Connecting the arts and humanities to a democratic revivial in the United States is more than an intriguing idea - the future of the cultural and political ideals of a diverse nation hangs in the balance. And while that may sound like hyperbole, consider the headwinds of violence, apathy, low-voter turnout, politcal disillusionment and eroding trust in institutions into which American society has turned in recent years.

Friday evening, September 12 is a big evening for openings at the Lamar Dodd School of Art galleries, which will open four new exhibitions at once with a reception beginning at 6 p.m.:

The terrific Athropocene Lecture Series continues tomorrow night, Sept. 11, in the Chapel at 7 p.m. with an Archeology of the Anthropocene:

Visiting artist and Gallery Artist-in-Resident Ry Rocklen will discuss the work he has created while in Athens as well as comment on his recent sculptural pieces in porcelain and his furniture enterprise Trophy Modern. Rocklen's exhibition of work, Local Color, made largely in tandem with students at the Lamar Dodd School of Art will open on September 12th in Gallery 307. His lecture is on Tuesday Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

The Lorraine Hansberry play A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway in 1959. The title was taken from the Langston Hughes poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred") for a story based on a black family's experiences in the Washington Park Subdivision of Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. A Raisin in the Sun was made into a film (1961), a musical (1973), and a TV film (1989), and a spinoff production of Hansberry's classic, "Clybourne Park," won both a Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

How our eyes absorb light and achieve great definition in visibilty is a fascinating subject and the focus of one of the best neuroscience researchers in the country, a faculty member in our department of psychology:

Each fall brings many new faces to campus, but this semsester marks the beginning of a new era at the Lamar Dodd School of Art with the arrival of its new director, Chris Garvin. Learn more about Garvin, his background and vision for the school in this extended Q&A (an abridged version appeared in the Sept. 2 Columns):

A former Franklin colleague near and dear to many of us returns to campus this week to read from his new memoir, It Is Written. Welcome back, Phil:

Award-winning author Philip Lee Williams will read from his latest autobiography, "It Is Written: My Life in Letters." The book covers Williams' 30-year career and tells the story of his creative life in an open, jaunty and often hilarious autobiography. Presented by UGA Libraries.

The UGA Faculty of Infectious Diseases is comprised of many Franklin College faculty members and departments, researchers who have garnered significant resources in the fight against a variety of global health challenges: