Alumni City Lights events feature metro venues

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- From an evening in New York City with Penn State’s famous book jacket designer Chip Kidd, 1986, to a look at space discoveries in Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, Penn State alumni and faculty will be featured at several Penn State Alumni Association City Lights cultural and educational events from February through May. Though the first City Lights event on Feb. 2 at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia is sold out, five other programs are on the schedule.

To register for a City Lights event or to find out more information on each, including cost, program schedules and speaker biographies, visit the Alumni Association’s website at alumni.psu.edu/events.

“Urban Sustainability and Regenerative Design”
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh
Co-sponsored by the Penn State College of Arts & Architecture
6 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 21
Take a glimpse into one of the world’s greenest public spaces, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Since 1893, this steel and glass Victorian greenhouse has stood as a cultural and architectural centerpiece of the city and has, in recent decades, also become a strong advocate for advanced green-building practices, sustainable gardening and environmental awareness. Ken Tamminga, professor of landscape architecture, will explain how Penn State students, faculty and alumni can engage with communities beyond the traditional campus. Tamminga will profile two approaches used in projects on three continents, focusing on alliance building, learning reciprocity and creative collaboration.

“Penn State Discoveries in Space: Life, Exoplanets and Planet-Eating Stars”
Adler Planetarium, Chicago
Exclusively co-sponsored by the Penn State Eberly College of Science
6 to 9 p.m. March 14
Experience the Adler Planetarium, an international destination as the Western Hemisphere’s first planetarium and one of its most advanced. The Adler has an extensive collection of historic astronomic devices and is now dedicated to the field of space science. In an exciting lecture on discoveries in space, Alexander Wolszczan, Evan Pugh Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State, will discuss the astronomical future of humankind in the framework of our current knowledge of the universe. He will examine the close connections of life to the cosmos, indicating that its evolution and survival are ultimately determined by astronomical phenomena.

“The Making of a Magazine”
Newseum, Washington, D.C.
Co-sponsored by the Penn State College of Communications
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 13
Explore the impressive Newseum, a 250,000-square-foot museum spanning seven levels and offering visitors insight into the world of news by blending 500 years of media history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. With her entertaining and personable approach, Tina Hay, editor of the Alumni Association’s award-winning Penn Stater magazine, will provide an illustrated, behind-the-scenes look at the making of a magazine. Attendees will have a chance to hear some of Hay’s tales from the trenches, see a few humorous outtakes from past issues and hear about how the magazine has covered the biggest crisis in the University's history. There will be plenty of time for questions.

“An Evening with Chip Kidd”
Manhattan Penthouse, New York
Co-sponsored by the Penn State College of Arts & Architecture
6:30 to 10 p.m. May 9
Enter the world of renowned author, editor and graphic designer Chip Kidd, called by USA Today “the closest thing to a rock star” in graphic design. The Manhattan Penthouse, a stately loft overlooking the heights of New York City, provides the perfect backdrop as Kidd shares an insider’s look at highlights of his design career. In his signature charismatic style, Kidd will also regale attendees with special previews of future projects. Attendees can connect with fellow Penn Staters during a cocktail reception and a three-course seated dinner, as the city lights gleam through the penthouse’s glass views.

“Mural Arts: Fostering Social Change and Community Revitalization”
Mural Arts Program at Penn State Abington, Philadelphia
Exclusively co-sponsored by Penn State Abington
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 25
Kick off Memorial Day weekend with a family-friendly mural arts trolley tour around Philadelphia, home to the largest public art program in the United States. In addition to a two-hour trolley tour, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Penn State Abington campus, and learn more about the Mural Arts Program and its community impact from dynamic lunchtime speaker Marc Brownstein, president and CEO of Brownstein Group. A hands-on mural painting experience will wrap up the afternoon. This event will be designed to engage Penn Staters of all ages.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh will host a City Lights event Feb. 21. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated January 24, 2013

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