James Ivey to share highlights of Balinese culture from recent excursion

Dr. James Ivey, professor of Theater at SUNY Fredonia, will present a lecture/demonstration devoted to his recent trip to Bali, Indonesia on Friday, April 19, at 3 p.m. at McEwen Hall Room G25. Ivey spent most of January in Ubud, Bali, studying the Balinese culture through the auspices of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, Blue Lake, Calif.

Bali is an island where creativity is ordinary and all life is informed by the creation of art, Dr. Ivey said. "The Balinese performing arts are a wonderful example of how art serves the community, religious practice, the economy and everyday living," he said. "Bali is also a country in transition, as development and tourism increase every year, and the traditional arts are also changing."

Ivey’s month-long intensive experience focused on Topeng mask-carving technique and included study with master carvers and teachers I. Nyoman Setiawan and I.B. Anom Suryawan. Ivey also studied Topeng dance-drama, Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry) and the Kecak or monkey change, in addition to attending many temple and village ceremonies displaying the native forms.

Friday’s lecture by Ivey will detail the many cultural and spiritual experiences he encountered in this fascinating country. He will conclude the lecture with a demonstration of the “Ministers’ Dance” in the Topeng style in a mask of his own making.