November-December Highlights

Central Javanese Gamelan and Friends of the Gamelan
Wayang Kulit
Javanese Shadow Puppet Theatre
2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

The University's Central Javanese Gamelan and Friends of the Gamelan are jointly presenting two Javanese shadow puppet shows that will feature guest musical director Joko Sutrisno and puppeteer Midiyanto Putra. Wayang Kulit is a traditional Indonesian art form from Java in which two-dimensional, painted leather puppets are made to cast shadows onto a screen lit from behind. In any single performance there may be dozens of puppets representing gods, kings, warriors, hermits, ogres and clowns. One puppeteer manipulates all of the puppets and provides their voices, as well. Gamelan, which incorporates an ensemble of “hammered” metal percussion instruments, drums, strings, bamboo flutes and vocalists, accompanies the performance. The 2 p.m. show will be more informal and geared toward families. The 5 p.m. show will be a more traditional Central Javanese shadow puppet performance. A $5 donation will be requested at the door for the 2 p.m. show and $7 for the 5 p.m. show. More information is available at (773) 702-9474, info@chicagogamelan.com or gamelan@uchicago.edu.
Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave, (773) 363-6063.

Newberger Hillel Center
The 61st Annual Latke-Hamentash Debate
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20

One of the University's most celebrated traditions will take place in the Reynolds Club. In its 61st year, the annual Latke-Hamentash debate will feature distinguished members of the faculty expounding the virtues of latkes, potato pancakes traditionally eaten during Hanukkah, and hamentaschen, triangular pastries traditionally associated with Purim. This year's faculty debaters are Susan Bandes, Law School, Austan Goolsbee, Graduate School of Business, Alberto Simpser, Political Science, and Matthew Stolper, Oriental Institute. Spectators also will be able to taste the confectionary contenders, when latke and hamentaschen are sampled in Hutchinson Commons following the debate. Cost for the dessert reception is $5 at the door.
Mandel Hall, 5706 S. University Ave. in the Reynold's Club.
(773) 752-1127.
http://www.uchicagohillel.org

	Daniel Heyman, Amman Series, Drypoint, 8 parts, 27 x 22 inches each

The Renaissance Society
“Meanwhile in Baghdad...”
Through Friday, Dec. 21

From the demise of communism to the Iraq war, globalization has taken a turn from the rhetoric of optimism to the reality of conflict. With the war going into its fifth year, the events in Iraq are less the headlines these days and more a backdrop. “Meanwhile in Baghdad...” is a group exhibition that takes the war as a general context to examine a range of artistic responses, some as direct as Daniel Heyman's Abu Ghraib Project, in which the artist made engravings based on first-hand accounts he gathered from victims of torture, and others as viscerally poignant as a series of bandaged bed frames by Jannis Kounellis.

Department of Music
University Chorus: Handel's Messiah
8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30

University Chorus, soloists and orchestra will perform this traditional holiday oratorio in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. George Frideric Handel's Messiah is among the most popular works in Western choral literature and includes the well-known Hallelujah chorus. Tickets will be sold at the door or may be reserved at (773) 702-9075. Ticket cost is $30 priority, $20 adults, $10 students and seniors at door, $5 students in advance. Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
5850 S. Woodlawn Ave.