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Three Artists in “Construction Time Again” Exhibition to Present Artists’ Talk
Starting at 5:30 p.m. on February 28 in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the Newtown Campus of Bucks County Community College, Philadelphia-based artists Diane Burko, Nicolo Gentile and Kristen Neville Taylor will discuss their artworks featured in the exhibition, “Construction Time Again” on view nearby in the College’s Hicks Art Center Gallery. All three artists respond to social, cultural, architectural, ecological, and environmental events that locally and globally impact all human lives through different media and concepts in their artworks.
In 2023, Diane Burko attended the LABverde residency in Brazil. The experience invigorated the artist’s pursuit to “[celebrate] the sublimity of the landscape by honoring the intricate geological and political webs that shape the identity of a place” in her art practice. Burko’s diptych paintings on view in the exhibition, “Deforestation 1” and “Deforestation 2”, illustrate and represent the charring of the landscape; a violent act displacing Indigenous peoples who have inhabited Amazonia for thousands of years.
Nicolo Gentile’s figural aluminum casts on weightlifting equipment specifically address the demolition of the building that once housed the 12th Street Gym in Philadelphia—a vital hub for the neighboring gay community that closed in January 2018 after serving 4,000 members for 30 years. A ghostly presence permeates Gentile’s sculptures—vestigial reminders of the members whose space held community.
Land use and resource evolution are central themes in Kristen Neville Taylor’s recent body of work “End of Days.” With personal ties to glass production and installation; her father worked as a glazier installing windows in skyscrapers, Taylor’s pâte de verres, videos, and sculptures describe myths and lore around the evolution of the sand mines of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The once 1,000 active mines have mostly vanished leaving massive lakes of tropical hued water- tinged with cyanobacteria.
Discussion topics and questions for the artists during the artists’ talk will include: “How does each use research in their creative processes?”; “What does the adage ‘Think Globally, Act Locally’ mean to them now?”; and “How can artists make the world more peaceful?” After the discussion, the audience will have the opportunity to ask the artists questions.
The artists’ talk and discussion will be moderated by Hicks Art Center Gallery Exhibitions Associate, Clifford Eberly. This event is free and open to the public.
The Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays from noon – 4 p.m.
For more information, please visit Hicks Art Center Gallery and follow on Instagram @bcccartscomm.
Bucks County Community College Hosts Voting Rights Panel Discussion
County and state officials will address how to ensure a fair and safe election Thursday, February 15 at Newtown Campus and online as part of Black History Month events To commemorate Black History Month, Bucks County Community College invites the public to a Voting Rights Forum at noon Thursday, February 15, at the Newtown Campus and online.
“The 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote in 1870, but even with this Constitutional right, it was denied to most African Americans until the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965,” said Kevin L. Antoine, the College’s Associate Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer. “It’s vital that we remain vigilant to protect voting rights in order to sustain our democracy.”
Antoine will moderate the discussion with the following panelists:
State Representative Joe Hogan, 142nd District
Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Bucks County Commissioner and member of the Board of Elections
John Jordan, 1st Vice President, Bucks County NAACP
The discussion gets underway at noon Thursday, February 15, in the Gallagher Room, located in the Rollins Center of the Newtown Campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940. The panel discussion will also be streamed live online to those who register in advance.
The event is sponsored by the College’s Office of External Affairs and DEI Programs, and is among several educational forums at Bucks County Community College to encourage dialogue on issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. To learn more, visit the DEI page or contact diversity@bucks.edu.
Civics Education: So, You Think You Know Your Government?
Distinguished Federal and State Judges and Practitioners Lead the 8-Week Noncredit Program Exploring Crucial Aspects of U.S. Government Bucks County Community College is excited to announce the launch of a new noncredit program, "Civics Education: So, You Think You Know Your Government?". This 8-week course offers participants a unique opportunity to learn about the U.S. Constitution, the court system, immigration, criminal and civil cases, and various other aspects of our government that every informed citizen should be familiar with.
Led by a rotation of distinguished Federal and State judges and practitioners, the weekly classes promise an accessible, engaging, and interactive forum. Participants will delve into specialized fields of the court system, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the nation's legal framework.
The program will take place on Wednesday evenings, 6 to 7:15 p.m., from March 27 to May 15 at the College’s Newtown Campus (275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA). Registration is limited to 100 participants, and the fee for the entire 8-week program is $50. Please note that financial aid cannot be used for this program.
To register and view the complete schedule and curriculum, please visit the Civics Education program. For more information, please email coned@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8409.
Experience an Unforgettable Valentine's Special: "People Will Say We’re in Love"
A Romantic Concert by John Smitherman & Jessica Edwards – Friday, February 9, 7:30 p.m. Love is in the air this Valentine's season as the Zlock Performing Arts Center proudly presents "People Will Say We’re in Love," a special concert crafted for the romantic in all of us. Join renowned artists John Smitherman and his lovely wife, Jessica Edwards, for an evening filled with the beautiful music of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and other timeless composers, featuring enchanting duets for lovers.
This extraordinary Valentine's event will take place on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 7:30 pm at the Zlock Performing Arts Center on Bucks County Community College’s Newtown Campus. Couples and music enthusiasts alike are invited to indulge in an unforgettable night of romance and melody, as John and Jessica serenade the audience with their captivating performances.
"People Will Say We’re in Love" promises to be a celebration of love's enduring magic, with a carefully curated selection of classic love songs that will tug at your heartstrings and transport you to a world of romance and passion. From the irresistible charm of Cole Porter's melodies to the timeless elegance of Irving Berlin's compositions, this concert will showcase the beauty and depth of the Great American Songbook.
John Smitherman and Jessica Edwards, both accomplished artists in their own right, bring a wealth of talent and charisma to the stage. Their chemistry and musicality will captivate audiences as they breathe new life into beloved favorites and lesser-known gems alike.
Tickets are $20 and are free for current Bucks County Community College students with valid student ID. For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Zlock Performing Arts Center. For group sales, please call: 215-968-8469.
High School Scribes Encouraged to Enter 37th Annual Poetry Contest
Bucks County high school students in grades 9–12 can submit three poems by March 15 for the chance to win $300 Bucks County Community College, which has been nurturing writers for more than 50 years, calls on creative young people to enter the 37th annual Bucks County High School Poet of the Year contest for the chance to win $300.
Students have until Friday, March 15 to submit three original poems, according to Dr. Ethel Rackin, director of the Bucks County Poet Laureate Program, which runs the Bucks County High School Poet of the Year contest.
The contest is open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in Bucks County or attend a Bucks County high school. Home-schooled students may also enter. Previous winners are not eligible.
In addition to the prize money, the winner receives a proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners, and the opportunity to read at a public reception. Runners-up and finalists in the contest will also be invited to read at the public event.
“Entering the High School Poet of the Year contest may give students a chance to discover and develop a talent they may not have realized they had,” said Rackin, a language and literature professor at the College. In addition, participating in the public poetry reading may help a student stand out in the college search.
“Mentioning the contest, public reading, and anthology on college applications will demonstrate initiative, writing skills, and public speaking experience,” Rackin added. “Clearly, there’s a lot to gain from entering this contest.”
Each participant must submit three original poems with an application form.
The contest will be judged by the current Bucks County Poet Laureate Tara Tamburello and the former poet laureate Tom Mallouk.
To learn more about the Bucks County Poet High School Poet of the Year program, visit the website. For more information, contact Dr. Ethel Rackin at ethel.rackin@bucks.edu.
Bucks Announces Monthly Virtual Paralegal/Legal Studies Information Sessions
The newly re-named Department of Business, Innovation and Legal Studies underscores the College’s commitment to legal education and career preparation. Bucks County Community College Announces Monthly Virtual Paralegal/Legal Studies Information Sessions The newly re-named Department of Business, Innovation and Legal Studies underscores the College’s commitment to legal education and career preparation.
The Business, Innovation and Legal Studies Department at Bucks County Community College is pleased to offer virtual information sessions every month from January through April making it easier for prospective students to learn more about the College’s Paralegal/Legal Studies associate degree and Paralegal certificate programs. These programs prepare students for in-demand careers as paralegals and legal assistants while also providing a pathway to a bachelor’s degree and law school.
The free online information sessions will be held via Zoom on:
Monday, January 22 at 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 20 at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27 at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m.
To attend the information sessions, visit the website.
The College’s Paralegal/Legal Studies programs are approved by the American Bar Association and can be completed at the Newtown Campus or the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie, Pa. through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online instruction.
Related programing offered by the Business, Innovation and Legal Studies department includes:
Continuing Legal Education in conjunction with the Bucks County Bar Association
Expungement Clinic in partnership with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Student Mock Trial
Speakers and events including a trip to the U.S. Supreme Court
Wills for Heros in partnership with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
The College recently renamed the Department of Business + Innovation to the Department of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies with unanimous support from the department faculty, as well as students and Advisory Board members. “The new department name emphasizes Bucks’ commitment to legal education and career preparation while enhancing the clarity of the department’s mission and academic offerings,” said Provost Kelly Kelleway, Ph.D.
The Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies Department at Bucks County Community College offers 23 programs of study that lead to either an associate degree or certificate in Business, Entrepreneurship, Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Fire Science, and Paralegal/Legal Studies. To learn more, visit the Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies Department page or email business@bucks.edu.
Unauthorized Practice of Law
No person shall engage or assist a person who is not a member of the bar in the performance of activities that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.
