Columbia College Chicago Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago Alumni Newsletters Alumni Winter 1988 Columbia College Alumni Association Columbia College Chicago Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/alumnae_news This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Columbia College Alumni Association (Winter 1988), Alumni Magazine, College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago. http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/alumnae_news/35 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Alumni at Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. It has been accepted for inclusion in Alumni Newsletters by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. 600 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60605-1996 Hokin is Hoppin' The aroma of cinnamon walnut cookies and freshly brewed espresso rips the unsuspecting right out of the elevator, but it's the live music, film, spectacular student artwork and photography-or friends in­ side-that keeps students coming back to the new Myron Hokin Student Center. ((The center is new for Columbia and provides students with the opportunity to experience the diverse energies here. n Located on the first floor of Columbia's Wabash Avenue campus, the new center was underwritten by Columbia Board Trustee Myron Hokin. Since it opened this fall, the center has been buzzing with activity, Lively and inviting, the new Myron Hokin Student Center is a very popular spot. and a quick peek inside at any time during the day shows clearly how welcome it is! "When I was in grad school here, there was no place to get together," says readings; an Australian musical group; student musical groups; and a saree­ center director and 1986 Interdisciplinary Arts Education grad Bobbie Stuart. wrapping demonstration by science faculty member, Rajashree Sen. "The center is new for Columbia and provides students with the opportunity to "We help students present their work and ideas," Stuart points out. "The center experience the diverse energies here." has also had a unifying effect. It's developing an artistic and academic identity Equipped with the latest sound, radio, video and film equipment, as well as unique to Columbia." gallery space for art exhibits and performance areas, there is ongoing programming Future center programs include a fashion show with an art-and-industry focus by and for students. This fall's offerings included a "Cat & Rat" exhibit by award­ featuring student and Chicago designers and a three-day multi arts showcase, winning student animator Jim Richardson; weekly showings of the TV department's "Breaking Ground/New Beginnings". February will be Black Heritage Month at soap opera and news program, "Behind the Screen" and "600 South," respectively; Hokin, and the center will feature work ofcontemporary blacks making history. • oldie-but-goody film showcases; Comedy Cabaret; Indian music and dance; poetry Chicago Artists Abroad by ]aki Grant A showing m Sierra Leone... "I realized that it was a great idea," Alexandroff "Unless you're the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, you A reading in Russia ... explained, "but the city had no money to support any don't have a chance of getting their attention," Alexan­ A performance in Panama... artist going abroad. It's fairly easy to come into the droff commented. United States. Our government has a rather generous It soon became evident to Alexandroff that she For Chicago-based artists, these scenarios may not support program through the United States Informa­ could serve the city best by changing hats. Following be as far-fetched as they sound, thanks to a new Col­ tion Agency (USIA) and the National Endowment for her resignation from the Department of Chicago Cul­ umbia College-sponsored organization called Chicago the Arts (NEA). In addition, most foreign governments tural Affairs, Alexandroff submitted a brief proposal Artists Abroad (CAA). support their artists while they are in the United to the Paul and Gabriella Rosenbaum Foundation in CAA is a new organization dedicated to assisting States," she added. which she outlined her desire to launch an organiza­ Chicago-area artists to exhibit or perform in foreign Currently, however, due to federal cutbacks, local tion designed exclusively to support Chicago perform­ countries. CAA is the brain child of Executive Director governments provide only the most limited kinds of ing and exhibiting artists who want to take their work Jane Alexandroff. In her former capacity as Coor­ grant assistance to American artists going abroad. to foreign countries. dinator of International Affairs for the Department of Funding histories suggest that the USIA and NEA tend The Rosenbaum Foundation greeted the proposal Chicago Cultural Affairs, Alexandroff recognized the to support and send abroad the most recognizable of enthusiastically and agreed to fund a four-month need for such an organization when she was asked to the arts organizations. Furthermore, since the major exploratory program in which CAA was expected to develop a program of international cultural exchange, fundii\g organizations are centered in the east, these demonstrate a need for its unique service. The but was soon frustrated by the lack of financial re­ groups tend to know less about art movements in the exploratory program, which came in under budget, sources available to local artists who wished to show rest of the country. Consequently, the funding patterns made a splendid case for further funding of CAA. their work overseas. from these organizations tend to be rather parochial. (continued on page 2) MGE2 ......................................................................... Chicago Artists Abroad from page 1 Director of Career Services Once given the go-ahead by the Rosenbaum Foun­ dation, CAA wasted no time in helping Chicago artists travel and perform abroad. The first two recipients of Declares 1988 "The Year of the Alum" grants were Free Street Theater's production of "Pro­ ject" and Stormfield's production of "Hauptman". By jacqueline Guilfoyle Recent grant recipients range from dancers, animators, and theater critics to musicians, photo­ If your goal is to advance or change careers, then graphers, and painters, and their destinations cover the journey through the sixth-floor corridors of Co­ the continents. The David Puszh Dance Company lumbia's main campus building is well worth the ef­ travelled to the VI International Ballet Festival in fort. At the end of the maze is the Office of Career Trujillo, Peru, and musician Terrence Kamins headed Services headed by enthusiastic Director, Catherine for Wrcolaw, Poland, to sit on the jury for Jazz Film McGovern. Saloon, an international jazz festival. Playwright War­ Dr. McGovern took over from Columbia predeces­ ren Leming travelled to Berlin to deliver a series of sor, Dr. Harvey !deus in July 1987. She received both workshops on theater praxis and to produce a German her doctorate and master's degrees in theater and version of his play, "The Eight Hours"; and Columbia communication from the University of South Dakota. dance troupe Mordine & Company will appear at Previously she taught communications at Valparaiso World Expo '88 in Brisbane, Australia. University (Valparaiso, Indiana) and comes to Colum­ One recent CAA grant recipient was '86 Columbia bia from St. Thomas University (Miami, Florida) where film grad Jim Richardson. Thanks to CAA funding, she was Chairperson for Communication Arts. Richardson was on hand at the 3rd Annual Festival McGovern's broad experience in both the administra­ Du Film d'Animation in Geneva, Switzerland, when tive and academic areas, her infectious enthusiasm, they announced his name among top festival winners. and her exciting plans to revamp the placement de­ Richardson's animated film, "Cat & Rat," took second partment mean good news for Columbia alums. place and was the only American film out of72 entries "In the coming year, I'd like to devote a great deal to be recognized by the Geneva festival. Swiss televi­ of time to alumni looking for a career change," says sion has subsequently purchased the right to telecast McGovern. Statistics show that she's right on track, the film. In his thank you letter to CAA, Richardson since in today's society the average person changes wrote, "If I had not gone, I really would have missed careers once every three years. out on the excitement and never would have heard Currently McGovern is busy fitting the office with the reaction to my film-which is very important for the people and equipment necessary to achieve her any artist that works a year or more on a project. It goals. She recently hired a new Coordinator of Film, keeps you sane to know all your energy and work has Photography and Art, which brings her staff team to paid off. I thank you and the Chicago Artists Abroad... ". All grant applicants are judged for quality and suita­ a total of six. The newest piece of equipment is a K£/.te McGovern Photo by Irvin Blackburn video camera for taping and reviewing mock inter­ bility for foreign display by the CAA peer review panel. views. The panel consists of eighteen well-known Chicago­ A soon-to-be purchased computer system will open area artists including Jackie Taylor, Milos Stehlik, and up tremendous learning opportunities for students Richard Hunt. and alumni. "A ,special software package called SIGI The Career Services Office provides free assis­ Applicants must be Chicago-area residents and have Plus will offer personal skills assessment, provide help tance to all students and alumni. If you'd like an invitation from a foreign gallery, festival, theater with resume writing, and give information on market help, wish to share a job lead, or are interested group, etc. "We're just entering a new granting trends and salary ranges," McGovern points out. The in the future mentoring program, contact the period," said Alexandroff. "We invite all eligible artists computer will also enable the office to produce its office at (312) 663-1600, ext.