Mitchell Named Playwright-in-Residence
Fueled by a strong need to express his thoughts in an orderly yet humorous fashion, Douglas Mitchell turned to playwriting as a way to keep his sanity. After 13 years of writing plays, the Rice University linguist is well known for his one-act dramas, and this fall, he takes on a new role of his own as Rice’s playwright-in-residence.

Teaching the Sound of Music
The Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program at the Shepherd School of Music, which offers music curricula and experiences for every age group, has gotten a major boost with a $5-million grant from the Brown Foundation Inc.

David Chien
Road signs taken out of context can be read like Zen koans or obscure riddles to ponder for greater insight. For David Chien, the hallmark of a trip to the Grand Canyon was a sign that read, “Gusty winds may exist.” The message feels oddly poetic for highway signage, and the words seemingly impart something beyond road condition information.

Ester Partegàs
Entering Samesation at Rice Gallery is like wandering into a giant architectural model for a civic plaza. This larger-than-life installation by Ester Partegàs comes complete with trees, benches, and planters, all carefully crafted from mat board and heavy paper.