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2012Magazine.Pdf ‘Digs’ A taste of HollywoodA taste of in Lincoln as Carson School films University Nebraska–Lincoln of Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts arts MAGAZINE | 2012 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–LINCOLN | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS Dean’s Letter “As you set out for Ithaka, hope the voyage is a long one.” So begins Ithaka, the poem by C.P. Cavafy. With its allusion to Odysseus’s return home from the Trojan wars, it speaks to us about the nature and meaning of journeys. I am reminded of Ithaka as I write this to you, for I have had a remarkable journey as well, one that has brought me back to Lincoln. I began at UNL nearly 20 years ago teaching in the theatre department, now the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. I ventured Charles O’Connor elsewhere for nine years in pursuit of other things. Now I am honored to be the new Dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. Like many of you, our alumni and friends, I have thought about this place often as the years passed, and I have kept in contact with the college by reading this magazine and the college’s newsletters. A lot has changed in nearly a decade. Due to the vision and leadership of Dean Jack Oliva and our excellent faculty, our college is poised upon an exciting era in education. We owe a lot to Jack for all he has done, and we wish him well in his new position as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. You will read more about the direction of our college as well as its many achievements in this issue of Arts magazine. I have come back to Lincoln because, first and foremost, I love this university, our state and this region. Furthermore, I believe that the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has the single best opportunity in the country right now to build a college of national distinction in the arts. Those are big words and big dreams, I know, but really we have no choice. Like Odysseus we have to keep voyaging forward or find us ourselves grounded on the rocky shores and far away from the currents of innovation moving through higher education right now. We must aspire to expand upon the kinds of academic subjects that students are needing, programs like communication design, interactive media, music technology, animation and film, while constructing them solidly upon the enduring foundations of art, art history, music and theatre. Just as important are the challenges of keeping a Nebraska college education affordable, getting more of our students across the graduation line, integrating technology and online education into our courses and advancing the reputation of our college nationwide. None of this comes easily of course. Nor is it inexpensive. We will need you, our alumni and supporters, to help us. I encourage all of you to remember that your financial donations can and do make an impact on our college. Please contribute, even a little bit, in support of the college this year. Information on how to do so is included herein. I would like to end by thanking you and inviting you to be a part of what is happening here. A great way to stay in touch is to follow us on Twitter and Facebook (see information below). There you will learn about of the ideas, performances and art that make the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts great. I wish you all kinds of success in your own journeys, and I hope they return you to us soon, if only in spirit. You will find, as I have, that a lot has changed. Charles O’Connor Hixson-Lied Endowed Dean www.twitter.com/UNLArts www.facebook.com/HLCFPA www.twitter.com/charlesoconnor arts MAGAZINE | 2012 University of Nebraska–Lincoln 1 f or alumni and friends of tHe Hixson-lied college of fine and Performing arts, university of nebraska–lincoln Hixson-lied endowed dean Charles O’Connor a ssociate dean Christin Mamiya a ssistant dean of business & fiscal affairs COVER STORY Dori Smidt A taste of Hollywood in Lincoln as Carson School films ‘Digs’ 32 e ditor The first two weeks after finals ended, costume designers, big cameras, lights and Kathe C. Andersen famous Hollywood visitors could be found throughout the University of Nebraska– Lincoln’s city campus. The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film was back in c ontributing writers action, creating its second short film, “Digs.” Kathe C. Andersen, Leta Powell Drake, Chloe Gibson, The Carson School Film Series is a unique project that involves a select number of Julia Peterson, Kayla Stauffer film industry professionals teaming with students and faculty from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film to create a 25-30 minute short film. The film is funded a rt director with support from the Hixson-Lied Endowment and the Johnny Carson Theatre and Elisabeth Loeck Film Endowment. c over Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film undergraduate Spencer Stokes FEATURES stars as “Tom,” a mild-mannered acting student who interns as a campus O’Connor Returns to UNL As Hixson-Lied Dean 2 cop to get the girl and the role in the Carson Film “Digs.” Art and Art History Hosts Visiting Fulbright Scholar Rokeya Sultana 4 c over design Buffum Earns Highest Honor From American College Theatre Festival 6 Jon Humiston, University Communications. Family Donates Collection of Ravnan Piano Recordings 9 Bartels Helped Bring Digital Revolution to Graphic Design Program 12 P HotograPHy Uecker Shares His ‘Tonight Show’ Memories at Carson Lecture 16 All photographs by Kathe C. Andersen except as noted Johnny Carson Foundation Donates $1 Million for Scholarships 18 20 Sp ecial Thanks Music Professors Gain Perspective on Jazz in China UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications and Professor Sculpture Alum Selected for International Symposium on Electronic Art 22 Charlyne Berens for her guidance and collaboration on this project. Bystrom Receives Prestigious Academy Summer Internship 24 Souto Wins Honorable Mention in International Mezzotint Exhibition 26 Hixson-Lied Endowment for assistance with the funding. First Nebraska National Collegiate Juried Art Exhibition opens Sept. 7 29 Photography Program Goes Digital 36 How to reacH us Hitting the Right Notes: Jazz Program Continues to Flourish 38 Letters to the editor, alumni news, story ideas or address changes Nierman President-Elect of National Music Education Association 40 may be sent in any of the following ways. Hixson-Lied Grants Enable Students to Experience the Arts Globally 42 Via mail: Fine and Performing arts MAGAZINE, attn: Kathe Andersen, Woody Blogs for Psychology Today 44 102 Woods Art Building, Lincoln, NE 68588-0144 Hooked on Bowling 64 Via e-mail: [email protected]; or Via fax: (402) 472-9353. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style or clarity. DEVELOPment Love of the Arts Inspires Giving 46 http://www.unl.edu/finearts Suing wins Arts/Athletics Weekend Sweepstakes 47 http://www.facebook.com/HLCFPA College Announces Seacrest Gift 48 http://www.twitter.com/UNLArts Capital Campaign: Unlimited Possibilities 50 Thank You To Our Donors 52 It is the policy of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln not to Donors to @rts Patrons, Carson & Encore Circles 56 discriminate based upon age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender, sex, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran’s status, marital status, religion or political affiliation. DE Partments © 2012, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. In Memoriam 8 All rights reserved. 120904 Honors Day Highlights and Award Nominations 14 Faculty Notes 58 Alumni Notes 62 Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts arts MAGAZINE | 2012 2 Charles O’Connor O’Connor returns to UNL as Hixson-Lied Dean But come spring, he was still “Lincoln is a great place to live teaching at UNL. And the spring and go to school,” O’Connor said. after that. And the spring after that. “We have a wonderful way of life, Now, after spending a few springs lots of arts and bike trails and a nice elsewhere, O’Connor is returning to downtown. My job over the next Lincoln to become dean of the few years is to let the world know Hixson-Lied College of Fine and that. We are going to build a college Performing Arts. of national distinction here, and we During his first stint in Lincoln, are going to attract the brightest O’Connor stayed for 10 years and says people to move here – from all he fell in love with the campus, the around and from all professions.” state and eventually even the snow. O’Connor also claimed that Living there gave him an after working as a professor at “insatiable appetite for wide-open Nebraska, he has a unique spaces and big skies,” he said. perspective on the college. But after 10 years of “The Good “I know a lot of people, and I Life,” O’Connor left UNL to take a know how good they are,” he said. position as chair and executive “I’ve had both the distance of time director of the Department of and space to realize that. And as Theatre and the Nevada dean, I want to get the word out and harles O’Connor still Conservatory Theatre at the let the world know that a little bit.” remembers his first day in University of Nevada Las Vegas, and And although he foresees CNebraska. in 2008 he became dean of the changes to the college, O’Connor It was Feb.
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