‘Vigil’ by acclaimed author George Saunders kicks off the new Campus Reading Program
May 13, 2026
This week, catch the opening of “In the Time of the Butterflies,” visit the Sailing Center and let the Symphonic Wind Ensemble take you on a sonic journey. Here’s what to put on your calendar. As always, all are welcome!
Student science
See what undergraduate researchers have been working on at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Expo and Creative Arts Festival. During the expo, students will present posters and oral presentations about their work on subjects ranging from black holes to baseball stats. In the evening, the variety show-style festival allows students to showcase projects with creative outputs including documentaries, music and more.
The expo runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, on the second floor of Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston. The creative arts festival runs 7–9 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, in room 201, Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, Evanston. More info.
The future of creativity
Northwestern’s Center for Responsible Technology, Policy, and Public Dialogue hosts a mini conference exploring how AI is reshaping creativity, culture and learning. The two-day event features a film screening, conversations with artists and scholars, student presentations and an evening social with music and comedy.
The conference begins with a film screening with SESP alum Dan Perlman at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, in room G15, Annenberg Hall, 2120 Campus Drive, Evanston. Register and see the full agenda here.
Behind the lens
Elena Gorfinkel of King’s College London joins The Block for two screenings. On Thursday, Gorfinkel will introduce Barbara Loden’s “Wanda,” a film about a woman who leaves her life as she knows it and drifts across landscapes of deprivation. On Friday, she will introduce and discuss four short educational films by Loden and collaborator Joan Micklin Silver, situating them in the contexts of non-theatrical and feminist filmmaking in the 1970s.
The “Wanda” screening is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, at The Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Register here. The screening of Loden and Micklin Silver’s films is at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 22, at The Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Register here.
Sonic tales
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble presents an evening of musical storytelling, where familiar legends and new tales come to life. With works by Vincent Persichetti and John Mackey, as well as a world premiere by Bienen student composer Tanner Carlson-Huber, the program unfolds as a sonic exploration of imagination and narrative.
The concert is at 7:30 on Friday, May 22, in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Buy tickets.
Sisterhood, nationhood
Based on Julia Alvarez’s acclaimed novel, “In the Time of the Butterflies” bears witness to the joy and terror that shaped a nation and its people. It tells the story of the courageous Mirabal sisters, whose love for their family and passion for their country led them to become activists and martyrs for the revolution against the Trujillo dictatorship.
Performances are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, in the Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Buy tickets.
Set sail
Faculty and staff are invited to spend an afternoon on the lakefront at the Northwestern University Sailing Center’s open house. The event includes facility tours, equipment demonstrations, giveaways and first-come, first-served complimentary kayak and paddleboard rentals.
The open house is from 3–7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, at the Sailing Center, 1823 Campus Drive, Evanston. Register here.
Spotlight on local art
See the premiere of “4x4: Contemporary Art in Chicago,” an annual series of four short documentaries about practicing local artists, including Northwestern’s Deb Sokolow and alum Bernard Williams. The screening will be followed by a talkback featuring the artists and filmmakers.
The event is at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Buy tickets.
