Montanan, Winter 1999

The Magazine of The University of Ifcgtana v . Stagestruck From Footlights to Fitt^n UM Masters the Fine Artc'' Centennial Circle Bricks KtiHjiViisiiffij University of BPMKBfftmSjijwi1 History sir id f M T iwir>rr Jrc; future. The University of Montana celebrated its 100th birthday in 1993. As part of the Centennial Cele bration, the area around the Grizzly Bear sculpture was paved with bricks. These bricks form the Centennial Circle and are engraved with names of special people. These could include you, current or future UM students or your classmates, family members, friends, teach ers—anyone you would like to honor. By purchasing a brick for $150, you will help support the University. For more information or a free brochure, call University Relations at (406) 243-2488. _ _ Northwest M o n t a n a Large parcels and acreage. Lakefront, riverfront a n d view property. _____ _ A EXCLUSIVE* peaceful, natural, inspiring settings. $240,000 TO $6,500,000. fL ^r-,,r0o^Z !ZZ y more information contact: Bill DeReu, Plum Creek at (406) 892-6264.; Visit our Web Site at http://larKlplumcreek.com/ Volume 16 Gfeatents N umber 2 12 15 18 20 STAFF FEATURES DEPARTMENTS E d i t o r Caroline Patterson ’94 10 2 I n t e r i m E d i t o r AROUND THE Susanna Sonnenberg WRITERS AT WORK OVAL B y C o n s t a n c e P o t e n C ontributing UM's Creative Writing Program has evolved from H. G. Merriam's revolutionary W r i t e r s a n d dream to a competitive program now ranked one of the best in the nation, boasting a 8 E d i t o r s host of notable professors and successful graduates. SPORTS Terry Brenner Joyce H. Brusin '85 12 janelle Leader Lamb ’98 24 Rita Munzenrider ’83 TOUR DE FORCE CLASS NOTES Cary Shimek B y P a t r i c k H u t c h i n s The Montana Rep, based on the Missoula campus, tours professional 32 P hotographer theater around the country and makes it look wonderful. Todd Goodrich ’88 ALUMNI NOTES L a y o u t a n d 15 G r a p h i c s PORTRAIT OF THE YOUNG ARTISTS 34 Mike Egeler B y K i m A n d e r s o n FUND-RAISING A d v i s o r y Profiles of three of today's students—a sculptor, a pianist and a ceramicist. MOMENTUM B o a r d Vivian Brooke 16 36 Perry Brown A WIDE RANGE CAMPUS COLOR William Farr B y M e g h a n H o w e s Bob Frazier In a felicitous union of theater and song, UM’s Opera Theater Bill Johnston brings theatrical performance to Montana opera lovers. Wendy Smith Dennis Swibold John Talbot 17 THE HOUSE THAT DICK BUILT A d v e r t i s i n g B y V i c t o r i a J e n k i n s R epresentative The newly dedicated Richard Hugo House in Seattle is a literary center Jackie Drews (406) 728-1573 devoted to writing in the name of the great poet and UM professor. E d i t o r i a l 18 O f f ic e s “A ROOM FULL OF ROLLER COASTERS” University Relations B y M a r i a H e a l e y 323 Brantly Hall The University of Visiting Dance Instructor Karen Kaufmann offers a course that Montana trains UM students how to teach movement to people with disabilities. Missoula, MT 59812-1301 20 (406) 243-2522 COAT OF MANY COLORS Web site: B y P a t i a S t e p h e n s h t t p : / / www.umt.edu Cover S c h o o l fo r Once a home economics teacher, Christine Milodragovich is now interim dean of the Sca n d a l on stage at T he M o n ta n a n School of Fine Arts, while still working in UM's costume shop alongside her students. the Montana Theatre. is published three tim es a year by 22 Photo: Department of The University of Drama/Dance archives. Montana for its BOOKS alumni and friends. B y S u s a n n a S o n n e n b e r g A long winter is perfect for Nine Below Zero, Cold New World and Except by Nature. Winter 1999 MONTANAN 1 A rt on V iew alleries on campus bring a seasonal change of artistic works to the public’s attention in a variety of settings. The Meloy Gallery in Gthe Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center presented graduate thesis work last semester, including Kendra Bayer’s mixed media “Seductress” (right). In the University Center (below), a once sober lounge for languishing and quiet study now features changing exhibitions of sculpture, painting and mixed media, including graduate student Anthony Lott’s show “Dissociations: Spirit and Society” in February. The Gallery of Visual Arts in the Social Science Building displays works with an emphasis on canvas. The recent February show titled “Dreaming the West” featured such surrealist work as “Hinckley’s Brain” by Jesse Valentine (inset). Open to the public, all three galleries serve the University community as well as surrounding areas. 2 W inter 1999 M o k t a k a n m extend to you our collective best wishes for a wonderful and pro- people who constitute the University offer dultive 1999. It seems incredible that the new millennium will dawn proud testament to our continuing commit wifhin a few months. Having lived in the century that truly tried ment. human ingenuity and resourcefulness, I eagerly await the new one. I remain optimistic about the future of As I considered an appropriate message for this issue of the the University and our society despite the Montanan, I came to a deeper appreciation of the University's leader problems we face. Henry Adams, one of ship in the arts throughout Montana and the region. In the new centu America's great intellects, contemplated the ry, colleges and universities must reassert their traditional missions to opening of a new century one hundred ensure the continuation of our common culture. I make this statement years ago. He discounted the warnings of with the dear intention of maintaining the culture's eclectic nature, the skeptics who argued that the human borrowing as it has from the aboriginal population and the successive mind lacked the scope and power to waves of immigrants. Robert Bellah informed us some years ago that resolve or even to comprehend the new challenges. He believed human we best define a culture as a continuing dialogue about things that ity up to the task, although he concluded that the human mind would matter among people who care. We do have much in common, even as “have to leap.” It did, and so it will in the new century if we but pre we celebrate our diversity. pare young people properly. Through numerous initiatives, The University of Montana strives to fulfill its unique mission in the arts. This issue of the magazine will introduce some faculty members and students who have, through their commitments and accomplishments, moved us in the appropriate direc George M. Dennison tions. The richness of the campus resources and the creativity of the President and Professor of History UM B iological Station: A Century of Ecology R esearch ontana's Flathead Lake, one of the site north of Yellow Bay was a place for scien world's three hundred largest lakes, tific study and teaching until 1912, when the has maintained a clean reputation station moved to its present location. Min times when much of the world's waters Since its beginning, the biological station have been polluted to irreversible levels. Yet has been dedicated to teaching scientific field reputation alone could not protect the largest courses. As years passed, ecological research freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River also became a significant priority. from water-quality decline forever. Today the biological station staff works The University's Flathead Lake Biological year-round toward four goals: to conduct and Station at Yellow Bay is a watchful guardian publish basic research in ecology, with an of the lake. Since 1977, under the direction emphasis on the Flathead River/Lake ecosys of Jack Stanford, station scientists have stud tem; to offer quality college courses in field- ied trends in the lake's water quality, keeping oriented ecological disciplines; to train gradu lake managers informed. The station, which ate students in ecology; and to provide infor has no managerial authority, provides scien mation to the public on ecological issues. tific information for the protection of Flat- To mark its centennial, biological station head Lake and its surrounding ecosystem. faculty and staff will celebrate this summer The station has been concerned with the with a series of public events, including guid Flathead ecosystem for much longer than ed hikes, a fishing derby and seminars. A $10 twenty-two years. Morton J. Elrod, the first million Capital Campaign will finance build director, established the biological station in ings, professorships and equipment purchases 1899 at the mouth of the Swan River. That to take the station into the next millennium. Above: Flathead Lake’s Yellow Bay. Left: Biological station scientists sample river biota in the Flathead River.

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