By 1808Delaware
Join Ohio Wesleyan this October for a full calendar of events ranging from family-friendly Community Day and the debut of Kickstart Ohio to the timeless drama of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The month also brings new art exhibitions, musical performances, thought-provoking lectures, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Art on Display
Painter David W. Groff’s exhibit “Divine Specimens” continues at the Werner Gallery inside Edgar Hall, 35 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, through October 7. The Mansfield native showcases 16 horse portraits, each with its own backstory, created with attention to shape, value, edges, and texture. Groff’s past clients include Disney, the NFL, and Cartoon Network. The gallery is open 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Admission is free.
The Richard M. Ross Art Museum opens three new exhibits on October 14:
- “Sprawl: OWU Faculty Show,” highlighting recent work in ceramics, painting, and photography by professors Kristina Bogdanov, Frank Hobbs, and Jeff Nilan.
- “Demarcations and Delineations” by Michelle Stitzlein, who transforms recycled materials like garden hoses, piano keys, and mini blinds into imaginative abstract works.
- “Our Changing Landscape: Life in the Anthropocene,” a curated show exploring environmental issues, supported by the OWU Natural History Museum’s Passenger Pigeon display.
A public reception will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on October 16.
Music and Performance
Perkins Observatory, 3199 Columbus Pike, offers its popular Friday night skywatches at 8:00 PM on October 3, 10, 17, and 24. Depending on the weather, visitors may see a planetarium show, tour the observatory, or stargaze through the 32-inch Schottland Telescope. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.
Ohio Wesleyan’s performing arts line-up includes:
- Musical Theatre Scenes at 8:00 PM, October 17-18, in Jemison Auditorium, Sanborn Hall. Free admission.
- Guest trombonist Peter Steiner with organist Constanze Hochwartner at 2:00 PM, October 19, in Gray Chapel. Free admission.
- The Symphonic Wind Ensemble fall concert at 8:00 PM, October 23, in Gray Chapel. Free admission.
- Shakespeare’s Macbeth, directed by Bradford Sadler, on stage at Chappelear Drama Center October 30–November 2. General admission is $10, $5 for seniors, and free for OWU students and employees.
Community Gatherings
Bishop Backers Fall Community Day takes place October 18. The schedule includes:
- 10:00 AM: Delaware Speech and Hearing Center’s “Walk for Communication” from OWU’s JAYwalk into downtown Delaware.
- Noon: Free community tailgate at Selby Stadium with police, firefighters, and public safety staff at the grill.
- 1:00 PM: Battling Bishops football vs. Wooster. Admission is free; donations and raffle proceeds will benefit the Speech and Hearing Center.
Families can also enjoy Ghost Family Portraits from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on October 26 at the Ross Art Museum, complete with make-and-take Halloween crafts and storytelling.
Talks and Lectures
This month’s lectures include:
- Scott D. Milligan ’90, group vice president at Thrive Pet Healthcare, who delivers the Robert L. Milligan Leaders in Business Lecture at 7:30 PM, October 27.
- Immigration attorney Dana Bucin ’02, who presents “What to do about immigration?” at 7:00 PM, October 28, in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, with a related panel at noon, October 29, in Merrick Hall.
The Ross Museum also launches its “Art and the Environment” talk series, all at 6:30 PM:
- October 14: Poet and activist Terry Hermsen, “Tiny Songs Poetry Reading.”
- October 21: Jeff Dickinson of Stratford Ecological Center, “Regenerative Agriculture.”
- October 28: Photographer John Ganis ’72, “America’s Endangered Coasts.”
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Ohio Wesleyan hosts its first Kickstart Ohio conference October 23-25, a multi-day gathering of entrepreneurs, founders, and innovators. The event culminates with a fireside chat between Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and OWU President Matt vandenBerg on October 25 in Gray Chapel.
Also on October 25 at 9:00 AM, the U.S. Entrepreneurial Competition returns to OWU. This “Shark Tank”-style event includes professional and student tracks, with winners earning investment and mentoring.
