"The Return of Rothko" Performance

"The Return of Rothko" is a reading of John Logan's play "Red" — a dramatic account of the life and work of American abstract painter Mark Rothko (1903-1970).

The performance celebrates the return of UAMA's Rothko, titled Green on Blue, from Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris where it was featured in the largest exhibition of the artist's work ever assembled.

"Red" is presented by UArizona Professor Patrick Baliani and W.A. Franke Honors College students Nic Owen and Mireya Borgen. The play is course material in two of Professor Baliani’s Honors classes this term: "Modern Art and Mental Illness" and “Visual Art and Brain Studies.”

About the Performers

Nicholas Owen is a W.A. Franke Honors College senior majoring in Sociology with a minor in Art. His studies explore the intersection between these disciplines and the ways in which humanity is storied visually. His current artistic venture is a poetic exploration of queerness and masculinity through the lens of the Sonoran Desert.

Mireya Borgen is a W.A. Franke Honors College senior studying English and Political Science with a minor in Spanish. She is also currently completing an Accelerated Master's in English Literature. Mireya is enamored with learning about and teaching visual arts, both of which have profoundly influenced her decision to continue studying literature and her future aspirations to teach in the field.

Professor and Playwright Patrick Baliani, MFA teaches Interdisciplinary Studies at the W.A. Franke Honors College. He has produced his original plays, translations, and literary adaptations at The Rogue Theatre as well as nationally and in Canada. He frequently has students attend the UAMA for their course work as well as to give presentations in the galleries for the public.