Tibetologist to speak
Glenn H. Mullin, a world-renowned Tibetologist, Buddhist writer and translator of classical Tibetan literature, will speak at a dinner and lecture event at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Altoona on Wednesday. The program coincides with the museum's current exhibition, "Tibetan Treasures: The Rezk Collection of Tibetan and Nepalese Art."
The dinner, catered by Bold, will begin at 6 p.m. in the museum gallery. Cost is $40 per person. Please call the museum at 946-4464 for reservations or additional information. Mullin also will speak at a Lunch a l'Art program at SAMA-Altoona on Feb. 14.
Included in the presentation will be a showing of "The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas: A Pilgrimage to The Oracle Lake," a documentary film starring Mullin. Cost for the program, which begins at noon, is $13 or $12 for SAMA members. For reservations, please call the museum.
Mullin lived in the Indian Himalayas between 1972 and 1984, where he studied philosophy, literature, meditation, yoga, and the enlightenment culture under 35 of the greatest living masters of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Currently he divides his time between writing, teaching, meditating, and leading tour groups to Nepal and Tibet. He has authored more than 20 books on Tibetan Buddhism. He has worked as a field specialist on three Tibet-related films and five television documentaries, and has co-produced five audio recordings of Tibetan sacred music. In 2002, his book "The Fourteen Dalai Lamas" was nominated for the prestigious NAPRA award for best book, and in 2004, his book "The Female Buddhas" won a Best Book Award from Foreword Magazine.
"Tibetan Treasures: The Rezk Collection of Tibetan and Nepalese Art" will be on view through May 11. SAMA's Rezk Collection is one of the major collections of Tibetan and Nepalese art in the United States.
The exhibition features approximately seventy objects, all made within the context of Tibetan Buddhism, including thangkas (scroll paintings), block prints, sculpture, and ceremonial and ritual pieces.
'Idol' winner plays Altoona
Season 11 "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips will perform at Penn State Altoona at 8 p.m. April 26 in the Adler Athletic Complex. The opening act will be Casey Weston, a finalist from season one of "The Voice."
The 22-year-old songwriter/guitarist released "Home," a debut single that showcases his rich, raspy vocals and masterful guitar skills- and marked the biggest opening sales week for an "Idol" winner's coronation song. The track has since gone triple platinum and was used as the soundtrack for the 2012 US Olympics Women's Gymnastics team.
Tickets are $20 with a limit of four per person, cash or check only. Tickets can be purchased at the Office of Student Life in the Slep Student Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
Broadway star to perform
HUNTINGDON - A Tony-winning musician and performer named Stew, who was celebrated on Broadway for the musical "Passing Strange," will perform at Juniata College with performing partner Heidi Rodewald in their collaborative band The Negro Problem at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts.
Mark Stewart, known to his friends and fans as "Stew," and Rodewald have been collaborators for nearly a decade in two musical ensembles.
The duo write and perform music for the band The Negro Problem, which is a straight-ahead rock band, and Stew, which mixes music, theater and social commentary into a rocking representation of rock, soul, Tin Pan Alley and lounge music.
General admission tickets are $20. Tickets for seniors over age 65 and children age 18 and under are $12. Juniata College students are admitted free with a student ID.
SAMA holding Blue Monday
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Altoona will kick off its 2013 Blue Monday season this Monday. The program, which begins at 6 p.m., will feature music by Mt. City Grass and a tour of the museum's exhibition, "Julie Bernstein Engelmann: Being Spirit." Cost is $20 per person. Please call 946-4464 for reservations.
Mt. City Grass is a traditional bluegrass group based out of central Pennsylvania. The group consists of Denny Cerully on vocals and guitar, Katie Cerully on bass and vocals, Ed Decker on guitar and vocals, Dean Berkheimer on banjo, Tom McCarty on mandolin, and Jason Dodson on fiddle.
"Julie Bernstein Engelmann: Being Spirit" features approximately 35 of the artist's colored abstract canvases.
Engelmann's dramatic paintings are renowned for their lush color and texture and have won many Best of Show awards throughout western Pennsylvania. The artist will be in attendance at Blue Monday.
SAMA-Altoona is located in the Brett Building at 1210 11th Ave.
