September 20, 2012
Richmond Center for Visual Arts, room 2008
5:30 p.m.
Dr. Kubiski's lecture, "Ecstatic Dancing in the Medieval Book of Hours," will examine the insertion of dancers to illustrations of the Nativity in the late medieval prayer book, also known as the Book of Hours. Since dancing is not mentioned in the biblical account of the birth of Christ, the addition of dance into this sacred event must have been influenced by extra-textual sources, or to more elusive aspects of medieval material culture. Dr. Kubiski will explore the connection between this imagery and the dancing that occurred on Christmas Eve as part of the official liturgy, as well as to the more impromptu and raucous celebrations that took place in the churchyard outside.
Dr. Kubiski's lecture is in conjunction with Hours, a collaboration of artists and writers from the Kalamazoo community that will culminate in March 2013 with an exhibition at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center and a poetry reading at the Kalamazoo Public Library. The project was developed by WMU Adjunct Professor Sydnee Peters, and is made possible by a generous grant from The Kalamazoo Artistic Development Initiative through the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.