Northwestern College to host Day of Learning

Northwestern College will celebrate its seventh Day of Learning in Community (DLC), themed “The Art of Courage,” on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Community members are invited to attend all the events, which are free.

Keynote speaker for the DLC is Steve Taylor, who will speak in Christ Chapel at 10 a.m. Taylor is a musician, writer, producer and film director with multiple Grammy and Billboard nominations and awards. He began as a recording artist in the early 1980s and has toured internationally and sold more than one million albums worldwide. He has served as record producer for Sixpence None the Richer and Newsboys and directed music videos for several artists and bands, including Sixpence’s video for “Kiss Me,” which was featured on VH1.

In 2005 Taylor co-wrote, directed and produced the film “Second Chance.” His latest film, “Blue Like Jazz,” based on Donald Miller’s book of the same title, premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival in 2012. “Blue Like Jazz” will be shown in Christ Chapel on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Taylor will participate in a discussion of the film on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. in the Vogel Community Room of the DeWitt Learning Commons.

On Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 18, from 1 to 5, campus and community members will have the opportunity to engage with art and artists in various locations around campus. A group of composers and poets will present new work in response to art by Eric Robinson, on exhibit in the college’s Te Paske Gallery. Social work students will host an interactive exhibit titled “Breaking Silence” that gives voice to victims of violence against women. And Dr. Keith Fynaardt, English, will host a screening and discussion of “A River Runs Through It,” the Robert Redford-directed film based on a novella by Norman Maclean.

Guests can also experience an innovative conductor-less, collaborative rehearsal with the Northwestern Symphonic Band or watch a one-man performance by Dr. Robert Hubbard, theatre.

Northwestern classes and regular activities will be canceled on Feb. 18 so faculty, staff and students can participate in DLC events. For details about the 2015 Day of Learning in Community, visit www.nwciowa.edu/dlc.