UMSL commemorates 20th anniversary of Berlin Wall falling

by Christopher Breshears | Nov 6, 2009

The University of Missouri-St. Louis will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the falling of the Berlin Wall with various events throughout November. UMSL is one of only three U.S. universities where the “Freedom Without Walls” celebration, sponsored by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., is being held -- and the…

The University of Missouri-St. Louis will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the falling of the Berlin Wall with various events throughout November. UMSL is one of only three U.S. universities where the “Freedom Without Walls” celebration, sponsored by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., is being held — and the only one in Missouri.

“We are truly pleased and honored to have been chosen as partners for this important commemoration,” said Larry Marsh, coordinator of the German Culture Center at UMSL.

“The fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989, not only freed millions of Berliners and other East Germans, it also served as a beacon of hope and an inspiration for democratic movements throughout the world.

The fall of the Berlin Wall signaled the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era in transatlantic relations and European unity.

Here are the “Freedom Without Walls” events:

Oct. 30 – Nov. 18
“Icons of a Border Installation,” interactive exhibition on the Berlin Wall
Gallery Visio, in 170 Millennium Student Center at UMSL
Opening Reception: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30
RSVP to gcc@umsl.edu
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays; Special Hours: Sun., Nov. 1: Noon – 4 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 8: 2 – 6 p.m.
Gallery Visio Phone: 314-516-7922

Nov. 8
“Berlin in Music,” a concert celebrating Berlin with special performances by
Arianna String Quartet, UMSL Comedian Harmonists, UMSL Chamber Ensemble and Paula Kasica, flute
3 p.m., J.C. Penney Auditorium at UMSL
“Ich bin ein Berliner,” reception/party
4 p.m., J.C. Penney Auditorium lobby at UMSL
Concert and reception free and open to the public.
RSVP to gcc@umsl.edu or 314-516-6620

Nov. 9
Opening Program
10 a.m., J.C. Penney Auditorium at UMSL
Special showing of new documentary “Freedom Without Walls”
Panel Discussion with German students, special musical numbers, prize-winning short videos from competition.

Symbolic “Opening of the Wall” 12 p.m., near the Wayne Goode statue (south of the Millennium Student Center) Speeches, music and a dramatic breaking down of the “Wall” presented by the German Culture Center at UMSL and the Department of Theatre, Dance and Media Studies at UMSL.

Keynote Address 7:30 p.m., “Be Careful what you Pray for: The Search for Unity in Unified Germany” by Joyce Mushaben, professor of political science and gender studies at UMSL
Millennium Student Center, Century Room A
Free and open to the public
RSVP to gcc@umsl.edu or 314-516-6620

Nov. 12
Official Opening and Reception
12:30 – 3 p.m.
Wall Art in the UMSL Student Sculpture Garden
7875 University Blvd. (Florissant Road)
Prize winning sculptures on the theme “Freedom Without Walls”
RSVP to gcc@umsl.edu or 314-516-6620

Nov. 12, 16 and 18
“Berlin in Film”
7 p.m.
Museum Room at the Pierre Laclede Honors College at UMSL
Free and open to the public
Nov. 12, “Berlin Schoenhauser Corner”
Nov. 16, “Sonnenallee” (Sun Alley)
Nov. 18, “Rhythm is it!”

Visit http://web.me.com/germanculturecenter/Berlin_Wall_Events/Home.html for more information.