Free Stanford art festival features exhibitions, film, live performances

The ninth annual "An Art Affair" festival will take place from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, April 11, in White Plaza.

The festival will showcase the talents of Stanford students, faculty and staff in the fine and performing arts. The festival also will include screenings of new films by Stanford students in the lobby of the Old Union from 8 to 10 p.m.

Student bands will perform at a CD release party celebrating the seventh volume of the "Stanford Soundtrack" from 6 p.m. to midnight. The party will include live performances from bands recorded for the CD. The CD is free with a valid Stanford ID and $5 for the public.

More that 350 pieces of visual art will be on display. Tents featuring artwork will be open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and include a special exhibit from the Architectural Design Program; hundreds of pieces of photography, sculpture, drawings and paintings; and the launch of Stanford's first graphic novel, created by students in the Creative Writing Program.

Over 100 performances, ranging from classical ballet to "spoken word" poetry, rock music and martial arts, will take place on three outdoor stages; they will continue from noon until 6 p.m. Creative writing students will hold a special hour of readings at noon.

Participants will have a chance to create their own work of art with a community mural painting. A free Indian dinner is available at 5:30 p.m. with a valid Stanford ID.

All exhibits and events are free and open to the public.

"An Art Affair" is sponsored by the Student Organizing Committee for the Arts, the Stanford Institute for Creativity and the Arts, the Stanford Film Society and the Stanford Concert Network.

For more information about the festival schedule, location and parking, visit http://soca.stanford.edu.