Up close and personal: Wheaton celebrates Black History Month

Wheaton College celebrates Black History Month with a series of speakers, artists, musicians and discussions. The following events are open to the public. For directions to Wheaton College, call 508-286-5602 or go to www.wheatoncollege.edu/about/directions.

Thursday, February 1: Art exhibit, lecture and reception
A month-long exhibition of the works of artist Bill Hutson, titled, ''The Tactile Series,'' will run in the Watson Gallery until March 1. An artist's lecture is scheduled for February 1 in Watson Auditorium at 7 p.m. to be followed by a reception in the gallery at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, February 6: A reading by faculty novelist Lesego Malepe
Wheaton professor Lesego Malepe will read from her novel, Matters of Life and Death, set in South Africa during the final four decades of the apartheid regime. A discussion, book signing and reception will follow the reading. 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., May Room, Mary Lyon Hall.

Tuesday, February 13: Film and discussion about interracial relationships
Join Wheaton alumnus and faculty member Guy Mark Foster '94 for a short film and powerful, candid discussion on interracial relationships. Guy Mark Foster is the author of Sleeping with the Enemy: The ''problem'' of interracial relationships for contemporary Black Americans. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., May Room, Mary Lyon Hall.

Friday, February 16: Gospel singing by Visions
A performance by Visions, Wheaton's co-ed gospel singing group. 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m., Atrium, Balfour-Hood Center

Friday and Saturday, February 16 & 17: The Hurricane
A true story about African-American boxer Rubin ''Hurricane'' Carter, starring Denzel Washington, who was wrongfully convicted for three murders in Patterson, NJ. 9 p.m., Hindle Auditorium, Wheaton Science Center. Admission is $2.

Monday, February 19: Solo Performance by Rose Weaver '73
Rose Weaver '73 uses songs, original prose, dramatic monologues and vignettes to explore self-esteem. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Woolley Room, Mary Lyon Hall.

Tuesday, February 20: Video and discussion about homophobia and civil rights
Recent graduate Shawn Boone'00 returns to campus to lead a discussion about civil rights and homophobia. Boone will show a short video, All God's Children, prior to the discussion. 7 p.m. -9 p.m., New Yellow Parlor, Balfour-Hood Center

Monday, February 26: Dance performance by TRYBE
Wheaton's student-run dance troupe performs Hawaiian, Caribbean, West African, Hip-Hop, and modern dance. 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Atrium, Balfour-Hood Center.

Tuesday, February 27: A discussion on the future of black culture
Tricia Rose, author of Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America, will lecture on black popular culture. An associate professor at New York University, Rose specializes in African culture and gender issues. A reception will follow. 7 p.m, May Room, Mary Lyon Hall.