Voices of Change series at Muskingum University shows how arts reflect and shape social transformation

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Muskingum University is presenting a series of events called “Voices of Change: Examining How the Arts Reflect and Shape Movements for Social Transformation.”

The series begins on Sunday with a concert by the Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds and Muskingum Wind Ensemble at 3 p.m. and Brown Chapel. The evening continues at the Palmer Gallery at 4 p.m., showcasing student-curated exhibitions that explore how art shapes and reflects social movements. Associate Professor of Music David Turrill aimed to make the four-day series a collaborative experience across campus departments.

“… and I love to do interdisciplinary concerts and collaborative concerts and I’ve often collaborated with history and art,” Turrill said. “So I reached out to Tom German, from our Art and Design department, and Karen Dunning from the history department, said ‘hey, how about a collaboration?’ And then, we just met over the summer and just the ideas just started snowballing and this is where we are.”

Senior history major Sam Palmieri will be part of the exhibition on Sunday, sharing his research on two musicians and their impact on history.

“I’m looking at Billy Joel and Woody Guthrie,” Palmieri said. “Billy Joel was more personal, kind of emotional, and Woody Guthrie was more political and I was looking at how they both interacted with a community and brought people together through both their musics.”

The series continues on Monday with an event called “Safe Spaces, Strong Voices,” which explores how identity, community and advocacy intersect. The series concludes on Wednesday with a concert by traditional folk group Two by Two. More information can be found on Muskingum University’s website.