PHOTO BY CLARISSA OEHLER Brianne Hassman is one of several students performing a devised theater piece Wednesday.
PHOTO SUBMITTED Steve Taylor, director of “Blue Like Jazz,” will be the main speaker at the Day of Learning.
Northwestern’s Day of Learning in Community is embracing something different this year: The Art of Courage. Incorporating all of NW’s art programs as well as several from the community, a schedule has been laid out for students, faculty and community members to enjoy.
DLC will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18, beginning with chapel and a keynote address from Steve Taylor, director of “Blue Like Jazz,” about the art of courage. Afterward, students are dismissed to the afternoon sessions.
There will be 26 sessions presented by 30 different faculty, staff, students and community members. All sessions will be held in NW’s main campus buildings or at the Old Factory. Sessions will run for various lengths between noon–6 p.m. DLC will conclude with a showing and discussion of “Blue Like Jazz” led by Taylor.
DLC is being organized by a small committee made up of theatre professor Drew Schmidt, art professor Phil Scorza and theatre manager Jennifer Sabo.
“We talked about wanting students, faculty, staff and community members to experience art that glorifies God,” Schmidt said. “It’s an odd line to walk. We decided to go with Steve Taylor as our keynote speaker who will talk about The Art of Courage and art that is done for the sake of Christ and art that glorifies Christ. They’re not always the same thing, and we want our students to identify art that does both well.”
Steve Taylor was raised in Denver and studied music and film at Colorado University. After working on several small film projects, he began a career as a recording artist that continued for 12 years, earning two Grammy nominations and other awards. Currently, Taylor is the frontman for Steve Taylor and the Perfect Foil, which released its debut album on Nov. 18.
He has directed music videos for Sixpence None the Richer, Fleming & John, Newsboys and more. Taylor also produced several No. 1 hits like Sixpence’s “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes” as well as composing songs for Veggie Tales.
Taylor’s debut as a film director/co-writer/producer started in 2005 when he finished production of “The Second Chance.” His latest project “Blue Like Jazz” is based on Donald Miller’s New York Times bestselling memoir and premiered in March 2012.
Currently, Taylor lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his family and is a film maker in residence at Lipscomb University.
Some specific sessions include a live open rehearsal with NW’s symphonic band where people can come and sit in amongst the players while they rehearse; a trio of student theater projects by Brianne Hassman, Justine Johnson, and Amber Beyer; a showing and discussion of “A River Runs Through It” by professor Keith Fynaardt; and a slam poetry session at the Old Factory hosted by Steve Mahr.
Pieces from the New Sounds concert, which premiered last week, will also be included in The Cruci Project in which several artists depict images of the crucifixion from the art of Eric Robinson. Robinson’s art is displayed 2-2:30 p.m. in the Te Paske art building and a discussion with the artist 4-4:30 p.m.
“Not a single person can live life without engaging in art,” Schmidt said. “But we hope that we’ll be raising up men and women who can identify good art, better art.”
Students are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they would like and learn what it means to be live courageously and glorify God.
