annual alumni publication 2015 - 2016

college of fine, performing and communication arts

we’re jazzing up The Gretchen Valade Jazz Center | 10

guess who’s turning 30 CFPCA 1986 through 2016 | 14

arts entrepreneurship Navigating the New Detroit | 24

cfpca.wayne.edu letter from the dean

Dear CFPCA Alumni, Supporters and Friends,

It’s an exciting time for Detroit, provides a unique educational for Wayne State University and for environment that is simultaneously the College of Fine, Performing academic and real-world. and Communication Arts. Detroit is Our commitment to students and to enjoying an historic renaissance and Detroit is only possible through the Wayne State and CFPCA are literally support of alumni and friends. We and figuratively right in the middle of are especially excited, therefore, that this amazing transformation. Wayne State launched the Pivotal Our faculty and visual, performing Moments Comprehensive Campaign. and communication arts students are The campaign allows us to celebrate working to bring about new places for the central role we have played in the learning and creating. Creative place- lives of Wayne State students over making processes connect proven decades and the support that alumni approaches to cultural enrichment and friends continue to provide to with economic development through CFPCA. innovative infrastructures and You will read about the supportive programming. This is how comprehensive campaign and we create community. about many pivotal moments in One particularly exciting example is this edition of Expressions. CFPCA our Hilberry Gateway Performance continues to foster moments such as Complex, a project that will enhance public relations and theatre double the cultural vitality of Detroit, the major Sydney Machesky’s national central city and Midtown. The Hilberry championship in persuasive speaking Complex will become a destination, and music alumnus George Shirley’s a gathering place and an intimate National Medal of Arts. The college performing arts center for Detroit. recognizes a Pivotal Moment of its Hosting theatre, music, dance and own, as this year we celebrate the film events, the Hilberry Gateway 30th anniversary of our founding. As Performance Complex will build upon we prepare for the opportunities that CFPCA’s long history of excellence in are developing in Detroit, we also performance. look back on some of our important While the development of world accomplishments. class performance venues such as Thank you for your support of the the Hilberry Gateway Performance College of Fine Performing and Complex is critical, our core focus Communication Arts, our students and is upon our students. Students our faculty as we continue to shape an bring enthusiasm, talent and exciting future filled with more pivotal excitement. Our programs provide moments. transformational experiences and learning opportunities that drive student success. We provide the supportive environments necessary to nurture creativity, bolster critical inquiry and inspire discovery. Our Matthew W. Seeger Detroit living-learning laboratory Professor and Dean Photo: Christopher Scalise ‘96 made @ wayne 4 cfpca fosters standout accomplishments

pivotal moments 6 update on the university comprehensive campaign

Expressions jazzed about new plans College of Fine, Performing and 10 wayne state announces plans for the gretchen valade Communication Arts jazz performance center Matthew W. Seeger, Professor and Dean Editors: Laura Orme, David Romas, Rhonda Welsh ‘89 ‘02 Design: David Romas cfpca turns thirty Photography: Rick Bielaczyc, Len Katz, Scott 14 looking back across three decades of excellence in Lipiec, Mary Jane Murawka, Sarah Rahal, David arts and communication higher education Romas, Christopher Scalise Contributors: Michael Barnes, Danny DeRose ‘11, Brian Escamilla, Sean Hoskins, Joe Kvoriak ‘06 ‘09, Savannah Lee, Matt Lockwood, Carrie Morris, Sandra Schemske, Daniel Sperry ‘08, slow your roll Michael Suggs, Daniel Trudeau, Joan Verla ‘02 18 cfpca alumnus leads the way as wayne state On the cover: takes to two wheels WSU’s Jazz Big Band wow’d the crowd at the university’s December 2015 event announcing plans for the Gretchen Valade Jazz navigating the new detroit Performance Center. 24 entrepreneurial alumni share their wisdom WSU Board of Governors Diane L. Dunaskiss ‘74; Marilyn Kelly ‘71; Paul E. Massaron; David A. Nicholson; Sandra Hughes O’Brien; Gary S. Pollard; Dana Thompson; Kim Trent ‘91 ‘10; M. Roy Wilson, ex officio my pivotal moment CFPCA Board of Visitors 32 arts and communication alumni articulate the wsu Jocelyn Allen ’08, Arthur Bryant ‘71, Laura Christian ’92 ‘06, Ray Day ‘88, Ann Delisi ‘95, moment that changed their lives Delf Dodge, James Evola, Carole Harris ‘66, Daniel Kanter, Bud Liebler, Emily Linn ‘07, Joseph LoDuca ‘79, Christina Lovio-George ‘79, David Lubin, Phoebe Mainster ‘83, Sue Nine ‘62, George N’Namdi, Marc Schwartz, Paula Silver ‘82, Lisa Vallee-Smith ‘84, Michael Zarobe ‘85 ‘02 Emeriti: Maggie Allesee ‘84 ‘00, Elizabeth DuMouchelle ‘91, Howard Hertz ‘72 ‘76, Barbara Kratchman 2 expressions | fall/winter 2015-16

Wayne State helped put him in WSU’s Journalism Institute for Media the White House Diversity, is a recipient of the Ben Junior journalism major Timothy Burns Endowed Scholarship for Carroll landed a very distinctive Excellence in Journalism and is a internship last summer – working former editor in chief of WSU’s student in our nation’s capital at the White newspaper The South End. House. Carroll was one of 149 students “Tim is one of the most from 78 universities to serve in the intellectually and personally 2015 edition of the prestigious White mature and accomplished students House internship program and he I’ve ever taught,” said Professor is the second student from Wayne Jack Lessenberry, head of the State to do so. He is a member of journalism area in the Department

Winter, in apparel form, wins top recognition

Fashion and costuming design costuming, was one of four national student Anne Suchyta earned first finalists and Suchyta was named top place in the Rose Brand Action Design costume designer. “There can be Competition at the 2015 United States no other,” said Tony Award-winning Institute for Theatre Technology Costume Designer Jane Greenwood, conference in Cincinnati. Suchyta’s a judge in the competition, about project pictured here, a Winter Suchyta’s design. Suchyta graduated seasonal design for found object this year with her MFA. •

His light is bright on Broadway

BFA alumnus George Last summer, Abud performed the Abud ‘12 made his cabaret act Never Been Young at New Broadway debut in April York’s 54 Below and has become a at New York’s Lyceum regular guest performer in their series Theatre, playing the titled Sondheimas. role of Karl Schell in the Abud played the role of Charlie musical The Visit. The Townsend in Classic Stage Company’s production ran for 61 2014 production of Allegro, a rarely performances and was produced Richard Rodgers and Oscar nominated for five Tony Hammerstein musical. This year he Awards, including Best will open Classic Stage’s productions Musical and Best Original of Nathan the Wise, with F. Murray Score. Abraham, and Peer Gynt. • of Communication. “He is a superb ‘I am taking your name to the White example of what is great about Wayne House!’ State.” “I worked in the constituent White House interns work in several relations unit with an exceptional key departments. Daily tasks are staff of professionals and reported challenging and diverse, ranging from to Richard W. Porter, special conducting research, writing memos, assistant to the president over the social media engagement and online domestic policy council. We were content creation. • housed in the executive office building next to the west wing. Alumnus Melvin Gupton ‘98 “It was life changing for me in terms reflects on his time as Wayne of advancing my world view and State’s first White House intern introducing me to the awesome “I served under the first President privilege that is public service at the Bush in the summer of 1991. I had national level. It later helped me responded to an open call I received secure work with WJBK-TV FOX 2 through my church. I remember an Detroit and as a communications exciting series of interviews and having manager for Mayor Archer with the to pass a security clearance. I was City of Detroit. It was so worth giving ecstatic when I received word I’d been my all – and I did. I treasured, and still accepted. I recall telling my late dad, do, every moment.” •

“Wayne State is a gold mine.”

William Underwood is a second year A member of the WSU Wind master of music candidate in flute Symphony, he won the University performance. In October he debuted Symphony Orchestra concerto at the Schaver Music Recital Hall an competition and opened the 2015 original arrangement of his that mixes Department of Music Awards event the works of Beyonce, The Weeknd with a performance of the Nielsen [sic] and Paganini. “I wanted to show Flute Concerto. Not only a performer the younger students it’s okay to try but also a scholar, Underwood took new things and to just be yourself,” part in the WSU Graduate School’s Underwoood said. “Becoming a part inaugural Masters Showcase where he of the music department here at presented research on the National Wayne State has been a milestone Anthem and its relationship to classical in my education. There is a pool of and popular music. • limitless opportunities for students.”

Student work throughout campus vies for Art Installation Award Temporary public art provides an State’s 2015 Campus Art Installation out of the ordinary experience for Award competition in early fall. Art the viewer. The artwork is perceived students took new works out to the as a fleeting reformulation of the campus community, installing six architecture and its attendant exhibitions around campus in four landscape or urban-scape. Such site- buildings and two outdoor locations. specific work also provokes people The public voted for its favorites on who are experiencing the space on a the web, with students competing daily basis to reconsider the manner for scholarship awards that were in which they interact with their bestowed at a ceremony in the surroundings. Art Department Gallery during a With these underpinnings in mind, reception held in conjunction with the James Pearson Duffy Department the department-hosted, national of Art and Art History staged Wayne SculptureX Symposium. • 4 expressions | fall/winter 2015-16 the tsagaris / hilberry collection comes home to wayne state

Between the mid-1960s and the art has returned permanently to the Gordon Newton, Robert Sestok and mid-1980s, a pioneering community Wayne State campus, thanks to the many other prominent of artists created an impressive range generosity of university supporter contributors, as well as works by a of groundbreaking and challenging John Hilberry. later generation of Detroit artists. After works in the neighborhood just south In September, Hilberry formally Hilberry and Brooklyn-born Tsagaris of Wayne State University. The Cass presented over 60 original works moved to Manhattan in the 1990s, they Corridor movement was a pivotal created primarily from artists of the added to the collection with works by moment in the evolution of Detroit’s Cass Corridor movement to the emerging New York artists such as Tom art community. The movement had Wayne State University Art Collection. Bills, Jane Hammond, John Lees, John numerous connections to Wayne The pieces come from the sizable Obuck and Ursula von Rydingsvard. State, as many of its members studied private collection that Hilberry “It’s a balanced collection, and it will or taught in the university’s fine art amassed with his late wife, Andronike help the university to represent this department. “Nicky” Tsagaris. important movement that took place It’s fitting, then, that a large and The collection features works from largely because of Wayne State and important collection of Cass Corridor Cay Bahmiller, Ann Mikolowski, the art department there,” Hilberry said. “This Cass Corridor stuff is pretty adventuresome. There’s a kind of exhilaration about it all.” Hilberry now works as an architectural consultant after a successful career running his own architecture firm in Detroit, and later in New York, with a specialization in designing museum and gallery spaces. His father, Clarence, was Wayne State’s fourth president and a beloved figure during his 35-year tenure on campus. John Hilberry also served on the Wayne State University has a bold vision as a preeminent public urban research university. In support of this vision, the university publicly launched Pivotal Moments: university faculty himself, teaching Our Campaign for Wayne State University with a goal to raise $750 million by 2018 in interior architecture for seven years celebration of the university’s 150th anniversary. during the heyday of the Cass Corridor The four priorities of the Pivotal Moments campaign are to: movement. • Inspire students and faculty to be curious and passionate In addition to recognizing his • Discover new approaches, solutions and areas of inquiry through multidisciplinary, personal ties to the university, Hilberry translational and applied research views his gift as a tribute to his wife. • Create fresh expressions of existing knowledge Tsagaris was an alumna of the Wayne • Engage through community service, enriching the culture and economy of Detroit State University Law School, earning and beyond her Juris Doctor by attending night In addition to strengthening the university now, the campaign will significantly grow classes while working as an advocate the Wayne State endowment, ensuring the university can make pivotal moments for civil rights. She later became a possible for future students, faculty and community members. successful lawyer and committed art All gifts to CFPCA count toward the overall campaign goal. Our generous donors have supported initiatives throughout the college, including new scholarships, new collector, and Hilberry credits her programs and the Hilberry Gateway Performance Complex. insight and passion for the expansive To learn more about the campaign and to help make more moments possible, visit scope of their collection. pivotalmoments.wayne.edu. In 2000, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art organized the exhibition: A Paintings by Ann Mikolowski Gifts of John Hilberry, 2015 Wayne State University Art Collection Photos: Tim Thayer

Nicki Tsagaris, 1984 Oil on canvas, 2 3/4 x 2 in.

John Hilberry, 1987 Oil on canvas, 2 5/8 x 3 1/8 in.

Sustaining Passion: The Tsagaris/ Hilberry Collection, which traveled to the University of Arizona Museum of Art. This exhibition acknowledged the couple’s “radical nerve and original, critical eye.” Now that the collection has come to campus, the entirety of the Hilberry gift is being installed at the newly dedicated Tierney Alumni House where it will be available to the campus community and visitors to this historic house. The collection will also function as a major resource for scholars pursuing research on the Cass Corridor movement and its influence on contemporary American Thomas T. Tierney ‘60 and his wife to ensure the Tierney Alumni House art. Elizabeth gave $2 million to support is preserved and maintained for “My hope is that art students can the preservation of the historic Hecker generations. An additional $1 million look at this and say ‘This was done by House located on Woodward Avenue supports future programming. The someone in a position not that much at Ferry Street. In honor of their building will house staff from the different from me. That’s what they did generosity, the home was rededicated Alumni Association, Annual Giving, way back then!’” Hilberry said. the Tierney Alumni House at a special the HIGH Program and emeriti faculty As coordinator of Wayne State’s celebration in September. members. • University Art Collection, Sandra The home was designed Schemske is charged with preserving by architect Louis these works and with contextualizing Kamper in the late 19th their significance for the university century for Col. Frank community. J. Hecker and his family, “The work created by artists of the who lived there until 1927. Cass Corridor movement has not been In subsequent years, adequately recognized on a national the home operated as or international level,” Schemske a boarding house and said. “This gift is going to further that the offices of a music audience, encourage scholarship company and a law firm. and provide a forum for a broader The Tierney’s gift created discussion about contemporary art.” a $1 million endowment 26 expressions | fall/winter 2015-16

Artist David Barr, BA ’62, MFA ’66, was known for creating large outdoor sculptures of steel, stone and wood. He was the artist behind the massive, multi-column Polaris Ring that stands outside of the State Library of in Lansing, and the 63-feet tall, steel, arch Transcending that stands near Detroit’s riverfront between Hart Plaza and UAW headquarters. Perhaps his biggest undertaking was Michigan Legacy Art Park, plans for which he announced at his 1988 acceptance of memoriam the Governor’s Michigan Artist Award. The Thompsonville, MI, park opened in 1995 and includes 47 sculptures by 27 artists. Pictured here Art history alumna at Yale. She served on CFPCA’s Board is his Bloom Susanne Hilberry was of Visitors and served on the first 1996 steel born in Chicago in steering committee of the Museum of sculpture, a IN 1943. She was raised Contemporary Art Detroit, MOCAD, gift of Roger in Detroit and worked which she was instrumental in bringing Garrett to the at the Detroit Institute into existence. University Art of Arts in the ‘70s Collection, before opening her installed at the own gallery in 1976. The Susanne Born in Detroit in new Integrated Hilberry Gallery has been one of the 1921, Elaine L. Jacob, Biosciences region’s stalwart exhibition spaces for BFA ’42, was a third- Center. contemporary art for nearly 40 years, generation member of “David Barr’s massing a long list of important artists the family that founded curiosity, shown at, and represented by, the one of the nation’s intellect, gallery. oldest packaging creativity “She always tried to show interesting companies, M. Jacob and passion art,” said Wayne State painting and & Sons, now MJS Packaging. Jacob for art are drawing Professor Jeffrey Abt. “She worked at the Livonia, Michigan- distinguishable from all others,” was interested in nurturing new talent based company from 1953 until said former CFPCA Board of Visitors – some of which was local. I think she member and Michigan Legacy Art felt that Detroit artists had something Park founding board member, Marilyn to say.” Wheaton. “Creative experience Hilberry earned an undergraduate was David’s mantra.” Barr taught at degree in art history at Wayne State Macomb Community College for 40 and a master’s in architectural history years, until his retirement in 2002.

Painter Gilda Snowden, BFA ’77, MFA “found objects scavenger,” Showden ’79, was born in Detroit in 1954 and fused into her paintings a wide array graduated from Cass Technical High of actual objects picked up around School. She taught painting for more the city. “This is an outgrowth of my than 30 years at Detroit’s College for early experiences as a young artist in Creative Studies, where she mentored school, observations and immersion thousands of young artists. A central in the Cass Corridor community and figure in Detroit’s arts scene, and a a constant study of art history,” she 2009 Kresge Artist Fellow, Snowden once wrote. “To be radical is required was known for creating art-making for forward progression.” Pictured at and exhibition opportunities for artists right is her Untitled (Tornado Series), throughout the city. 1998, pastel on paper, 29.5 x 41.5 in., Her own paintings were heavily given to the University Art Collection influenced by Detroit’s Cass Corridor by Compuware in 2015. arts movement. A self-described her retirement in 1983. She was Dr. Linda Moore served on a number of college and responsible for MJS Packaging’s entry served as dean of university committees. into plastic packaging and headed its Wayne State’s College In 2001 Professor Rosenthal plastics division. “Her contributions to of Fine, Performing received the WSU President’s Award our company, our industry and the and Communication for Excellence in Teaching, and in community were enormous,” said MJS Arts 1998–2003. 2013 he received WSU’s prestigious Packaging President David Lubin. She was an active Murray E. Jackson Scholar in the Arts Jacob’s 1942 bachelor of fine arts researcher whose Award. A retrospective highlighting degree was in industrial design. areas of interest included curriculum his extensive body of work, coinciding She was a strong supporter of the development, conflict resolution and with that award, culminated into a solo University Art Collection and the speech education. She advanced exhibition, Memories: Stanley Louis James Pearson Duffy Department the high quality of WSU’s arts and Rosenthal, held at the Art Department of Art and Art History. The original communication programs and Gallery in 2014. home of her grandfather – company sharpened CFPCA’s focus on its faculty. “Stanley was a wonderful colleague co-founder, Max Jacob – stands on “Linda Moore was a gifted and a great friend of mine for campus as the president’s residence. administrator who truly understood twenty years,” said Professor Emerita The Elaine L. Jacob Gallery in Old Main and could successfully manage the Marion Jackson, former chair of the was made possible by a generous gift complexities of higher education,” said Department of Art and Art History. “He of hers and is a living monument to CFPCA Dean Matthew Seeger. “More was larger-than-life, with a talent for her love of art. “Elaine L. Jacob will than that, she was a warm and genuine seeing the complexity in people and to always be one of the most important person who helped form the identity of respond to their complicated humanity figures in the history of fine and our college.” with appreciation and humor.” Pictured performing arts at Wayne State,” said Dean Moore earned her below is his Memory Series #9, Self Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson. undergraduate and master’s degrees Portrait / Birding which was on view in in communication at Bradley University his retrospective exhibition. and her doctorate Dr. Jack Kay, BA ‘74, at Kent State PhD ’79, was a much University. loved and respected In 2003, she member of Wayne accepted the State University’s position of vice administration president for and faculty. His academic affairs administrative at Emerson appointments at Wayne State College in included chair of the Department Boston, a post of Communication; two terms as she held until interim dean of the College of Fine, her retirement in Performing and Communication Arts; 2013. interim dean of the former College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs; associate provost for assessment, Stanley retention and global education; and Rosenthal earned associate provost for student services. his MFA at Wayne “This is a significant loss to our State and began community,” said Wayne State Provost teaching at Margaret Winters. “Jack was the WSU in 1969, quintessential Wayne State teacher- progressing scholar. He came from a modest through the background and worked tirelessly to academic ranks overcome barriers, prejudices and to become a full injustice so that others might benefit professor in 2006. from higher education.” He was employed Kay was recognized widely for his by WSU for 46 research into hate speech. He was past years and served president of the Michigan Association as a graduate of Speech Communication and officer for the the Central States Communication Department Association. While attending WSU of Art and Art he was a member of the nationally History, member recognized debate team, which he of the Graduate coached as a graduate student. Council, and