Francis W. Sweeney
virtual exhibit fall 2004 - burns library
Introduction | Background | Predecessor | Friends | Guests | Related | Conclusion
While the Humanities Series is best known for lectures, Sweeney also brought fine arts performances and art exhibits to Boston College. Included were noted mime artists, classical and international musical groups, dance ensembles and theatrical performances. Art exhibitions were either shows by local artists or, more commonly, traveling exhibits from institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art, IBM Corporation's Permanent Art Collection, UNESCO and the Hallmark Company. He also sponsored several related cultural series using the budget of the Humanities Series. These included the Younger Poets Series (1960-1975), Visiting Artists Series (1968-1978), Careers in Writing Conference (1961-1967) and the Campus Film-Makers Festival (1969-1978).
|
Photo credit: Humanities Series - Director's Files, Burns Library, Boston College |
Beginning in 1960, Sweeney launched the Younger Poets Series. For a modest fee, he brought less established poets to give readings at Boston College. Lucille Clifton, Donald Hall, Anthony Hecht, X.J. Kennedy, Galway Kinnell, Denise Levertov, Richard Murphy, Adrienne Rich, May Swenson, Richard Wilbur, C.K. Williams and other individuals came to read at Boston College as part of the Younger Poets Series. Many of them would later return under the auspices of the Humanities Series. Here, a poster of Diane Levertov's November 7, 1962 reading is reproduced.
 The Careers in Writing Conference played a significant role in the creative development of students. It was a one-day event held every spring where professional writers discussed their craft on separate writing panels (e.g. panels on fiction, poetry, journalism, history and film). Here Patricia Carbine lectures on the 1965 Journalism Panel. At the time, Carbine was the Managing Editor of Look Magazine. She would be one of future founders of the magazine Ms. Photo credit: Humanities Series - Director's Files, Burns Library, Boston College. |
|
Photo credit: Humanities Series - Director's Files, Burns Library, Boston College. |
Sweeney also arranged live demonstrations by local artisans in the Visiting Artists Series in the 1970s. Students were able to observe stained glass makers, silkscreen designers, potters, weavers, sculptors, painters and other artists at work. Here silkscreen artist Lisa Toff demonstrates her craft.
 The Campus Film-makers Festival also played a direct role in the creative development of students. Working with the Film Studies Program, Sweeney helped fund students' film-making expenses and presented the best films during the Campus Film-Makers Festivals held every spring semester. The poster of the first Campus Film-Makers Festival is reproduced here. Photo credit: Humanities Series - Director's Files, Burns Library, Boston College. |
|
Photo credit: Humanities Series - Director's Files, Burns Library, Boston College. |
The Yale Russian Chorus performed almost every year from 1965 through 1998 as part of the Humanities Series. It is a tenor-bass a cappella choral ensemble made up of Yale University students and specializes in both sacred and secular Slavic choral music. The Yale Russian Chorus was one of Father Sweeney's favorite events. A photograph of one of their many performances is pictured here; the date is unknown.
|
Photo credit: Humanities Series - Director's Files, Burns Library, Boston College |
The noted early music group New York Pro Musica performed an eight hundred-year old musical drama The Play of Daniel at St. Ignatius Church on December 5, 1968. Introduction | Background | Predecessor | Friends | Guests | Related | Conclusion