FALL 2019 College of Fine Arts FINE ARTS NEWS FINE ARTS Dean’s letter College of Fine Arts Richard C. Gipson Interim Dean [email protected] Joseph Butler Senior Associate Dean Opening in fall 2020, the new for Graduate Studies h,[email protected] TCU Music Center“ is certainly William Gibbons Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies destined to become an integral part [email protected] Elyse Menger Robinson From of Fort Worth’s cultural fabric. Director of Development [email protected] the Dean Heather Hughston Marketing & Communication Coordinator [email protected] Greetings from the TCU College College of Fine Arts so very special. integral part of Fort Worth’s cultural of Fine Arts! For those of you who From traveling to New York Fashion fabric. It will house the world-class Van Lewis Glaser may not know, a year ago I was asked Week to working on a Toyota ad Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU as well Chair, Department to serve in the role of interim dean of campaign to researching the history as provide invaluable new resources of Design [email protected] the College of Fine Arts. Prior to that, I of American Sign Language in theatre, to support our award-winning band, ” Janace Bubonia served as director of the TCU School the College of Fine Arts is filled with orchestra and percussion programs. Chair, Department of of Music for 16 years. The 2018- creative minds who continue to enrich Fashion Merchandising Clearly, there is no shortage of [email protected] 19 academic year in the College of our campus and beyond. activity and accomplishments in the Kristen Queen Fine Arts was filled with wonderful And just wait to see what’s TCU College of Fine Arts. I cordially Interim Director, successes, continued growth and the School of Music coming! In 2018, TCU broke ground invite you to visit finearts.tcu.edu/events [email protected] promise of even greater things on two buildings that will provide and join me in enjoying and celebrating Elizabeth Gillaspy to come. improved facilities for the College the incredible fine arts at TCU. Director, School for Classical & Contemporary Dance In my new role, nothing has made of Fine Arts, and as I write this, we’re [email protected] me prouder than seeing, hearing beginning to see these spaces Richard Lane and learning more about all the come to life. This fall, students in our Director, School of Art [email protected] remarkable talent, hard work and newly restructured Department of accomplishments of our students, Design and Department of Fashion Richard C. Gipson Harry Parker Chair, Department of Theatre faculty and staff across our six Merchandising began studying and Interim Dean [email protected] schools and departments. When you creating in the new state-of-the-art read the stories in this issue of our Fine Arts Building. Opening in fall ON THE COVER finearts.tcu.edu 817-257-2787 Italy’s Southern Tuscany region, widely annual newsletter, I hope you too will 2020, the new TCU Music Center [email protected] known for its massive wild poppy fields, be reminded of what makes TCU’s is certainly destined to become an was the scenic backdrop for the Studio Art MFA program’s inaugural artist-in-residency program abroad. Photo: Adam Fung. @TCUFineArts 2 3 Art finearts.tcu.edu spotlight Artists in Italy Studio Art MFA program travels to inaugural artist-in-residency program in Tuscany In Memoriam Scott Sullivan 1947-2019 It is with great sadness that we Family, friends and colleagues announce the passing of Scott in the College of Fine Arts gathered Sullivan, who served as dean on the TCU campus this spring to of the College of Fine Arts from celebrate Scott’s life and legacy. He 2000 to 2015. Scott passed away is survived by his wife of 49 years, unexpectedly on February 21, 2019. Joan, and his beloved dog, Bailey. v An art historian, he taught at the Scott will be missed by all. University of North Texas and served as dean of the College of Fine and Professional Arts at Kent State University before coming to TCU. Scott will be remembered for his big smile, sense of humor and sharp wit, but most of all for his impactful work in support of the college and FUNG ADAM PHOTO: all of its units. He cared deeply for Genius loci, meaning spirit of a place, is a theme students and faculty explored in Italy to find our students and colleagues and inspiration for their art. The lush summer landscape in Cerreto will be recreated in a painting by professor Adam Fung. was recognized as a pillar in the art community. Residency opportunities are an important aspect of any artist’s professional development to inspire creativity. In summer 2019, students in the Studio Art MFA program and their professors enjoyed a special opportunity to participate in an inaugural artist-in-residency His wisdom and his humor have left an program abroad. everlasting imprint on our hearts. Thanks to a generous TCU donor, graduate students Dario Bucheli, “ ” Sierra Forester and Hector Ramirez, along with professors Adam Fung We will not forget him. and Cameron Schoepp, traveled to Italy’s Southern Tuscany region and stayed on a property in the Val d’Orcia, about 100 miles north of Rome. -Interim Dean Gipson The residency took place just before the students started their third and final year in the graduate program. 4 5 finearts.tcu.edu Art spotlight to use for future paintings, the residency was equally motivating to This residency time “This residency time was purposefully unstructured, which is the reality for students him as a professor. post academic study,” says Fung. “It was an ideal time to have students reflect on their ” “Seeing so many frescos (murals) and paintings in person that I was purposefully first two years in the MFA program and think ahead to their thesis exhibition.” had only seen before in art history books, gave me new insight into v The MFA program places emphasis on critical thinking about the creative process unstructured, their making, which will impact my teaching in the near future.” and the student’s role as an artist. For the three-week residency, each artist worked largely independently, creating new pieces and conducting independent research. which is the reality “Although I was drawing, painting and taking photographs, my time in the residency was also very introspective,” says Bucheli. “I thought about my work as a whole and did for students post a lot of research and writing. By the end, it was much easier for creative ideas to flow.” academic study. Italy, with its rich history and notable art, was the perfect setting for the students and professors to draw inspiration for their work. Genius loci, meaning spirit of a place, was a theme for the residency that Fung hoped would resonate with students. “ FUNG ADAM PHOTO: “Genius loci is hard to capture or consider in our daily lives that are filled with distractions,” says Fung. “In Italy, we had the opportunity to walk through the countryside of Tuscany, touch the stone and brick of nearby towns and see paintings made there. It all made us feel so much more connected to the region.” The group also traveled to Rome and Venice, visited art and Etruscan archaeological museums, and explored churches filled with historic art. Ramirez found that experiencing Italian culture during the unstructured residency time impacted his approach to art. “I went dumpster diving for ‘found’ objects to use as material. I researched old Italian films. We ate great food and wine,” says Ramirez. “What inspired me was the culture and history. It has given me a new perspective about art making.” Similarly, Bucheli says his time in Italy helped him develop ideas to begin BUCHELI DARIO PHOTOS: working on his thesis this fall. PHOTO: ADAM FUNG ADAM PHOTO: According to Fung, who captured Bucheli found inspiration for sketchbook Fung will use his landscape and aerial photography as painting by visiting the cities of Florence, inspiration for future paintings. Photo: Adam Fung. From left: Adam Fung, Cameron Schoepp, Dario Bucheli, Hector Ramirez and Sierra Forester. landscape and aerial photography in Italy Rome and Venice. 6 7 Theatre spotlight finearts.tcu.edu shadow interpreters and “King Mateer. “There are people who Mateer is the sixth College of Fine Arts Lear” on Broadway in which the have started paving the path, student to win the Boller Award. Previous I love Duke of Cornwall is played by but we still have a long way to go v winners include: ” Russell Harvard, a deaf actor. before I’ll be content.” learning, so “The theater is starting to I knew this become more inclusive,” says Emma Holland ’18 project was Department of Design something A Show of Hands Robyn Coad ’12 School of Music I wanted to Theatre student wins Honors College award with American Sign Language thesis project Adin Heller ’06 pursue. Department of Fashion Merchandising Mark Feezell ’97 School of Music —Maddie“ Mateer ’19 Chere Smith ’83 Maddie Mateer is a recent alumna who signed, while the others served who graduated summa cum laude as voice interpreters on the side – a School of Music with a BFA and departmental honors reversal of how many shows are in musical theatre. In April, she won performed for a deaf audience. AMY PETERSON PHOTO: the John V. Roach Honors College The research process and Playing Tzeitel in “Fiddler on the Roof” was one of Mateer’s many on stage roles at TCU.