spring 2014

a magazine published by the university of florida college of fine arts Contents

Dean’s Message

College News Spring 2014 commencement honors, interdisciplinary partnerships, faculty awards and more

Feature Story Technology and the Arts S.T.E.A.M. School of Art + Art History Rising Discovering the Kongo Kingdom, GRADhaus spotlight, faculty publications, alumni updates, From the president’s 2014 State of the Union Q&A with Matthew Schreiber and more address to conversations taking place on most major campuses, you do not have to go far School of Music to hear about S.T.E.M. (science, technology, Make the Music campaign update, celebrating engineering and math). In the College of Fine the UF Symphony Orchestra, alumni updates, Arts, we persistently ensure that the arts are Q&A with Nicholas Pallesen and more inserted into that dialogue.

S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, School of arts and math) is rising as academic and Theatre + Dance community leaders recognize the benefits of UF Talent Showcased in Avenue Q, an arts education, whether that leads one to a recent guest artists, alumni updates, career as a professional artist or into another Q&A with Lyndon Smith and more industry such as medicine, business or law. This year, I have met with U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho on several occasions to express the importance of Centers & Affiliates S.T.E.A.M. and continued funding of the arts. Updates from University Galleries, the Center for Locally, in Gainesville, state Rep. Keith Arts in Medicine and UF’s Digital Worlds Institute Perry has pledged to make S.T.E.A.M. a priority. Development In this issue, you will read about the activities, A look back at Splendor: New York Nights faculty, students and alumni who make the and the Gator Bands Centennial Celebration, College of Fine Arts what it is. You will plus donor recognition learn about valuable partnerships such as the Creativity in the Arts and Sciences Event the Arts Scene in: (pg. 6) and the School of Theatre + Dance’s Brad Copeland tells us what he loves work with the Hippodrome Theatre (pg. 18), about Los Angeles as well as the role technology plays within the arts (pg. 8). The stories included here are a small reflection of the happenings and achievements of our faculty, students and alumni. Other highlights from the past year include: the installation of artwork in the Department of Geological Sciences, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and numerous other venues; the creation of a minor in fine arts; initiatives with the Warrington College of Business Administration to increase business training for arts students; the launch of Digital Worlds Institute’s new BA in Digital Arts and Sciences; and the forthcoming online MA in Arts in Medicine. We hope that you enjoy this issue and continue to stay connected to the College of Fine Arts wherever you are. Lucinda Lavelli Dean, College of Fine Arts 2 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 about the cover muse magazine is published annually by Center for World Arts the University of Florida College of Fine Arts, 2013-2014 Artist-In- keeping alumni, students and friends of the Residence Yang “Gina” college connected by reporting on issues Weijia as the solo dancer relevant and timely to the arts and the university. in The Red Silk Thread: An Epic Tale of Marco Polo. dean Photo by Ani Collier. Lucinda Lavelli

associate deans Margaret Mertz Edward Schaefer

editor Leah Spellman Craig

designer Holly Franklin

contributing writers Leah Spellman Craig Lillian Dompe Katerie Gladdys Ana Gomez Hillary Hoffower Spencer Phillips Courtney Studdert Amy Vigilante Lauren Walter Chloe Weber Xue Zhao

school directors Art + Art History, Richard Heipp Music, John Duff Theatre + Dance, Jerry Dickey

office of development Jennifer Coolidge Lillian Dompe

college of fine arts 101 Fine Art Building A PO Box 115800 Gainesville, FL 32611-5800 Tel: 352.392.0207 Fax: 352.392.3802 www.arts.ufl.edu

Contact Us! Do you have feedback about this issue or a story idea for a future issue? Contact us at musemagazine@ arts.ufl.edu or by calling 352.273.1489.

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University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 3 College News With Honors Nominated by College of Fine Arts faculty and staff the following individuals were recognized by the University of Florida in the spring of 2014.

Honorary Doctorate Distinguished Outstanding Other than the earned doctorate, the greatest Achievement Award Young Alumnus recognition the University of Florida can give an This award is given to individuals for This honor recognizes alumni who individual is an honorary degree. The awarding exceptional achievements in a chosen are 35 years of age or younger and of an honorary degree is recognition of eminent profession, for demonstrated leadership and have distinguished themselves in achievement in scholarship or high distinction in for other exemplary accomplishments that merit their profession and community. public service, which exemplifies the purposes the special recognition of the university. and ideals of the University of Florida. Magdalene Odundo Samuel Hope Matthew Wardell

Magdalene Odundo Samuel Hope served as A native of Jacksonville, is an international executive director of the Florida, Matthew ceramic artist known National Association Wardell earned a for her distinct hand of Schools of Music Bachelor of Music from built anthropomorphic and the National the University of North vessel forms. Born in Association of Schools Florida, Jacksonville, and Nairobi, Odundo grew of Art and Design from a Master of Music from up in Mombasa, Kenya, 1975 to 2013. From 1981 the University of Florida in and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 3DD to 2013 he served as executive director of the 2010. While at UF he served as a graduate Ceramics from West Surrey College of Art National Association of Schools of Theatre assistant and associate conductor of the UF & Design in Farnham, Surrey, UK, and a and the National Association of Schools of Symphony Orchestra. He spent five summers Master of Arts in Ceramics from the Royal Dance. Hope is known internationally as an at the prestigious Pierre Monteux School College of Art, London, UK. Odundo is expert and writer on standards development, for Conductors and Orchestra Musicians professor of ceramics at the University for program evaluation and accreditation, futures in Hancock, Maine, studying with his the Creative Arts (UCA) in Surrey and is analysis, policy and consensus building. mentor Michael Jinbo. Wardell has served as on UCA’s research team at the Crafts Study He earned degrees in music composition from music director and conductor of the Ocala Centre. In 2008 she received an OBE in the the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, Symphony Orchestra in Ocala, Florida, since queen’s birthday honours in recognition of New York, and Yale University, New Haven, 2009, where he has helped increase ticket her contribution to education and the arts Connecticut. He was a student of renowned revenue and enhance the orchestra’s profile and was the recipient of the African Art French pedagogue Nadia Boulanger. in the community. Recognition Award from Detroit Institute of Art. In 2012 she was recognized with the matthewwardell.com African Heritage Outstanding Achievement William H. Truettner in the Arts award. In February 2014 William magdaleneodundo.com H. Truettner retired Matthew is an excellent from the Smithsonian American Art Museum young musician, conductor and Magdalene’s contributions in Washington, D.C., community citizen. Since being after a nearly 50-year appointed conductor of the to the world of art have been career working there exemplary and sundry over the as a curator of painting Ocala Symphony, he has inspired and sculpture. Today he holds an emeritus new life and energy into the span of her career. She is one of appointment with the museum. A native the most respected, recognized of Detroit, Truettner earned a bachelor’s orchestra, making it a true source degree in art history from Williams College, of pride for the community and and celebrated ceramic artists Williamstown, Massachusetts, and a master’s in the world. degree in art history from the University of surrounding region. Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. His research – Richard Heipp, director of the interests include 18th- and 19th-century – John Duff, director of the School of Music School of Art + Art History American painting, George Catlin and art of the American West. Truettner has published numerous books and has organized several groundbreaking exhibitions.

View other past College of Fine Arts honorees at www.arts.ufl.edu/honors.

4 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Glenn Willumson, professor of art history, was recognized as a University School of Theatre + Dance Faculty Awards & updates of Florida Research Foundation Professor in May 2013. Additionally, Tim Altmeyer, assistant professor, played James he curated an exhibition, Double Exposure: in Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies in a School of Art + Art History Photography and the Transcontinental Railroad, production directed by Rob Ruggiero at Hartford at the California State Railroad Museum in TheaterWorks in Hartford, Connecticut, in Au- In January 2014 Linda Arbuckle, professor, September 2014. gust and September of 2013. The production was lectured, hosted demonstrations and worked cited by The Hartford Courant to be among “The with ceramic artists during a two-week residency Best in Connecticut Theatre in 2013.” in Israel through the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts and the Association of Israel’s School of Music Jerry Dickey, director and professor, was inter- Decorative Arts. viewed in Roundabout Theatre Company’s Upstage Associate Professor of Music Education and Di- Guide in January 2014 for a story about its Broad- rector of the Online Master of Music in Music Richard Heipp, director and professor, was re- way revival of Sophie Treadwell’s play Machinal. Education program William I. Bauer’s book, cently awarded a site-specific public art commis- Music Learning Today: Digital Pedagogy for sion for the new Gainesville Police Department Joan Frosch, professor and director of the Center Creating, Performing, and Responding to Music, headquarters. Additionally, he received his sixth for World Arts, was named a Dunlevie Professor was published by Oxford University Press in Individual Artist Fellowship Grant for Visual Art with the UF Honors Program for 2014-2015. March 2014. from the State of Florida. Frosch will teach a special honors course in the fall entitled Choreographing Africa. In May 2013 Kenneth Broadway, professor of Julia Morrisroe, associate professor, presented percussion, traveled to Spain with World Music a one-person exhibition, Transitions are Rarely Stan Kaye, professor and head of the graduate Mission to provide music for missionaries from Abrupt, at Lee Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, Lighting Design program, was awarded a U.S. throughout the world. In January 2014 he trav- in July 2013. Additionally, Morrisroe completed Department of Energy Gateway Grant to pilot eled to Kenya to provide music for missionaries an artist residency at The Hambidge Center for new LED technologies for performing arts studios from Sudan. the Creative Arts & Sciences in Rabun Gap, in the School of Theatre + Dance. Georgia, in November 2013. Raymond Chobaz, professor, received a Life- Neta Pulvermacher, associate professor, is cur- time Achievement Award as well as a Distin- Craig Roland, associate professor of art educa- rently serving as interim dean of dance at the guished Alumnus Award from the University tion, was a guest lecturer during Art Insights Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance while of Utah in September 2012. Additionally, Cho- at Southern Utah University’s Department of on leave from UF. baz and composer Stanley Funicelli received Art and Design in February 2014. Additionally, the Nissim Special Distinction Award in 2013 Roland gave the keynote address at the 2014 from The ASCAP Foundation. Utah Art Education Association Conference in Digital Worlds Institute St. George, Utah, in February. Laura Ellis, associate professor of music, went on a carillon recital tour of the Netherlands in In December 2013 Angelos Barmpoutis, Craig Smith, associate professor, curated The Art August 2013 with performances at St. Plechel- assistant professor, received a Merit Award at Of Sport at Cepa Gallery in Buffalo, New York, mus Basilica, Oldenzaal; Stadhuis, Roermond; the International Conference on Connected from August through December 2013. The ex- and Maria Presentatiekerk, Asten. Vehicles for the project that his team received hibit, which also featured artwork by Smith, was federal funding for from the U.S. Department supported by a $30,000 grant from The Andy Mitchell Estrin, professor of clarinet, released of Transportation that investigated the effect of Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. a new, revised edition of Carl Maria von We- drivers’ body motion on traffic injuries. ber’s Concertino, Opus 26 (Jeanné, Inc., 2013). Nan Smith, professor in the Ceramics program, In December 2013 the UF Clarinet Ensemble’s Visiting Assistant Professor Marko Suvajdzic’s served as the juror for the second edition of 500 CD Clarinet Choir Classics, under the direction company, O2D Studios, had the No. 1 ranked Figures in Clay (Lark Crafts, 2014). In January of Estrin, was chosen for the Grammy Nomi- video game, Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher’s 2014 Smith was a presenter at Convening Cul- nation Eligibility List in four categories. Stone, in January 2014, according to BigFish ture 2014: Connecting the Arts with Environ- Games, the largest portal of casual games in mental Conservation at Vero Beach Museum of In October 2013 Paul Richards, professor of the world. Art in Vero Beach, Florida, where she shared a music composition, composed a new opera, preview of her new installation, Mercury. Biennale, with librettist Wendy Steiner that premiered at The Barnes Foundation in Phila- Joyce Tsai, assistant professor, spent the 2013- College Awards delphia and was conducted by Juilliard faculty 2014 academic year on research leave as the member Gary Wedow. International Educator of the Year (Junior): George Washington University/Phillips Collec- Maya Stanfield-Mazzi, Art + Art History tion postdoctoral fellow in residence at the Cen- Russell L. Robinson, professor and head of the ter for the Study of Modern Art in Washington, Music Education program, was a consultant for International Educator of the Year (Senior): D.C., completing her manuscript and curating the U.S. State Department in schools in Brazil Barbara Barletta, Art + Art History an exhibition to open at the Santa Barbara in November 2013. He returned to speak at Museum of Art on László Moholy-Nagy in the Teacher of the Year: their conference in São Paulo in March 2014. summer of 2015. Victoria Rovine, Art + Art History Additionally, Robinson was the conductor for the South Dakota Women’s All-State Choir Associate Professor Sergio Vega’s work was in- Faculty Advisor/Mentor of the Year: in January 2014 and will conduct at Carnegie cluded in the International Biennial of Contempo- Margaret Butler, Music Hall on June 3, 2014. rary Art of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia from February to April 2014 as well as Permission to Kristen Stoner, associate professor of flute, was Be Global at the Cisneros Fontanals Art Founda- an invited soloist at the XXVIII Festival Inter- UF Awards tion in Miami from December 2013 through nacional de Flautistas in Lima, Peru in May February 2014 and at the Museum of Fine Arts Doctoral Dissertation Mentoring Award: 2013. Additionally, in 2013 Stoner released a in Boston from March to July 13, 2014. Larry Crook, Music new CD, Colors: works for solo flute by American composers, on the Memnon Arts label. University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 5 The Arts and Sciences Celebrated at CASE 2014 Recently Retired More than 125 students from eight UF colleges category: Katie Bosley from the School of Art + & retiring faculty as well as several universities in the Southeast Art History and Weier Liu from the College of participated in the 2014 Creativity in the Medicine (CIPN Symptom Cups); and Katelyn Arts and Sciences Event (CASE) in February. Carty from the School of Music and Robin Joyce Presented by the Howard Hughes Medical Yoon from the College of Medicine (Melody and Davis Institute (HHMI) Science for Life Program Malady: An Aural Presentation of Pompe Disease). and the College of Fine Arts, the event celebrated interdisciplinary collaboration Shelby Sullivan from the School of Theatre + and pushed students to rethink the Dance took one of two first-place prizes in the Joyce Davis retired as professor of trumpet from boundaries of creativity. arts (visual/performing) category for To blow out the School of Music in January 2014 after nearly a candle, or kindle the fire. Vassiliki Daskalakis 25 years. Davis is a celebrated orchestral player Congratulations to our two College of Fine from the School of Art + Art History took the whose accomplishments include numerous solo Arts first-place winners in the collaboration other top honor for A Cigarette A Day. performances worldwide. In addition, she has edited and contributed to many publications and was the first woman to serve as president of the q Attendees and participants at the 2014 Creativity in the Arts and Sciences Event. International Trumpet Guild.

“My years at the University of Florida were filled with many accomplishments as well as challenges,” says Davis who is now working as an adjunct professor of trumpet at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. “The most rewarding aspect was working with many fine students and watching their growth as musicians and human beings.” m be r Riccinto A s by p h oto

Elizabeth Graham

Elizabeth Graham retired as professor of voice from the School of Music at the end of the JumpstART 2014 Empowers Students spring 2014 semester, after nearly 35 years. Graham has won international acclaim in opera Eighty arts, business and engineering students he heads the firm’s Global Digital Business] houses from Genoa, Italy, to Seattle. She has participated in JumpstART 2014 in February method of innovation to give our students this also received honors in numerous prestigious at UF. Now in its sixth year, the program opportunity. It is one of the best ways for them competitions such as the Metropolitan Opera continues to empower students through to prepare for life and work after UF.” District and Regional Auditions and the National collaborative exploration, discovery, divergent Young Artist’s Award. thinking and professional mentorship. The two-day event included a discussion panel, presentation by Bray and collaborative workshop. Graham says retiring will allow her more time to “We want to give our students the opportunity Attendees learned about shifting patterns and practice and pursue performing opportunities. to work together in a creative way, using design notable trends in student learning such as the “I am still going to be teaching and mentoring thinking,” says Anna Calluori Holcombe, demand for more flexibility, relevant experiential students. That’s my passion, and I have no School of Art + Art History ceramics professor, opportunities and touch points with the intention of stopping.” who created the event with Jamie Kraft, marketplace. Speakers also shared information on director of the Center for Entrepreneurship experimental teaching methodologies, including and Innovation. “In recent years, thanks to our peer-to-peer teaching and shifting students’ Charles alumnus Duane Bray, we have been able to use mindsets from seeing themselves as students to Hoffer the IDEO [Bray is a partner at IDEO where consultants or professionals. q Students from various backgrounds gather for JumpstART 2014. Charles Hoffer retired as professor of music education from the School of Music in May 2013. Throughout his career Hoffer served on numerous regional and national boards and committees, including as president of the National Association for Music Education. In addition, he has authored more than 30 books and numerous scholarly articles. Hoffer is currently revising his textbook, Music Listening Today (Cengage Learning) and plans to serve as an adjunct professor at UF in the future.

“I have really enjoyed teaching the students at UF,” he says of his nearly 30 years at the university. “I am always pleased when they do well, whether it’s in student teaching or in their doctoral dissertation.” 6 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Ambassador Program Puts Students at the Forefront By Lauren Walter

From working the annual UF Majors and "As an ambassador I get the opportunity to Minors Fair to representing the College of Fine interact with other students from within the Arts at open house events, the newly launched College of Fine Arts and meet students who College of Fine Arts Ambassador Program puts are interested in joining our various majors,” the most important aspect of our college — says Anna Toptchi. “I love sharing information our students — at the forefront. about our Art History program to future A m be r Riccinto students and tips on how to get involved and Launched in the fall of 2013, the Ambassador become part of the community here at UF." Program comprises 12 students from the School of Art + Art History, School of Music The first group of ambassadors has become an and School of Theatre + Dance, as well as each integral part of the way the college interacts of the school’s undergraduate advisors. Mutlu with its guests, according to Edward Schaefer, Çitim-Kepic from the School of Music first associate dean. “Our ambassadors can talk to envisioned the program in which students prospective students because they have walked functioned as the school’s representatives, in the same shoes that our new students will liaisons and assistants. The concept quickly have to wear,” he says. “They can answer grew to include representatives from all questions and give sincere encouragement in College of Fine Arts schools and as a student ways that no one else can. Our ambassadors engagement opportunity. are truly the best face of the college.” p Undergraduate advisors with the 2013- 2014 College of Fine Arts student ambassadors. Creative Capital Professional Development Program By Xue Zhao

On October 18-19, 2013, Creative goal that all artists can pursue their vision Capital, which supports innovative and and be wildly successful. Then, they show adventurous artists across the country through you how to make it happen.” funding, counsel and career development services, held its first workshop in collaboration Created as a means of sharing career with the University of Florida. Creative Capital development tools, the Professional grantees and other arts professionals shared Development Program bases its methodology career development tools and advice with on the creation of a business plan examined 24 faculty and students from the College of through an arts career development lens. Attendees also learned about how strategic Fine Arts during the two-day Professional Er ic Z am o ra , ra p h y UF Ph otog Development Program. planning, fundraising, verbal communication, promotion, performance documentation and p 2013 Creative Capital attendees. “Artists are amazing people, and especially targeted marketing methods can be used to in the 21st century, artists have to be help expand their professional skill set and entrepreneurial, with the business skills to build their brand. The workshop concluded develop their careers,” says Margaret Mertz, with individual consultations with Creative associate dean. “What the Creative Capital Capital staff who helped attendees outline team does is to validate and support the clear their future goals.

Codified III: Art + Genetics Exhibition

The UF Genetics Institute and the School of for the exhibition that explored themes Art + Art History partnered together to present surrounding genetics and art. The project CODIFIED III: Art + Genetics from October was funded by the UF Genetics Institute, 9-November 7, 2013. Held in conjunction and the seven participating artists were with the Florida Genetics 2013 Symposium Mariana Baquero, Orlando Estrada, Patrick in November at the University of Florida, the Grigsby, Nicole Gugliotti, Rob Kolhouse, juried exhibition featured site-specific artwork Giang Lien Pham and Hilary White. by School of Art + Art History MFA graduate students and alumni, created specifically p Distribution by Giang Lien Pham

University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 7 Technology and the Arts

A New Domain of Music

Many College of Fine Arts (CFA) alumni have gone on to push the envelope and explore new domains of art and technology in their careers. CFA alumnus Chester “Chet” Udell, who holds a Ph.D. in music composition with an electrical engineering emphasis, credits his mentors at UF for facilitating his cross-pollination of the two fields. Using his integrative background, Udell created eMersion, a gesture-controlled technology that unobtrusively attaches to an instrument and lets the performer control the desired audio effect with sensor- driven gestures, making the instrument a more integral part of the performance. “eMersion gives musicians the ability to extend their current musical practice with seemingly magical abilities,” Udell says. “By taking a concept in one area and attempting to understand or translate it through the lens of another discipline, I’ve uncovered ideas that would have never been apparent otherwise.”

unleashemotion.com

8 8 MuseMuse Magazine Magazine | Spring | Spring 2014 2014 Technology and the Arts

By Hillary Hoffower

Throughout history, technology has provided artists with tools for expression. From the pulleys and ropes used in the construction of the Egyptian pyramids to Leonardo da Vinci’s scientific investigations and machines, and from the invention of the printing press to photography, the relationship between the arts and technology has been ever-present. As technology progresses, so do the possibilities for art. The ways in which art is produced and created have shifted as a direct response to the world’s transition to a more technologically advanced, socially connected and digitally-oriented society. A new future of creative expression and exchange has opened up as this growing relationship breaks down traditional boundaries to blur genres, creating a new vocabulary that defines the art world.

“To us, digital cinematography is a practice that is ‘becoming,’” Stenner says. “We emphasize High-Tech Cameras an experimental and more conceptually rigorous use of technology, rather than focusing and 3-D Printers exclusively on commercial uses.”

The School of Art + Art History’s (SA+AH) In Stenner’s Digital Art and Animation class variety of disciplines intersect the worlds each student scouts a real-world location in of art and technology into one creative and which they will insert a 3-D CG element that innovative universe. conceptually and formally asks the question, “What is real?” Students are responsible for In December 2012 the SA+AH acquired a structuring the shoot, making compositional RED camera, a state-of-the-art digital cinema and technical choices, then modeling, lighting,

camera. RED cameras have contributed texturing and compositing the CG model into A m be r Riccinto significantly to standardizing high-quality the motion footage. working resolution for media display digital and physical design in their creative technologies and have been used by those “This teaches them to conceive of work practices with the provision of tools such as within the video and TV industries, as well holistically, learning how to synthesize a three laser cutters, three 3-D printers, a 3-D as directors of major motion pictures such as workflow that remains true to their artistic scanner and a 3 axis CNC router. James Cameron and Peter Jackson. vision,” Stenner says. Anna Calluori Holcombe, professor of Jack Stenner, associate professor of the Art + The SA+AH also provides the means to ceramics, works collaboratively with digital- Technology program, says the camera is always coalesce art and technology on a more tangible media artists to create models, a two-fold available to graduate students and is used in scale. In conjunction with the School of process. Using a Z Corporation 3-D handheld the same way it might be used in the industry, Architecture, the SA+AH established the Art portable scanner, Calluori Holcombe scans albeit with an emphasis on a different kind and Architecture Fabrication Lab, or the A2 Fab natural objects, which are then finalized and of experience than that of the typical Lab. Since opening four years ago the Fab Lab downloaded to a computer. The computer Hollywood movie. has served as an aid for students to synergize is attached to an Objet Eden250 3-D rapid

University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 9 the inside of Century Tower. By working to Courses offered in conjunction with blend the centuries-old tradition of bell towers the lab will serve as interdisciplinary with technology, the audience’s experience will laboratories for creative exploration and be greatly enhanced. research in new forms of multimedia and digital performances. Whether revamped, A m be r Riccinto Scott Wilson, assistant professor of jazz, says supplemented or newly created, these courses there is very little he does without technology. will utilize cutting-edge technology and From using the Google Hangouts app on his communications tools to open a new path phone to catch up with graduate students for employability to students interested in for meetings to previously teaching a video jobs that assimilate performing arts and lecture series via Skype, technology has played technology and engineering. a significant role in advancing and teaching the creation of music to his students. The ACCEPTEC lab will also regularly host, sponsor and broadcast its programs, courses Wilson uses SmartMusic, a program that plays and productions online. Such tools will back a student’s piece, allowing them to hear enable the SoTD to participate in the global prototyping machine, which prints the object notes they may have missed and to improve cultural conversations of the digital age. This in high quality. Calluori Holcombe uses the their overall performance. Wilson’s students will ultimately change the culture of learning resulting resin models to make plaster molds, also collaborate with UF’s Digital Worlds and interconnectivity in which the SoTD can then slip casts liquid slip clay in a traditional Institute on multiple projects, such as Live share its creative research with the world. way. The clay parts from these models are then Vibe TV, an hour-long classical music program built into sculptures in an assemblage fashion. that features live performances and interactive The SoTD also underwent a face-lift in computer animations. projection design. Stan Kaye, professor of There are many benefits to this technology, lighting design and head of the graduate according to Calluori Holcombe, such as the Lighting Design program, in collaboration ease of reproduction, alterations and resizing with Todd Bedell, master electrician, recently of files; a certain degree of speed and flexibility LED Lights and a Global utilized a $108,000 technology fee grant and not found in hand modeling; the multiple $100,000 in school funds to amass one of the perspectives and angles that can be viewed on most significant set of projection technologies virtual models; and the production of durable Connection of any theatre and dance program in the models in a relatively short amount of time. nation. Projects currently underway include Like the School of Music, the School of Theatre the development of curriculum, such as Calluori Holcombe incorporates this + Dance (SoTD) recently enhanced its facilities the implementation of Kaye’s luminous interdisciplinary approach in a number of as a result of a U.S. Department of Energy imagery course last fall and a course that will her classes. Students use this technology to Gateway Grant. In the fall of 2013 the Nadine be taught in the fall of 2014 by Broadway make models and molds them for use in McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion began a projection designer Michael Clark as well installation-oriented artworks. She also renovation that introduced LED lighting. LED as the realization of more technologically- encourages use of 3-D technology in her lamps and luminaries were installed in various advanced productions. Ceramic Graduate Seminar. spaces, including faculty offices, classrooms, design spaces, the wood shop, the costume SoTD productions of the plays Never the shop, G-6 Studio and performance spaces. Sinner and Tribes used the school’s new projection environment that Kaye designed. Enhanced Facilities and Apps With support from the Student Technology “It allowed us to transform our Black Box Fees Program, other facets of the SoTD Theatre into an environment well suited began renovations in the fall that incorporate The School of Music (SoM) has been to productions that focus on acting and technological advancements into curriculum, luminous imagery,” says Kaye, adding that incorporating technological developments into research and community engagements in an its facilities and using them in the classroom this years productions of Miss Witherspoon effort to stay competitive. These renovations and Angels in America: Perestroika also utilized to enrich students’ learning experience and are focusing on two enhancement projects, musical production. two high-powered projectors to create special one of which includes the re-outfitting of the effects of moving shadows, animated angel With the addition of Wenger Corporation G-6 Studio with multimedia technology tools wings and other spectacles. modules, the SoM is outfitting its students with that will transform the studio into a flexible, advanced technology that will be at the heart dynamic and “smart” media-capable classroom. of their creative processes. The forthcoming The other project is the 27 practice modules, piano teaching studio, creation of the Advanced soundproof percussion studio, “smart” seminar Computing Center for room with state-of-the-art technology and a Experimental Performance and new electroacoustic lab all juxtapose cutting- Technology, and Engagement edge technology with the art of creating music. with Creativity (ACCEPTEC) If additional funding is provided, the SoM lab, which will be accessible will also add innovative V-Rooms that to students and supporting provide Virtual Acoustic Environment (VAE) faculty. The ACCEPTEC technology, which will allow students to lab is designed to create replicate multiple performance settings such as a technology and media- cathedrals and concert halls. rich environment suitable for a 21st century learning Yet another contemporary twist on experience. conventionality in progress is the implementation of webcasts at carillon concerts, which will allow the audience to view

10 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Technology Meets the Opera

The Red Silk Thread: An Epic Tale of Marco Polo is another example of a production that blends the arts and technology. The new musical drama, which made its world premiere at the Phillips Center on April 17, 2014, portrays the journey of Marco Polo and Princess Cocachin against the backdrop of a digital set. Written by UF Distinguished Alumna Stella Sung, professor of music and director of the University of Central Florida’s Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology, and Entertainment (CREATE), and librettist Ernest Hilbert, the opera features professional artists as well as students from the UF Opera Theatre program, UF Symphony Orchestra and UF Concert Choir. Heather Knott, artistic director of Ninjaneer Studios, the company that created the virtual sets, says projection mapping is unique in the way the elements are combined to produce a new medium. By utilizing rules of perspective in animated content, layered scrims on stage, math and a pining program, they were able to p Darius Brown experiments in DW’s wireless, markerless motion capture system. transform flat material into a grand set.

“The use of virtual sets allowed Sung to dream Oliverio says this is one of the areas of research big, realizing fantastical worlds, while being Inside Digital Worlds Institute and creation that began with Digital Worlds’ eco-friendly,” says Knott. “We are able to seminal piece Dancing Beyond Boundaries in animate these scenes in ways physical sets either Launched in 2001, Digital Worlds Institute 2001. The work continues today with new tools, can’t accomplish or would be far too costly for (DW) is perhaps one of the most ostensive including wireless motion capture, networked a new opera to realize.” examples of how the College of Fine Arts has gaming engines and 3-D cameras. embraced the connection between technology and the arts. As part of DW’s performance series, AV Club, Patrick Pagano, assistant in digital arts and “The performing arts have traditionally sciences, and graduate students from the MA in been place-bound; then came recording and Digital Arts and Sciences program will give the transmission technologies in the 20th century world premiere of a new interactive projection that allowed the performers to reach diverse and audio design environment called Control audiences, albeit in a one-way transmission,” Space in the upcoming summer B semester. says James Oliverio, DW executive director, professor of music and professor of digital arts Additionally, DW students and faculty regularly and sciences. “Current high-speed networks partner with many UF colleges and students from allow us to interact in both directions other College of Fine Arts programs. In July, UF simultaneously, creating an expanded real-time dancer Precious Roberts will join current MA in palette for disparate artists to co-create on a Digital Arts and Sciences students Darius Brown globally-distributed, virtual stage.” and Thomas Doughty to create a live, interactive performance enhanced by a novel installation of sensor hardware driving software components including Jitter, Quartz Composer, NIMate and original code created by Pagano and DW The Virtual Classroom graduate Anton Yudin called uVisual (v 0.2). Brown is also working on a video-based project An increasingly socially connected society has “Students work with people from all that blurs the lines between traditional digital paved the way for new opportunities within over the world so they are able to learn photography, video art and movement. In the academic world. The College of Fine Arts about the field from a much broader collaboration with dancers on DW’s soundstage, utilizes online education by offering a Master of perspective, thinking about health care Brown turns various forms and themes into Arts in Art Education, a Master of Music in Music and the relationship between arts and short videos with original music, which he Education and a Graduate Certificate in Arts and health in a much broader context,” says is composing around the movements and Medicine. Sonke, adding that an online Master of embodiments of the dancers. Arts in Arts in Medicine is currently in Jill Sonke, director of the Center for Arts in the works and is expected to launch in From Digital Worlds Institute to enhanced Medicine, finds that the Graduate Certificate in August 2014. facilities, the College of Fine Arts is working to Arts and Medicine provides students with higher continue to incorporate ever-evolving technology, levels of connectivity than they may experience fostering an environment that engages faculty in a classroom. and students in the dialogue of creativity and innovation, of aesthetics and form, of art and technology.

University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 11 School of ART + ART History

Discovering the Kongo Kingdom p Left to right: Robin Poynor, Hein Vanhee, Susan Cooksey, Rebecca Nagy and Carlee Forbes

By Lauren Walter p Curated by Robin Featured works of art range from 15th century Acculturation, Steve Bandoma Poynor, UF School swords of honor to contemporary art by artists of Art + Art History such as Radcliffe Bailey, Steve Bandoma, José Kongo across the Waters has created many professor, Susan Bedia, Edouard Duval-Carrié and Renee Stout. opportunities for students at the College of Cooksey, curator of The curators divided the exhibition into five Fine Arts. Graduate art history student Carlee African art at the sections and weaved the works of art together Forbes was curatorial assistant for the project p Ndunga mask, and, after a research trip to Belgium, decided Woyo peoples Harn Museum of Art, by examining the impact of Christianity on and Hein Vanhee, Kongo, Kongo practices transferred across the to write her master’s thesis on raffia mats from curator of African collections at the Royal Atlantic, trade developments in the kingdom, the Kongo kingdom. Museum for Central Africa in Belgium, Kongo resonance in African American cultures Kongo across the Waters explores the rise of the and Kongo inspiration in contemporary art. “Being a curatorial assistant on the show was Kongo kingdom in western central Africa, its Each object tells a thought-provoking story the best possible experience that I could have first contact with Europeans and the Kongo’s about the Kongo kingdom. asked for in preparing for my career,” says influence on African American art and culture Forbes. “Someday I’d like to be a curator and in the United States. The exhibition, which The exhibition’s accompanying 450-page learning how to create an exhibition is something was on view at the Harn Museum of Art catalogue, also titled Kongo across the Waters, best done with hands-on experience. I had the in Gainesville, Florida, from October 2013 presents a collection of richly-illustrated essays incredible opportunity to experience almost every through March 2014, will travel to the Carter and a catalogue of the exhibition with superb aspect of the exhibition, from writing an NEH Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, photography. Edited by Cooksey, Poynor grant to organizing the exhibition.” the Princeton University Art Museum in and Vanhee, the essays discuss a variety of questions that the exhibition raises about the Forbes will continue the research she began on Princeton, New Jersey, and come to a close the Kongo kingdom for the exhibition and her at the New Orleans Museum of Art in May wider historical and cultural context. Written by a mixture of seasoned scholars and younger master’s thesis in order to write her dissertation. 2015. Heralded with excellent reviews, Kongo In addition, graduate art history students took an across the Waters is the first exhibition at an researchers in African and African American studies, the essays aim to bring new scholarship African Art History seminar by Poynor in the fall American museum to explore fully the legacy of 2013 that surrounded the exhibit. of the Kongo kingdom. to a wider audience.

Fostering a Community of Artists By Lauren Walter

GRADhaus has all of the “The location of the facility allows us to break elements of great studio space, from high away from our responsibilities as students and ceilings to gallery walls to ample amounts instructors on campus and fully focus on the of light, but what makes this 7,000 work we desire to make in the studio,” says square-foot warehouse unique is not its Ashley Taylor, a second-year printmaking concrete, structural elements, but rather the graduate student and GRADhaus manager. “As a first-year graduate student I was warmly community of artists it fosters. “We have all built relationships that help us welcomed by ‘the family’ and treated as an grow in skill and dialogue with art making. It equal,” says graduate student Miguel Saludes. The Graduate Research for Art Development has helped break the tradition of artists being “We are very close as a community of artists, studios, known as GRADhaus, located isolated to their studios.” and we do our best to support and influence off NW First Avenue in Gainesville, each other all the time. Great talent and Florida, opened in 2012, providing a Prior to the opening of GRADhaus, students solidarity are combined to create an ideal single space with 25 partitioned studios used ad hoc spaces such as the old dorms in environment where good art thrives the same where graduate students of multiple Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and basement areas way oxygen and water make life on earth disciplines come together. in Norman Hall as art studios. Now, students possible. It is hard to conceive of this space have one place to come together and create. without such elements.”

12 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Faculty Members Publish Record Number of Books The School of Art + Art History has had a phenomenal year in terms of recently published and forthcoming books. “This outstanding selection of books represents a truly unique and noteworthy achievement in both quality and quantity by our Art + Art History faculty,” says Richard Heipp, School of Art + Art History professor and director. Many of the professors noted below have received prestigious awards for their works.

Afric An fAshion Glob Histories, Innovations, and Ideas YouA Canl Wearstyle

Victoria L. Rovine

Barbara Barletta Maya Stanfield-Mazzi The Sanctuary of Athena at Sounion (American School (University Press of Florida, 2014) edited by Amanda B. Object and Apparition: Envisioning the Christian Divine of Classical Studies at Athens, Not Yet Published) is a Carlson and Robin Poynor marks the 500th anniversary in the Colonial Andes (University of Arizona Press, 2013) study that focuses on the 5th century Temple of Athena of Ponce de Leon’s voyage, whose crew was made up brought Stanfield-Mazzi on a journey to colonial churches built in a sanctuary at the southernmost point of Attica. of at least one African. throughout the Andes as she searched for statue paintings of Christ of the Earthquakes and the Virgins of Pomata. Melissa Hyde Elizabeth Ross Women in French Art: Rococo to Romanticism, (To Picturing Experience in the Early Printed Book: Joyce Tsai be published under the auspices of the National Breydenbach’s Peregrinatio from Venice to Painting After Photography (University of California Press, Museum of Women in the Arts) by Melissa Hyde and Jerusalem (Pennsylvania State University Press, 2015) is “a study of László Moholy-Nagy’s art, theory and Mary D. Sheriff has been a collaborative effort that has 2014) considers Breydenbach’s Peregrinatio in terram practice that focuses on his mobilization of painting as a raised many interesting questions for Hyde regarding sanctam (Journey to the Holy Land), first published in means to imagine the possibilities of nascent and future authorial voice. “These questions seem entirely 1486, from a variety of perspectives to explain its value media,” according to Tsai. ★ Awarded 2014 Phillips Book appropriate to the subject of women artists for whom for the cultural history of the period. ★ Selected for Prize by The Phillips Collection and UC Press. issues of authorship and identity have always been inclusion in the Art History Publishing Initiative (AHPI), complicated ones,” Hyde says. funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Glenn Willumson Iron Muse: Photographing the Transcontinental Guolong Lai Victoria Rovine Railroad (University of California Press, 2013) is The Archaeology of Early Chinese Religion: A African Fashion, Global Style: Histories, Innovations, a product of more than 10 years of research and Regional Perspective (University of Washington Press, and Ideas You Can Wear (Indiana University Press, demonstrates the conceptual richness and complexity of Not Yet Published) ★ Selected for inclusion in the 2014) will open readers’ eyes to a vivid form of visual seemingly straightforward images of the country’s first Art History Publishing Initiative (AHPI), funded by the expression that provides rich insights into cultures and transcontinental railroad. Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. artistry, according to Rovine. ★ Awarded a College Art Association grant through the Millard Meiss Robin Poynor Publication Fund. q Celeste Roberge, center, with James Kongo across the Waters (University Press of Florida, Foster, Erika Schneider, Annelise Sandberg 2013) edited by Susan Cooksey, Robin Poynor Craig Smith and Brandon Harris-Williams and Hein Vanhee. Africa in Florida: Five Hundred Relational Art: A Guided Tour (I.B. Tauris, Years of African Presence in the Sunshine State Not Yet Published)

Guolong Lai Awarded Celeste Roberge Featured Prestigious IAS Fellowship in Solo Exhibition

Research is a vital component of the Professor Celeste Roberge’s Cyanotype Project, created School of Art + Art History. One of in collaboration with Blue Acier, Inc. in Tampa, many noteworthy accomplishments Florida, and the Undergraduate Research Initiative in this area occurred in early 2014 in Printmaking at the University of South Florida when Guolong Lai, associate in St. Petersburg, Florida, all began during a walk professor of Chinese art and on the beach in Nova Scotia in 2008 when she archaeology, was awarded a stumbled upon sea lace algae. Roberge was inspired prestigious residency fellowship at the by British botanical artist Anna Atkins’ exhibition Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) catalogue, Ocean Flowers: Impressions from Nature, in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded which featured seaweed drawings, pressings and cyanotypes. in 1930, IAS is one of the world’s Attracted to both the ghostly beauty of Atkins’ images and leading centers for theoretical research the intellectual rigor behind her technical innovations, and intellectual inquiry whose Roberge experimented with cyanotypes and sought other previous scholars include Albert ways to combine seaweed and science in her art. Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer. The institute exists to encourage and Roberge’s seaweed cyanotypes can seem mesmerizingly support fundamental scholarship. pictorial when viewed individually but she says they are Each year, approximately 190 “purely abstract.” The cyanotypes were part of Roberge’s larger members are selected from an average solo exhibition, Ocean Floors, at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum of more than 1,500 applicants. Lai at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, in March was granted membership for the and April 2014. The exhibit also featured works Roberge 2014-2015 academic year within the produced during her time at the John Michael Kohler Arts School of Historical Studies. Center’s Arts/Industry Residency Program in the fall of 2013.

For more School of Art + Art History stories, visit our online edition at arts.ufl.edu/muse.

University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 13 Alumni Spotlight: Alumni Accomplishments Here are some of the many recent School of Art + Art History alumni accomplishments:

Frankie Batista’s (BFA graphic design ’02) photographs have recently been featured in several publications including Marie Claire Mexico and Cosmo en Español.

Scott Hazard (MFA art ’05) was the recipient of the 2012-2013 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award. As a result, his Matthew work was on display at CAM Raleigh in the NC Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award Exhibition, January 31-April 27, 2014.

In July 2013 Kathy King (MFA Art ’98) took Schreiber a position with Harvard University’s Ceramics program. King is currently serving as instructor p Crystalline Lattice, lasers and electronics and assistant to the acting director. Miguel Luciano’s (MFA Art ’00) p Origami Doves, 2012, black Pure Plantainum was featured in the Brooklyn-based artist and white photo paper Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Our Matthew Schreiber America: The Latino Presence in American Art works with lasers, exhibit October 25, 2013-March 2, 2014. fluorescent lights, What is the most rewarding project you have worked on? holograms, as well In 2013 Logan Marconi’s (MFA Art as video and two- A project at the Chichu Museum in Naoshima, Japan, with Tadao Ando and James Turrell. ’13) painting The Way was featured in the dimensional art. After Transcendental exhibition at Studio 550 in graduating from UF in 1989 The project was rewarding because it was very special, unique and difficult. The architecture Manchester, New Hampshire. Marconi was also he studied holography at the Royal College selected for inclusion in Manifest Gallery’s 2014 of Art in London, later earned an MFA from was challenging to work with because of the geometry in relation to the rectilinear Turrell International Painting Annual 4 exhibition-in- the School of the Art Institute of Chicago print. and eventually opened his own holography spaces. Being in a very remote location in Japan was exciting and also difficult at times because company, C Project, in Miami. Schreiber has Robert Ponzio’s (MFA ART ’92) The worked with some of the most famous living of cultural differences. In the end, it all came out perfectly. Color of Blues installation was chosen for artists of the twentieth century, including John permanent display at the B.B. King Museum and Baldessari, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Ryman, If you could offer one piece Delta Interpretive Center’s historic Ebony Club in Ed Ruscha and James Turrell, and his work of advice to your younger self, Indianola, Mississippi, in August 2013. has been exhibited around the world, from what would it be? Show your art to New York to South Korea. everyone and don’t be shy or too critical Jane Spangler (MFA ART ’99) was named of yourself. executive director of strategic initiatives at the Since 1996 he has worked closely with Turrell. Medical and Health Science Foundation at the The project eventually developed into his If you could have dinner with University of Pittsburgh in November 2013. Baltic Studio where he designed, oversaw, three people past or present (BFA Art ’08) public installed and managed nearly all of Turrell’s who would they be? Marcel Duchamp, Leslie Tharp’s work around the world. Schreiber’s work Johannes Kepler and Jimi Hendrix. The artist, art project, Lift, was installed in Scottsdale, was recently featured in a solo exhibition, Duchamp, is someone I am thinking a lot Arizona, in March 2014. The work was created Sideshow, at the Johannes Vogt Gallery in about lately in my work. Art history in general in part with funds raised through a Kickstarter New York. Here, Schreiber talks about his has been influencing me. The mathematician, campaign. most rewarding project and the person he Kepler, has been a huge influence on my work admires most. E. Michael Whittington (MA ART with geometry. Hendrix would be a great HISTORY ’90) was named president and CEO of character to throw into the mix. What was your most important the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City, in April 2013. takeaway from UF? It’s where I was What is your favorite pastime? born and where I really committed to being Being with my family in nature. an artist. Who do you admire most? Where do you find creative My mother. inspiration? Everywhere and at any time. It helps me to be focused and quiet, but ideas what is One thing you can just pop up out of nowhere also. eventually hope to do? Share Your News! Have a big party in Gainesville with all my old Do you have an accomplishment What is one thing that most friends and folks from UF! people don’t know about you? to share? To be featured in I love to play speed metal guitar. our next issue, contact us at —As told to Lauren Walter [email protected].

14 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 School of Music Making the Music, One Module at a Time

By Chloe Weber

From catching previous practice rooms could not sufficiently “It is important to keep music and all of the the Fightin’ Gator accommodate students. Likewise, noise visual and performing arts strong, vibrant and Marching Band at interference in existing practice rooms often accessible,” says Cherie Fine, president of the a sold-out football prevented some students from rehearsing in a Friends of Music and an inaugural Make the game to listening proper setting. A vocalist singing in one room Music donor. “The School of Music will work to the daily chimes could easily hear the music from a trombone hard on this goal by building facilities that will of the carillon during a campus stroll, music player a few rooms away. make us all proud.” is a vital element of the UF experience. Behind all of these performances are hours The Wenger practice modules feature enough While the campaign is moving forward and upon hours of practice. The Make the Music space for up to three musicians. The piano lab modules are already installed, this million- campaign aims to enhance and maximize has a permanent Steinway grand piano and dollar project still has halfway to go until it is these practices so students can continue both the piano and multi-purpose labs have completed. Make the Music donors are needed creating exceptional music. perfect acoustics. With the Wenger percussion to help improve the experiences of young studio, percussionists are now able to practice musicians at UF. “As our School of Music strives toward in a 790 square-foot room complete with excellence and innovation, quality rehearsal sound-isolating walls and space for musicians “I am passionate about supporting the School spaces are vital to our growing program, to store their instruments. of Music and this campaign because I am serving music students with a range of interests grateful for the quality education I received at and needs,” says John Duff, director of the On the list of future additions are new music UF and hope to make this possible for others,” School of Music. offices for faculty; an electroacoustic studio, says Jane Lindberg, who holds an MFA in which is next in line to be installed and will music from UF. “I believe that when you are With the relocation of the music library, the allow students to research and compose given something special you should give back campaign is transforming the multi-room area music with real-time digital audio recording, when possible.” into a top-of-the-line venue for rehearsing. sequencing and editing hardware devices; a Proposed are 27 Wenger Corporation practice piano teaching studio featuring two seven-foot modules and several specialized studios. Steinway grand pianos; and a smart Currently, two practice modules, a piano lab, classroom/seminar room that will feature a multi-purpose lab and the percussion live video streaming. studio are installed. While acquiring the various rehearsal labs and Before the campaign, the School of Music had studios is the main focus of the campaign, fewer than 20 practice rooms for its 275 music the School of Music hopes to eventually add majors, over 330 members of the marching Wenger’s Virtual Acoustic Environment (VAE) band and hundreds of students in other majors technology. Wired inside the existing practice who participate in the school’s many vocal and modules, the VAE technology would allow each instrumental ensembles. With the amount of student to choose the environment he or she students needing to practice at any given time, wants to play in, whether it be a cathedral or concert hall. Once the selection is made, the module would automatically begin to replicate the acoustics found in that the environment. Additionally, Wenger Play Your Part can program the acoustics of popular UF From having your name on a rehearsal lab to venues such as University Auditorium. making a multi-year pledge, there are many ways to support the Make the Music campaign. At the heart of this campaign are the To learn more contact Jennifer Coolidge, director donors who make this ambitious of development, at [email protected]. project a reality. H O M E

University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 15 celebrating the uf Symphony Orchestra By the Numbers started in

with1911 7 musicians in its rd 103season

students70-100 featured in each performance rehearsals for

class 2periods twice a week

major performances6 a season p The UF Symphony Orchestra performs at the world premiere of Voice of Alegría, October 2010.

By Chloe Weber Chobaz says some of his favorite recent “That’s a pleasant thing I’ve noticed — the more performances include the orchestra’s 100th difficult the challenge, the better the result.” When thinking of a ballet or opera, you anniversary season performance of An Alpine probably immediately recall the story line Symphony by Richard Strauss and the 102nd Chobaz will continue challenging students unfolding on stage, but have you ever season performance of The Rite of Spring, which during the upcoming 2014-2015 season wondered what the production’s impact would was done first in concert and then as a ballet beginning Oct. 9, 2014 at the Phillips Center have if there were no accompanying music? with Dance Alive National Ballet in celebration with an all-Russian program followed by Sergei The UF Symphony Orchestra has been of the composition’s premiere 100 years ago. Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini bringing countless performances to life for featuring internationally renowned German more than 100 years. “An Alpine Symphony is a piece so big and so pianist Andreas Klein. huge that not even the largest orchestras in the Each season, the Symphony Orchestra plays world play it that often,” says Chobaz. “It was a After intermission the orchestra will be joined a range of styles that span 300 years. Starting challenge, but we did it.” by dancers from Dance Alive National Ballet for with the Baroque period in the 18th century part of Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Cinderella. In and ending with contemporary pieces, the The orchestra comprises dedicated student addition to the performance, actress, filmmaker orchestra’s season has something for every musicians, including non-music majors, and daughter of actor Robert Redford, Amy musical taste and they often provide the live who are key to the ensemble’s success. Each Redford, will narrate a text written by Chobaz. sound track for theatre and dance productions performer goes through a tough audition The season will continue with an all-American around Gainesville. process and must be able to commit to the concert on Nov. 20, 2014 in University class time, rehearsals, independent practice Auditorium with Richard Rodgers and Oscar Raymond Chobaz, professor of music, has and public performances required of all Hammerstein II’s Oklahoma followed by Aaron served as the conductor since 1982 and has orchestral musicians. Copland’s Old American Songs with Anthony more than 900 compositions to his credit. He Offerle, baritone and UF associate professor, and has continuously pushed the orchestra to new “If you stretch your students and put faith closing with George Gershwin’s symphonic suite heights, including by adding full-scale opera in them they will rise up to the occasion and from Porgy and Bess, known as “Catfish Row.” and ballet productions to its regular repertoire. surprise everyone,” says Chobaz.

Behind the Faculty Chamber Music Series performances held in the Music Building. Those, and instruments have ranged from the flute By Chloe Weber however, are the only aspects that are the same to the saxophone to the electric bass to the with each concert. The series focuses on variety harpsichord. While it is common to see professors in the within the instrumentation, expression and classroom teaching, it is rare to see them in their style of each performance and brings new and “The Faculty Chamber Music Series offers element. With the Faculty Chamber Music interesting programs to attendees. For instance, inspiring music not available elsewhere in this Series students and members of the Gainesville the first concert of a season is usually devoted to region, played at the highest level,” says Steven community can witness firsthand just how music that would not normally be included in a Thomas, assistant professor who specializes talented the School of Music faculty is. chamber music series. in the cello. “Audiences are invited to feel a personal connection to the School of Music and The series, which began in the fall of 2011 and is Now in its third season, the series has featured the University of Florida.” free and open to the public, occurs monthly with almost all School of Music performance faculty

16 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Alumni Alumni Spotlight: Accomplishments Here are some of the many recent School of Music alumni accomplishments:

Marcela DeFaria (BMUS ’07, FABA ’07) performed with Kristen Stoner, UF associate professor of flute, at the National Flute Association Convention in New Orleans in August 2013.

Donald DeVito (BMUSE ’94, MMME ’99, PhD Music Education ’06), music and special education teacher at Sidney Lanier Center School in Gainesville, Florida, was named 2013 International K-12 Teacher of the Year by the University of Florida International Center in May 2013. Kaitlyn Flynn (BMUS ’13) made her debut Nicholas with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre in New York City at the Dimenna Center for Classical Music in January 2014 covering the role of Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote. Pallesen April M. Laymon (BMUSE ’90), music specialist at Beauclerc Elementary School in Since graduating from UF with a bachelor’s I help instrumentalists, singers, actors and Jacksonville, Florida, was named the Florida degree in music in 2005, Nicholas Pallesen others get out of their own way, both in Music Educators Association’s 2014 Music has established himself as one of today’s everyday life and their careers. Educator of the Year. most talented up-and-coming opera singers. A recent graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center, What is the most rewarding Karl Lutgens (BMUSE ’94) was a featured Pallesen has taken his talents to many of project you have worked on? guest artist at the 2014 Annual Florida Flute the country’s most prominent opera houses, Working with my clients. Every day I am Association Convention in Orlando, Florida, in including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where inspired by the courage they exhibit and how January 2014. he performed the role of Baron Douphol in La willing they are to make a positive change in Traviata and, most recently, the Metropolitan their life. As a singer, my most fulfilling project Christina Reitz (MM ’02, PhD Music Opera in New York City where he performed was when I performed the title role in Falstaff ’07), assistant professor in the School of Music the role of Lysander in The Enchanted at the Julliard Opera Center during my first at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Island. In March 2014 Pallesen returned to year as a student. I really resonated with the Carolina, wrote two entries for Music in the Social UF’s campus as the featured guest artist at character and the music. and Behavioral Sciences Encyclopedia (SAGE Splendor: New York Nights. He is currently Publications, 2014). performing with the English National Opera If you could offer one piece of in London, singing Fieramosca in Benvenuto advice to your younger self, Stella Sung (MFA Music ’84) and the what would it be? At the time, make Dayton Performing Arts Alliance were recipients Cellini. Here, the baritone who has been praised for his “authority and tonal beauty” the most of whatever opportunities you are of the Music Alive Award. Their innovative given, even if they seem insignificant and even collaboration began in the summer of 2013 and tells us where he finds creative inspiration and his most fulfilling role. if you don’t know how you will benefit or grow. will span three seasons. Also, you don’t have to be perfect to be enough. What was your most important If you could have dinner with takeaway from UF? How much of a anyone past or present who personal responsibility it is to take advantage of would it be? Brené Brown, a shame the opportunities that are available, and if there and vulnerability researcher who has written are not sufficient opportunities to be proactive several books. Her work on authenticity and about creating them. vulnerability really resonates with me. Where do you find creative I incorporate a lot of her ideas into my inspiration? In anything that promotes work with artists. Marcela defaria, right, authenticity and honesty as well as being with Kristen Stoner What is your favorite pastime? surrounded by people who are being their Florida Gator sports, of course! I’m a big foodie authentic selves and bringing that authenticity as well and since I travel a lot, I enjoy exploring and vulnerability to the work that they do. Also, local restaurants everywhere I go. I love reading and get very inspired by books about personal growth and development, and what is One thing you Share Your News! certainly by great music. eventually hope to do? I hope to always stay open and curious, continue to learn What is one thing that most Do you have an accomplishment and grow every day, and somehow make the people don’t know about you? to share? To be featured in world a better place in my own small way. our next issue, contact us at I am a certified hypnotist and integrative life [email protected]. coach and, for the last 13 years, I’ve provided —As told to Chloe Weber life and performance enhancement coaching to performing and creative artists through my private practice, Whole Artist Hypnosis. University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 17 School of Theatre + Dance t r e y/Hippo dr o m e Th a Mic ha e l A. Eadd

UF Talent Showcased in Avenue Q By Ana Gomez

The most anticipated performance of the The musical comedy ran from May 31 to Hippodrome Theatre’s 40th anniversary season, August 4, 2013 and was co-directed by Avenue Q, was the result of a partnership Charlie Mitchell, assistant professor, and between the Hippodrome and the School of Lauren Caldwell. At the time of the musical, Theatre + Dance (SoTD). While the College student performers included David Collins of Fine Arts and the Hippodrome have had (BFA theatre performance), who appeared in a long-standing history of collaboration, this the ensemble; Daniel Fuentes (BFA musical production was the first in which the two theatre), one of the Bad Idea Bears; David Avenue Q was well received by the community institutions officially partnered to co-produce Leppert (BFA musical theatre), who appeared and showcased the talent of our UF students, a show, says Jerry Dickey, director of the in the ensemble; Joel Oramas (MFA acting), alumni and faculty. The Gainesville Sun’s Ron School of Theatre + Dance. Trekkie Monster; and Marissa Toogood (BFA Cunningham my have summed it up best in his theatre performance), one of the Bad Idea June 6, 2013 review saying, “Given the talent Avenue Q is a coming-of-age musical where Bears and Mrs. T. and enthusiasm these young UF-trained actors characters lament that as children, they were bring to the Hipp’s stage, this is a marriage born assured by their parents, and by certain fuzzy Behind the scenes were several SoTD alumni, in show-business heaven. Never mind that these puppets on public television, that they were including stage manager, Nichole Hamilton kids can sing and dance, and that they wear “special” and “could do anything,” but as (MFA theatre ’11); scenic designer, Kent their roles as comfortably as their own skins. adults, they have discovered to their surprise Barrett (MFA theatre ’13); and lighting The real marvel is that they manage to do all of and dismay that in the real world their options designer, Robert Robins (BFA theatre ’85). In the above while simultaneously breathing life are limited, and they are no more “special” addition, Stephanie Lynge, who is pursuing her and personality into the puppets most of them than anyone else. MFA in acting, served as the choreographer. haul around.”

For more School of Theatre + Dance stories, visit our online edition at arts.ufl.edu/muse.

18 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Professors Tony Mata and Ralf Remshardt Debut Recent Guest Artists New Documentary Film Swamp Dance Fest

The concept of the documentary film is From ballet to modern to West African Music, that Mata invites three legends and pioneers Swamp Dance Fest held July 1-28, 2013 was a of the Latino theatre community to eat a transformative festival and featured David traditional meal of rice and beans. Over Dorfman, Shua Group, Tzveta the course of the meal René Buch, Miriam Kassabova, Lisa Race and Colón and Max Ferra tell their stories of Tiffany Rhynard. how they founded New York City’s three most influential Latino theatres: Repertorio Español, the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Dance Guest Artists and INTAR. was a Center for The film also features commentary by Barakissa Coulibaly World Arts artist-in-residence in the fall of 2013 playwrights María Irene Fornés and Nilo from the Ivory Coast. In addition to performances Cruz, Broadway directors Hal Prince and A m be r Riccinto and community outreach, Coulibaly choreographed Graciela Daniele and Broadway actors Chita two new repertory works for Agbedidi, which were Rivera and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Through performed in Constans Theatre, at the New World School of Theatre + Dance professors Tony these and others, the documentary explores School for the Arts and at the Miami International Mata, right, and Ralf Remshardt presented the trials, hardships and circumstances that Book Fair. their new documentary film, Theatre of Rice led the three giants of Latino theatre to and Beans: A Retrospective Look at New York leaving their mark on a generation and in Raja Kelly, a company member with David Latino Theatre, at UF in Constans Theatre in their art. January 2014. After seven years of working on Dorfman Dance and Reggie Wilson’s First and Heel Performance Group, spent a two-week the film, it was a dream come true for Mata The documentary was a collaborative effort creative residency in the School of Theatre + Dance and Remshardt to share their work with UF that also features a musical score by UF and Center for World Arts in the spring of 2014. faculty and students and the larger Gainesville School of Music alumnus Sam Hamm, Kelly created two repertory works that will be community. with additional music by Welson Tremura, premiered in Agbedidi 2014 and co-created Super School of Music professor. “Theatre of Rice and Beans is the most important We with Tzveta Kassabova. Super We was one of project I have done in my 32-year career,” says Mata and Remshardt will continue three southeast regional selections chosen to be Mata. “This is the first documentary created sharing the film in different cities and as performed at the National College Dance Festival about a vital part of American theatre history. opportunities arise. Next up is a screening in June 2014. I needed to do this project to give back and so in New York City’s legendary Tribecca , choreographer and James their stories were not forgotten.” Cinemas on May 12, 2014. Shane O’Hara Madison University professor of dance, visited the School of Theatre + Dance on February 11, 2014.

classes designed a digital scenic environment Yang “Gina” Weijia is the Center for World A Handful of Leaves for the production, which was staged at UF’s Arts 2013-2014 artist-in-residence. In January 2014 Digital Worlds Institute. Weijia performed at the Harn Museum of Art, and in By Ana Gomez April 2014 she appeared in The Red Silk Thread: An Other partners included the George A. Epic Tale of Marco Polo. Bearing the name of 14-year-old Palestinian Smathers Libraries, the Isser and Rae Price immigrant Leah Stupniker’s childhood Library of Judaica, the UF Center for the journal collection, the devised theatre piece A Arts and Public Policy and the Center for the Theatre Guest Artist Handful of Leaves tells the stories of Stupniker Humanities and the Public Sphere. The goal and Emanuel Merdinger, a UF biochemistry was to emphasize the importance of personal Lauren Caldwell, artistic director professor who survived the Holocaust. The effects, artifacts and stories and to determine at the Hippodrome Theatre and a UF April 2013 performance directed by Kevin if a live performance would increase people’s alumna (MFA theatre ’90), visited the Marshall, professor at the School of Theatre + contributions to the libraries. School of Theatre + Dance in the fall Dance, was such a success that it resulted in of 2013. Caldwell taught four weeks To aid the effort, there were actor talkbacks Marshall giving numerous presentations about of an undergraduate course in after the show and people in the audience his work, including one at the International auditions technique and two shared their own stories, leading to an Conference on the Arts in Society in weeks of a graduate studio increase in donations of personal artifacts to Budapest, Hungary. in period styles. the libraries. Marshall attributes the success “One of the things we wanted to focus of the work to the dedication of the actors on is that seemingly ordinary people live and the team, many of them students, who Musical Theatre extraordinary lives,” says Marshall, who learned from Stupniker and Merdinger describes the project as a labor of love. and felt a personal responsibility in telling Guest Artist their stories. p Barakissa Using 300 pages of writings, Marshall and his Broadway dancer and Coulibaly crew built a script that wove both lives together “There’s something ephemeral about a choreographer James through the common themes of having to handful of leaves,” Marshall says. “The leaves Kinney conducted embark on a journey and the fact that they don’t stay there; they fade away. It’s symbolic numerous master classes were both immigrants. of the purpose of the production — to bring throughout the spring 2014 importance to the preservation of people’s semester working with students on Because the stories were told in so many stories in libraries to keep them from musical theatre and dance styles. different places, graduate and undergraduate fading away.” University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 19 Alumni Spotlight: Alumni Accomplishments Here are some of the many recent School of Theatre + Dance alumni accomplishments:

Usman Ally (MFA Theatre ’07) was named Best Actor in a Musical by Independent Reviewers of New England in April 2014 for his performance in The Jungle Book at Huntington Theatre Company.

Felipe Bombonato (BFA Theatre Performance ’11) appears in the ensemble, as a muleteer and the Padre understudy on the national tour of Man of LaMancha, which began in January 2014.

Alex Hernandez (BFA Acting ’10) has Lyndon had guest roles in numerous TV shows recently,

t z including Law & Order: SVU, The Black Box and Blue Bloods. Smith Chris Linn (BFA Theatre ’88) joined Turner S hul Jo shua Broadcasting System in May 2013 as president and head of programming for TruTV.

Since graduating from the School of Theatre If you could have dinner with Stephen Root (AA ’72) reprised his role as + Dance in 2011 and moving to Los Angeles three people past or present Gaston Means in Season 4 of Boardwalk Empire in August 2011, Lyndon Smith has held who would they be? Julia Child, on HBO in 2013 and was Michael Reardon in major reoccurring roles in TV shows such as so she could cook for me. Bobby Flay, so he FX’s Justified in January 2014. Showtime’s Californication, the CW’s 90210 could cook for me. And my father, because and NBC’s Parenthood. A native of Pensacola, he’s the best cook I know. And if Bruce Jamie Samson (MFA Theatre ’11) was Florida, Smith admits her experience out of Springsteen or Bryan Adams wanted to pop named wardrobe supervisor on the first national the gate was a bit faster than most and that by to serenade us throughout dinner, they are tour of Memphis in May 2013. circumstances just so happened to work in more than welcome. her favor, but in the end acting is a game of Danny Sharron (FABA Theatre ’08) “persistence, perseverance and patience.” What is your favorite pastime? was named assistant director in the new In the future you will see her in films such as My father comes from a family of cattle production Tales from Red Vienna at the The Forger and The Circle, with John Travolta farmers, and they have a big farm up in Manhattan Theatre Club in New York. as well as playing a superhero in CW’s The Arkansas. When I was little we would go there Tomorrow People and appearing in a TNT in the summers. This was also pre-internet so Joshua Stansbury (BFA Dance ’11) 1960’s copy drama pilot, Public Morals. Here, the concept of being “disconnected” didn’t performed in Two Boys at The Metropolitan Smith talks about her whirlwind of a career really exist for me yet. But it was all things Opera in New York during its 2013-2014 season. and the one role she hopes to eventually play. Little House on the Prairie. I frolicked and played in streams and searched for agates and What was your most important hiked through the woods and came inside Danny Sharron takeaway from UF? Tiza Garland left for snacks of Nutter Butter bars and oatmeal (FABA Theatre ’08) me with this idea, “Talent is fickle, and on the creme pies. It was perfect. days when you don’t wake up with it, you have training to fall back on.” I think that pretty Who do you admire most? much sums it up. The School of Theatre + My parents. They both have up-by-your- Dance gave me a foundation of training. bootstraps mentalities — either because of the families they were raised in or because of what What do you love most about they were forced to do because of their family your work? The creative stimulation. — and they crafted themselves into fiercely I’m not a person who handles being bored intelligent, ethical, admirable people. well. When I’m working, I’m the best version of myself. I’m mentally, emotionally and What is currently on your creatively inspired. Netflix queue? I’m on the last two episodes of season two of House of Cards. What is one thing that most Brilliant show! But by the time this is printed people don’t know about you? I will be engrossed in the new season of Game My birthday numbers are consecutive — of Thrones. 6/7/89. I’m told this means something Share Your News! fortuitous in Chinese numerology, but A) have What is one thing you yet to find any proof to back it up, and B) my eventually hope to do? Do you have an accomplishment mom said it to me, so she could have just been Play Elizabeth Taylor in a biopic. to share? To be featured in our next issue, contact us at trying to make me feel special. Regardless, it’s —As told to Ana Gomez just kind of nifty. [email protected].

20 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Naomi fisher: Lay of the Land Centers and affiliates

From the Director: We have had an exciting year in University Galleries, producing 17 exhibitions, as well as preparing for our upcoming year of celebration for the 50th anniversary of University Gallery in 2015. Lay of the Land and Garden of the Heart’s Desire were our two big feature shows this year in addition to our annual faculty and student exhibitions. What was University Galleries: so interesting about the two major shows is how completely opposite they Bringing Art to Campus and the Community were — one very cutting edge, site-based and exotic in terms of objects and overall environment and the other traditional, historic and pristine in its gallery presentation, yet equally exotic due to the exquisite nature of each of the Persian textiles. However, both shows featured lots of purple, rich texture and luscious fabric. Many gallery members commented on student juried exhibition MFA Thesis Exhibition 1 this unexpected parallel! — Amy Vigilante

studio faculty exhibition

Art in State Buildings Program Maintenance was the focus this year, with Alachua by John Henry, located outside the Computer Science Building, and Harp of Color by Shan Shan Sheng in Constans Theatre recently being cleaned. Flux by Kenneth vonRoenn Garden of the Heart’s Desire: is currently under repair Persian Textiles from the with plans to re-install it in Collection of Mahin Ghanbari the Emerging Pathogens Institute toward the end For more information about University Galleries, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/galleries. of July 2014. University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 21 At the Forefront of Arts in Medicine

With arts programs in approximately half of the hospitals in the United States, arts in medicine is a rapidly growing field. The UF Center for Arts in Medicine is an international leader and continues to advance the field through its tri- By Hillary Hoffower fold mission of education, research and outreach.

Expanding Educational Offerings The center has broken the mold this academic director, noting that more than 140 people The program helped 11 rural communities year with its new graduate educational offerings, have expressed intent to apply to these throughout Florida to design and implement including a proposal for the nation’s first full programs. “We were astonished by the arts programs that addresses each community’s graduate degree in arts in medicine. market interest.” specific health needs. This interest reflects advancements in The center’s Graduate Certificate in Arts in As the first community to receive assistance professionalism in the field of arts in medicine Medicine was implemented in the fall of 2012 and one with extremely significant needs, overall. “A national certification for artists who and enrollment is underway now for a new Franklin County has been the spring break work in health care will be in place this year,” Graduate Certificate in Public Health. Both hot spot for the center’s service learning says Sonke. “We anticipate that hospitals will certificates, designed to impact healthcare program, the Franklin County Project. The seek candidates who hold this credential and environments and enhance community and Theatre for Health Education program targets professionals will be looking for educational individual health, are offered online and feature 6th to 12th grade students at Franklin County opportunities.” a practicum course with on-site practice in a Consolidated School and addresses significant health care or community setting. health issues through theatre. During spring Evaluating the Impact of break 2014, an interdisciplinary team of 12 Music in Healthcare students and faculty spent the week focusing Research has always been at the heart of the on violence prevention and facilitating focus Center for Arts in Medicine. The center’s groups to evaluate the program’s impact. latest endeavor features talented musicians The center’s outreach efforts aren’t confined in residence. Working in partnership with to Florida. From May 25-June 13, 2014, the University of Florida Department of Sonke will take the center’s efforts across Emergency Medicine, the center began the world to Uganda as part of the AIM conducting a study in January 2014 that seeks for Africa program, which creates cultural to demonstrate the positive impacts of live bridges between the arts and health care in the preferential music in an emergency and trauma U.S. and the developing African nations of care setting. The first systematic investigation Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, of its kind, the study assesses the potential Kenya, The Gambia and Uganda. of live preferential music to improve patient satisfaction, reduce pain medication usage, and While there, Sonke and a team of student reduce the costs of care in an emergency and research assistants will investigate the p Jill Sonke, left, and Dean Lucinda Lavelli, trauma care setting. relationship among visual literacy, health center, present a certificate during an Arts in literacy and health-related decision-making Medicine conference at Makerere University. Sonke says the study has the potential to in Uganda in order to define and disseminate demonstrate significant improvements and the best practices in using the arts for health The center’s proposed online Master of Arts cost savings in emergency and trauma care, literacy in developing countries. (MA) in Arts in Medicine, has been approved as well as the replication of music programs by the University of Florida and is currently in emergency departments nationwide. The center also has a partnership with under review by the board of governors. Once Makerere University in Uganda, which fosters approved, this will be the first graduate degree Serving Communities Worldwide arts in medicine education in East Africa and of its kind. has spurred the development of a university- In addition to its focus on education and wide exchange program. The program allows research, the center has continued its UF students to study abroad in Uganda and “We began receiving inquiries and requests dedication to its Arts in Healthcare for Rural for graduate-level education,” says Jill Sonke, junior faculty from Makerere University to Communities program, established in 2008. work on research at UF.

For more information about the Center for Arts in Medicine, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/cam.

22 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 UF Digital Worlds Institute Continues to Explore the Leading Edge of Performance Technology

p Same Space Same Time joins dancers in By Spencer Phillips Tokyo, New York, Vancouver and Gainesville.

Beginning with the internationally-acclaimed The New World School of the Arts presented empowered performing arts events, DW has online performances of Dancing Beyond a subsequent live, network-distributed DW provided unique educational opportunities: Boundaries (DBB) at the 2001 global performance for the IDMAA 2012 Conference for students from technology backgrounds, a SuperComputing Conference, Digital in Miami. Over the course of a semester, UF real-life entrée into the concerns, methods and Worlds Institute (DW) has carved out a Dance faculty member Kristin O’Neal and sensibilities of performing artists; for students unique niche at the confluence of interactive James Oliverio, DW director, offered dancers in from arts backgrounds, the chance to work technology research, new media education Miami and at UF a special online course entitled substantively and collaboratively with engineers and the performing arts. DBB joined dancers, Movement, Media, and Machines. The result was and scientists. network engineers, computer scientists and a network-enhanced performance called Icons of musicians across North and South America Innovation. DW faculty Angelos Barmpoutis and Current DAS graduate student Darius Brown in an unprecedented network-distributed live Patrick Pagano built the interactive performance continues to work with dancers in DW’s new performance that won the SuperComputing system using the Microsoft Kinect device to sound and motion stage in the Research, award for Most Creative and Courageous capture the movements of the dancers and Education, and Visualization Environment Use of the High-Speed Network. drive virtual characters inside the Unreal (REVE). “During my undergraduate years as a gaming engine. graphic designer, I would try to approach my Hands Across the Ocean (2005) expanded the design projects with both scientific and artistic global reach of DW’s collaborations to include perspectives,” says Brown. “Here at Digital live performers on four continents (this time Worlds, I am challenged every day to take joining Asia, Europe and the Americas). This that viewpoint to the next level by exploring project earned DW the inaugural Peoria Prize various forms of art, media and technology. I for Creativity and a $10,000 check. Later am constantly advancing and obtaining new that year DW was invited to SIGGRAPH, skills working as a graduate assistant, as well as the world’s largest computer arts conference, a student in the classroom.” to demonstrate its global-scale techniques at the Los Angeles Convention Center. There, DW continues its exploration of the ever- In Common: Time joined remote performers changing forward edge of technology, and in in seven cities across five continents in live, fall of 2014 DW will roll out the new BA in synchronous musical performances. DAS. Applying knowledge and experience gained during its first decade of research In 2010 DW raised the bar by incorporating and development in network-empowered live motion capture, with four dancers performing arts, DW is bringing new in four cities around the globe (Tokyo, DW graduate student Duncan Martel modeled dimensions to online education through New York, Vancouver and Gainesville) virtual representations of iconic artists, engineers, the exploration of both synchronous and joined together in a shared online virtual polymaths and entrepreneurs, which came to life asynchronous online courses. environment. DW graduate student Anton and danced with the live performers, and cohort Yudin coded the underlying platform for Chad Juehring coded new smartphone software New DW faculty Marko Suvajdzic is currently Same Space Same Time (SSST), which for real-time audience interaction. During the charting this frontier in his class, Creating premiered at the International Digital Media live performances the dancers would modify the Video Games and Startups. As Marko says, “In and Arts Association (IDMAA) conference choreography of their scenarios in reaction to the future, there will be no distinction between in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the end preferences typed into smartphones by members technology and the arts, no distinction between of SSST, the dancers came together within of the dual audiences in Miami and Gainesville. playing and learning and physical location the exact same virtual space coordinates, of our students will become irrelevant. The overlapping each other’s virtual bodies to By giving students in the Digital Arts and convergence of these experiences has already become one by inhabiting the “same space” Sciences (DAS) program the opportunity to begun. Nowhere is this more obvious than here at the “same time.” work alongside research and design faculty in the in the multidimensional classrooms of the UF planning and implementation of these network- Digital Worlds Institute.”

For more information on the Digital Worlds Institute, visit www.digitalworlds.ufl.edu.

University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 23 Development From the Director: The arts hold a unique role within UF’s stride to becoming one of the nation’s best public research universities. Your support causes the arts to thrive at UF and, most importantly, puts students on the path to fulfilling their dreams, whether that is becoming a professional artist or using their creative capacity to excel in another field. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our donors, friends and alumni who supported the college this year.

Gary Libby Shares Career Advice and Museum Insights with Students Gary Libby, scholar, museum professional, state “Libby’s willingness to share his research and national leader in the arts and College of and experience was a wonderful opportunity Fine Arts alumnus returned to campus October for our graduate students,” says Glenn 4, 2013 to share research, career advice and Willumson, director of UF’s graduate insight with museum studies students during a Museum Studies program. “The students candid round-table discussion. Libby, director thoroughly enjoyed his seminar and emeritus of the Museum of Arts and Sciences appreciated his enthusiasm for the important in Daytona Beach, Florida, discussed his role that museums play in our society.” research on Florida paintings, future trends in museum development and his personal Libby’s support to the college is ongoing as experience with museum management. donor, advisor and friend. p Alphabet Soap by Steve Silver was donated by CFA alumnus Gary Libby and recently installed in the Clinical and Transitional Science Institute on campus. Andrew Tyler Fawbush and Gregory Alan Fawbush Lab for Photographic Studies Established The Andrew Tyler Fawbush and Gregory the addition of a Hasselblad Flextight X5 Alan Fawbush Lab for Photographic Studies, Scanner and new, large-format Epson inkjet made possible by a generous estate gift from photographic printers. the Andrew Tyler Fawbush and Gregory Alan Fawbush Memorial Fund, opened in “The Fawbush family’s generous donation will the fall of 2013. The lab features new studio directly and positively impact School of Art + workspace and state-of-the-art digital/analog Art History faculty and students,” says Craig photography production equipment that will Smith, associate professor of photography. encourage students to create contemporary “The photography faculty is excited about the photographically-based artwork through new opportunities made possible with this lab and looks forward to designing new course research and experimentation. Film-based p aesthetic objectives for students that were not Richard Heipp, School of Art + Art History director, photography and digital postproduction far left, and graduate students joined members of the techniques will be integrated thanks to previously possible.” Fawbush family during a tour of the new photography lab.

Ben Vereen Honored with the Linda Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Theatre

School of Theatre + Dance what it was like performing in Jesus Christ students had the unique Superstar, Pippin and All That Jazz. opportunity to learn from one of the best in Following his evening performance, Vereen the business on April 2, was honored with the school’s Linda Wilson 2014 when Tony Award Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence winner Ben Vereen visited in Theatre. The award was last presented in the UF campus to host 2011 to Tommy Tune. Created by professor e r ic zam o ra , ra p h y UF p h otog a master class prior to his Tony Mata, head of the Musical Theatre program, the award was established to honor Steppin’ Out Live with Ben Vereen performance p Linda Wilson, left, and Tony Mata, right, with Ben at the Phillips Center. During the interview preeminent theatre artists and is made possible Vereen following the presentation of the Linda Wilson portion of the master class, Vereen shared his through an endowment from UF alumni Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Theatre. experience working with influential performers George and Linda Wilson. Following the such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Bob Fosse and master class, seven scholarships were presented to musical theatre students.

24 Muse Magazine | Spring 2014 Splendor: New York Nights

college of fine arts

DONORat the university of florida CIRCLES BECOME A FRIEND by h o m e s by s p l en d o r h oto On any given day within the studios, classrooms, galleries and stages of the UF College of Fine Gator Bands Centennial Celebration Arts, hundreds of Gators explore creativity and scholarship with world-class faculty. Be part of the excitement — join a College of Fine Arts Donor Circle. Our energetic social a n j one s y networks support important initiatives that nurture scholarships, program support, audience development and participation in our schools.

For more information and to join, visit

by r s by Ba n d p h oto www.arts.ufl.edu/join or call (352) 846-1218. $100,000 for 100 years! “I attended UF on a scholarship, so this was a debt that I needed to repay. Giving this scholarship was one of the happiest experiences of my life, and I would recommend it to anyone.” – Bill Booth (BMUSE ‘70) membership perks u VIP receptions, special exhibitions and exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunities

u Special events and social activities with artists, scholars and a Gator Nation network of friends

u Opportunities for engagement and meaningful giving

Your membership begins with a gift of $50 or Leave a legacy more to the fund of your choice in one of our schools or programs. The College of Fine Arts gratefully acknowledges the support of Suzanne and Francisco Isla, UF graduates For a list of funds by program, visit who recently completed their planned giving to the www.arts.ufl.edu/funds. School of Art + Art History. Their contribution will be transformational to the college. Friends of Art + Art History You can join the Islas as a legacy donor and make a Friends of Music difference through a bequest or other planned gifts, such as retirement assets, life insurance policies and Friends of Theatre + Dance real estate. To learn how your donation can benefit future generations of aspiring artists, contact the Gator Band alumni association Office of Development. p The Islas with Atlanta Gator Club President Daryl Cook, center. University Gallery Art Society For more photos of our recent gala events, visit www.flickr.com/uffinearts.

University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 25 The Arts Scene In:

The writer, producer, director and UF College of Fine Arts alumnus who has worked on Arrested Development, My Name is Earl and Wild Hogs on LA’s most inspiring landmark and his favorite local artists.

On calling Los Angeles home Best local food spots I came here because this is where the film I really shouldn’t be telling you this but business is. I would like to move back to in Sherman Oaks there is a place called Florida at some point, but there aren’t Blue Dog Beer Tavern that has fantastic enough production opportunities. hamburgers. There’s also Tony P’s Dockside Grill in Marina del Rey, a giant sports bar Most inspiring landmark on the bay. I go there to watch games with I’ve always loved the Griffith Observatory. more than 100 other Gators. The view is so killer. Once I started having success, my wife and I went house Favorite nearby getaway shopping and looked for the best view Santa Barbara. We take the train up there. possible. It’s great to just hang out and drink in the city’s beautiful surroundings. Unique cultural offerings We love the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Famous artists in the area which performs at the Walt Disney Brooke Harker is an up-and-coming Concert Hall. The Hollywood Bowl artist who does amazing, dripping city outdoor concerts are great, too. We love portraits. Paul Pitsker creates photo having a big picnic on the lawn and realistic watercolors. We buy as many of his watching the fireworks at night. paintings as we can get our hands on. And even though he isn’t local to LA, we love Opportunities for artists Jerry Uelsmann, too! There is an enormous amount of opportunity out here. For those looking to start Brad Copeland The people here are out, it’s all about New York and Los Angeles. Crazy. Orlando, Florida There are a lot of kids right out of college who Hometown: come here to work on short films and get their Something you won’t find careers started. While at UF: Studied photography and anywhere else is Perfect weather. was a member of the Gator Marching Band Every time you read about terrible weather The city’s arts community is somewhere in the country — polar vortexes, Very diverse. There is a lot of great mainstream Industry breakthrough: below-freezing temperatures, wind chills — stuff like museums, but it’s the performing Interning with David Letterman’s team in it’s always sunny and beautiful here. arts, street art and just weird stuff that is really New York awesome. We had Banksy out here a few — As told to Lillian Dompe months ago. It was kind of a bummer though Accolades: Three Emmy nominations because before you could even get out to see and a Writers Guild Award for Best Comedy his graffiti, someone would have chiseled it Series for Arrested Development out of the wall. Family life: Married with two children, ages 5 and 1

Latest project: Writer-director of Coffee Town

Causes: Because of Ezra, a nonprofit dedicated to funding a cure for and raising awareness of neuroblastoma and other children’s cancers

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University of Florida | College of Fine Arts 27 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

Office of the Dean PAID College of Fine Arts GAINESVILLE, FL 101 Fine Arts Building A Permit #94 PO Box 115800 Gainesville, FL 32611-5800

New Mission Statement Announced In March 2014 College of Fine Arts faculty members voted and passed the following new mission statement:

The College of Fine Arts fosters creative activity, scholarly and artistic excellence and innovation across disciplines. We achieve the university’s mission by training professionals and educating students as artists and scholars, while developing their critical thinking and inspiring a culture of curiosity and imagination.