solid colors 鈥� blue (river and shades of sky); green (landscape); purple (mountains).

Then, Gusler had all her students participate. At Kadiev鈥檚 suggestion, they created stenciled images of living things: an owl, poppy, hibiscus, egret and butterflies. Others subsequently dipped brushes in varying shades of green, instructed to 鈥渇ill the shapes, and while you do, think about the earth.鈥�

A passing student shows a spot to a companion, noting, 鈥淚 did that shape.鈥� Cedarwood resident director Micah Hurst points to the blue space his children, 4 and 8, helped paint.

Parading down Main Street

In Thursday鈥檚 Carnival parade, imaginatively retooled bicycles rolled alongside marchers from Harrisonburg鈥檚 North Main Street to Court Square. Motorists smiled at jugglers, banners, colorful costumes and percussionists with homemade instruments.

The local 鈥淔ossil Fuel Zombies,鈥� wearing shredded black trash bags, called for burying fossil fuels with message-bearing signs, including 鈥淥il, oil, watch Earth boil.鈥�

鈥淎re you really Jesus?鈥� someone asked Kadiev, who had lettered the name atop his paint-splattered garb. 鈥淥nly a stand-in,鈥� Kadiev smiled.

The march ended with an hour-long 鈥淧ower Down and Lift Up鈥� rally at Court Square. Local groups represented by speakers included the for sustainability, the global-warming awareness movement, , , and .

Pastor Phil Kniss, who helped pedal the sound system, explained why his church installed 125 solar panels. When believers ask 鈥淲hy worry about this world?鈥� he responds, 鈥淏ecause God loves this world.鈥�

At Trinity this weekend, the Carnival will offer children鈥檚 events and a 鈥淲ater Show鈥� before bicycling to Charlottesville for its final 2013 gig. Each day鈥檚 is posted on the Carnival鈥檚 website.