ArtsFest Schedule

ArtsFest 2026 - April 6 to 10

Events are open to the public unless otherwise marked as Wilson College community only. Some events require reservations. 

Ongoing Events

Paint by Number with Crafty Companions - Lenfest Lobby
This collaborative project involves one large image being cut into smaller pieces for participants to pick up and color. The sections will then be displayed together as one design. 

Piano Painting - (Monday 6 through Wednesday 8) - Lenfest Esplenade
The community art project of painting a defunct piano will be returning to ArtsFest. With paint, we will transform the piano's appearance as an experiment of community collaboration.

Consider Everything an Experiment Exhibition - Bogigian Gallery, Lortz Hall
You are invited to experience the powerful work of Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., a visionary artist and educator who transforms the tradition of letterpress printing into a vehicle for social justice and collective learning. Kennedy’s prints—bold, layered, and unapologetically direct—blend typographic form with the urgency of protest, creating a body of work that speaks as much to the heart as to the eye. Each poster is a declaration, a reminder, a lesson—designed not only to be seen, but to be felt, remembered, and shared.

A Seed's a Star Exhibition - Cooley Gallery, John Steward Memorial Library
The exhibition will showcase the work of Patterson, a multidisciplinary artist and craftsperson who investigates the intersection of traditional craft and high art. Their work examines themes of beauty, adornment, girlhood, and the human condition. At the epicenter of their artistic exploration is a focus on identity, material culture, personal history, and Black traditions of hair and body adornment, particularly as they relate to girlhood.
 

Monday, April 6

12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Painting 1 Exhibition with FA 206 - Loom 300, Lortz Hall
Exhibition of resolved works as well as works-in-progress from the Painting FA 206 class. Students are learning materials and technique through experimentation. As theory meets practice, as skills develop, and voice emerges. 

5 to 6 p.m.
Bringing Burlesque the Musical to the Stage with President Wes Fugate - Patterson Board Room
Join President Wes Fugate, co-producer of Burlesque the Musical, as he welcomes 5-time Tony Award and Grammay Award winning theatre producer Sue Gilad to Wilson. The two will discuss the process of bringing the new hit musical, Burlesque, to London's West End and now the world. Learn about the magic of Broadway and the many steps involved in bringing to life a new musical from concept to workshops to out-of-town tryouts to the world! 

6 to 9 p.m.
Amos Kennedy Documentary - Allen Auditorium, Warfield Hall
Followed by a Gallery Walk and Talk - Bogigian Gallery, Lortz Hall
“Proceed and Be Bold” 
A documentary on the work of Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., a visionary artist and educator who transforms the tradition of letterpress printing into a vehicle for social justice and collective learning. Kennedy’s prints—bold, layered, and unapologetically direct—blend typographic form with the urgency of protest, creating a body of work that speaks as much to the heart as to the eye. Each poster is a declaration, a reminder, a lesson—designed not only to be seen, but to be felt, remembered, and shared.

Tuesday, April 7

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Tea with Pres. Wes  -  Lenfest Commons - Wilson College community only
President Wes Fugate invites members of the Wilson community to take a break, stop by for a complimentary cup of tea (or coffee), and enjoy each other's company.

1 to 4 p.m.
Profiles in Art with Foundry Art Market- Room 200, Lortz Hall

1 to 3 p.m.
Resonant Expressions; Malia Burris - Appenzellar-Buchanan Dance Studio
Resonant Expressions is an experiential workshop and sound immersion that invites participants to explore sound and art as interconnected forms of creative experimentation. The session begins with an introduction to the power of sound, explaining how vibration and frequency can influence emotion, energy, and self-expression, along with personal reflections on my own journey integrating sound and expressive arts into therapeutic practice.

Participants will then be guided into creative exploration through color and movement. Art materials such as colored pencils, crayons, and markers will be provided for intuitive drawing and coloring, while a collaborative community canvas will offer space for spontaneous painting during the sound experience. This process emphasizes freedom of expression, connection, and sensory discovery.

The event concludes with a live sound immersion using instruments such as crystal singing bowls, chimes, drums, and rain sticks. Through sound, color, and creative flow, attendees are invited to experiment, reflect, and reconnect with their inner creative voice.

6 to 7:30 p.m.
Amos Kennedy Q&A - Lenfest Learning Commons, JSM Library

Wednesday, April 8

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Jewels with Will - Room 200, Lortz Hall
Sandy and Will Moats joined us for Arts Fest 2025.  Will is an adult with autism and Sandy is his primary caregiver. They live in Chambersburg.  Sandy and Will are frequent visitors and guest speakers in Dr. Janet Foor's classes.  One of Will's favorite pastimes is to create "jewels".  Creating "jewels" involves stringing brightly colored beads.  During last year's Arts Fest, 18 participants created, with Will and Sandy, beautiful "jewels", including sun catchers to hang.  This year, Sandy and Will would like to experiment, based on Wilson student feedback, in creating key chain and bracelet creations using "jewels".  As with last year's event, Sandy and Will spread awareness of autism by interacting with participants.  Sandy invites participants to subscribe to her monthly newsletter. 

11:30 to 1 p.m.
Flower Drying with the Connection Crew - Lenfest Learning Commons, JSM Library

2 to 4 p.m.
Book Page Lab - JSM Library
A project involving book pages, mason jars, and decoupaged napkins. Students will bring new life into old book pages using a variety of supplies. 

5 to 8 p.m.
Muhhibah Country Exhibition, Dinner, and Cultural Performance - Sarah's Coffeehouse, Lenfest Lower Level
Students will offers visual presentations of their home countries, offer a dinner menu of dishes from their home countries, which they will help to prepare and provide snapshot performances featuring music, dance and poetry from their home countries
 

Thursday, April 9

1 to 2:30 p.m.
Spirit-led Dance in the New America with Ama Law of Project ChArma - Appenzellar-Buchanan Dance Studio 
Project ChArma's movement style has always been shaped by a blend of influences: Hip-Hop culture, West African polyrhythms, and post-modern dance flow. In this dance workshop, they will explore solidarity through these forms. They will start with line dances—literally “jumping in” to learn sequences, embodying the Africanist principle of “each one teach one.” They will review popular line dances, invite participants to share new ones they bring, and close by creating a unique group sequence that marks our coming together in this new space and time. They will discuss the historical significance of these dances in African-American resistance, survival, and progress.

Advanced Reservations Encouraged: Please register by midnight the day before. Space cannot be guaranteed.

5 to 6 p.m.
Landscape Painting with Daniela DiGregario - Room 200, Lortz Hall
Students will be guided on how to paint a landscape with acrylic paints on canvas step by step. The painting style will be similar to the artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Students will be able to take the painting home.

6 to 8 p.m.
Raku Fring - Brooks Complex Outdoor Atrium 
Firing ceramics to 1870F outdoors with propane. Pulling pots directly from the red hot kiln to immerse in sawdust. Fire! Smoke! Exciting, fast results due to multicolored effects the process has on the metallic oxides in the the glazes.

Friday, April 10

Noon to 1 p.m.
Accidental Meditations with Julie Lobosky Myers - Stage in Laird Hall
In this workshop participants experiment with 'removing noise' in an effort to reveal something that is overlooked.Working with natural materials such as sticks, stones and leaves or discarded pens, pencils and markers; participants will draw, print, write or paint with instructional emphasis on finding what matters to them through looking at what is ignored.

3 to 5 p.m.
Jada Patterson Artist Lecture and Reception - First Floor of JSM Library
Guest artist, Jada Patterson will discuss her work in Cooley Gallery. She will discuss her creative process and the significance of experimentation in the creative process.

5:30 to 7 p.m.
Orchesis and Dance at Wilson College Presents: Spring Dance Concert- Appenzellar-Buchanan Dance Studio 
Dance performance consisting of four student choreographed works and two faculty pieces performed by Wilson College Dance students and members of Orchesis. 
 

Saturday, April 11

2:30 to 5 p.m.
Orchesis and Dance at Wilson College Present: Spring Dance Concert - Appenzellar-Buchanan Dance Studio 
Dance performance consisting of four student choreographed works and two faculty pieces performed by Wilson College Dance students and members of Orchesis. 

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ArtsFest was partially funded by The Palmer Family Foundation, a fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.