September 11, 2025
Story and photo by Joe Vinduska
Barton’s Fine and Performing Arts faculty will come together for a special collaborative event showcasing their talents through live performances and displayed art pieces inspired by their colleague’s creative work at 5 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Fine Arts Auditorium.
Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Danika Bielek said the event’s title, “Art Inspires Art,” describes the shared admiration Barton’s arts faculty has for each other's work and alludes to the process of how the event was developed.
“Music, art, theatre, and dance faculty shared works they wished to present during a creative brainstorming session,” she said. “Artwork has been paired with and sometimes inspired the direction performances would take. It’s like having a breath of fresh air breathed into the creative work. I think showing our students how to share and collaborate with others is such a valuable lesson.”
Instructor of Keyboard Studies and Director of Accompaniment Dr. Alejandro Avila expressed how he enjoyed the creative process for this event.
“Collaborating with our Fine Arts faculty for this recital and exhibition is truly inspiring,” he said. “It’s exciting to see such tremendous artwork paired with powerful musical works, and refreshing to share in this creative exchange. I’m thrilled to be part of such a meaningful collaboration.”
A projector will display artwork and include pieces by Mark Freeman, Magdalena Jacobson (Mantra Cora), Philip Rubinov Jacobson, and Brandon Steinert.
Performances include music by Dr. Alejandro Avila, Dr. Eric Foley, Aleia Gonzalez, Jamie Minneman, and Colvin Hooser. Danika Bielek will present original dance works. Extending the collaborative spirit beyond the Barton community, Communications Instructor Denise Williams will perform a dialogue with Great Bend High School’s Theatre Instructor Holly Johnson.
For more information, contact Bielek at bielekd@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9253 or visit shows.bartonccc.edu.