® PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–LINCOLN HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS www.unl.edu/finearts SUMMER 2007 Fine & Performing Arts F&PANewsletter New class gives students public art experience A new class entitled “Art in together and is universally the Community,” taught by understood.” Associate Professor of Art The second public art Sandra Williams, is giving art project was a 6’ x 15’ mural at students real-world experience Humann Elementary School in community art projects and in Lincoln, where students grant writing. worked with 1st through 5th The class completed public graders in Kathy Stewart’s art projects in Lincoln’s Park art classes. Here, the students and Humann Middle Schools created a flat mosaic of a this spring and worked with Nebraska landscape that will nearly 1,000 school children at be displayed in the school’s the two schools. Thirteen UNL cafeteria. students signed up for the The Humann students course this semester. Williams also drew four pictures of said about half were studio art Nebraska featuring a Sandhill majors from the Department Crane, Chimney Rock, the top of Art and Art History, and the of the State Capitol Building other half were art education with the Sower sculpture, majors in the College of and a farm scene. These four Education and Human drawings formed the basis Sciences. of four additional murals “The whole concept of created by the students, service-learning has been which will also be displayed very valuable in my own in the hallways at Humann. experience,” Williams said. Park Middle School students work with UNL students on their mural. UNL students Sandberg, “Students want hands-on Bachelor of Fine Arts sophomore Meredith Wasson and Bachelor of Fine learning that is useful to them.” Sandberg said the students were excited to see Arts senior David Gries came up with this idea. The class began by studying books on art the process of the mural unfold. Working on a project like this helps the activism. They also learned about grant writing “I don’t think they understood at first how elementary and middle school students develop and preparing a budget. much involvement they would have,” she said. new skills. Their first public art project was at Park “They look up to us, and they were excited “At that age, it helps the kids develop a more Middle School, where they helped students in to see it all put together. When they get older, creative side,” Sandberg said. “It helps them Nissa Sturgeon’s art classes complete a mural for they’ll realize what they were a part of and will develop more of a personality.” their school. The 5’ x 15’ mural consists of four understand the process.” It also encourages those students who have trees, each representing a season. The students at Eric Little, a junior in art education in the artistic talent. Park, in grades 6-8, traced their hands in clay and College of Education and Human Sciences, said “The children see that if you have artistic added texture. The hands overlap to create the he enjoyed helping the students discover new talent, then you can do something positive with leaves on the tree. things. it,” Wasson said. “Art is often a singular thing, “I love being able to expose my students “Being a future educator, I really enjoy but it’s good to work together to problem solve to different types of art, artists and processes,” working with the students and helping them and boost community morale.” Sturgeon said. “The UNL students were able discover new things. I loved how the kids were Another component to the class was that to work one-on-one with our students. Usually a little confused at first as to why they were each UNL student had to write a grant proposal there is only one teacher, so here there were making clay hands,” he said. “Some thought that for their own community art project. many more people for students to get help, their hands weren’t very attractive compared to Wasson’s idea for her project is to pair up a opinions, share ideas. The students loved it, and others. Now, when things came together, they see class of students with senior citizens in Norfolk, their hand is permanently installed on Park’s how beautiful their hand looks with everyone Neb., to knit or crochet stocking caps for people wall.” else’s.” going through chemotherapy at the Carson The UNL students enjoyed working with the Sturgeon said the mural has received a Cancer Center in Norfolk. Park students, which is a multicultural school. positive response from others at the school and She said the challenge is finding the right “It was wonderful to see the different the community. grant to apply for. cultures—Hispanic, Caucasian, African- “It has been amazing how many people have “Sometimes you have ideas in your head, but American,” said Bachelor of Fine Arts senior responded to it,” she said. “This has been a way you don’t think you can do it,” she said. “But it’s Ashley Wasson. “It was neat to hear them talk for our students to invest in our community, in their native tongue, and they included part of and it gives them a wider audience. They leave their culture on their hands.” their mark on our school. Art brings us all (Continued on page 5) F&PA NEWSLETTERSUMMER 2007 From the Dean’s Desk Dear Friends, in the College of Journalism and Mass ® Greetings to all! Another summer is again upon Communications. us, bringing with it the usual wonderful and exciting Finally, this Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts array of arts events that delight audiences on our was a banner year Alumni Newsletter • Summer 2007 http://www.unl.edu/finearts campus each summer. Beginning on June 5 with the with respect to our 102 Woods Art Building Jazz in June series, sponsored by the Sheldon Memorial ongoing commitment Lincoln, NE 68588-0144 Art Gallery, this year’s activities also included the to Arts outreach (402) 472-9339 annual Movies on the Green series offered by the Mary and engagement. Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, the Cornhusker Working with our Dean Giacomo M. Oliva Summer Music Games, sponsored by the School of collaborative partners Music and Drum Corps International, and the fourth in the Cooperative Editor annual Chamber Music Institute, sponsored by the Extension Division Kathe C. Andersen School of Music and featuring our own Chiara String of the College Quartet, along with young and talented chamber of Agricultural College Administration Robert A. Fought, Associate Dean music performers and composers from all across Sciences and Edward Forde, Chairman, the country. In addition, we again hosted almost Natural Resources, our focus over the past 10 months Department of Art and Art History 4,000 students from all over the world at the end of has been on increasing the number and variety of John W. Richmond, Director, School of Music June as part of the International Thespian Festival, activities and events in rural Nebraska. Highlights Paul Steger, Director, Johnny Carson School th and throughout the summer we marked the 40 included the organization of Fine and Performing of Theatre and Film Anniversary of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre Arts summer camps for 4-H students in Burwell, F&PA Alumni Board with a stellar season that included Ron Hutchinson’s Holdrege, Hastings, Hemingford, McCook, Nebraska Moonlight and Magnolias, Jason Robert Brown’s The Last City, Hebron, and Fremont, and a weeklong tour Susan Brasch John Heineman Lucy Buntain Comine, Jessica Lindsey Five Years, and Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses. by the Chiara String Quartet that took the Quartet, Univ. of Nebr. Foundation Richard Moses In the middle of all of this, the finishing touches the Chancellor, a student video crew, and several Adrienne Dickson Lance Nielsen are being made to on the year-long expansion of the other University administrators to Minden, Curtis, IV Dickson Lenette Schwinn Temple Building that was made possible through the Scottsbluff, and the 4-H camp in the Nebraska Leta Powell Drake Carol Thompson generous gift from Johnny Carson. This project has National Forest in Halsey. Steve Gaines Valery Wachter been an exciting journey for all of us, and the results To be sure, this is a wonderful time for our Hixson-Lied Advisory Board have been nothing less than spectacular! Plans are College! Our faculty, students and alumni are John C. Angle Giacomo M. Oliva currently underway for the weekend-long celebration accomplishing noteworthy and exciting things, Terry L. Fairfield Chancellor Harvey S. Perlman and dedication activities that will take place this fall on while at the same time, external financial and in-kind Christina M. Hixson James W. Strand Homecoming Weekend. The dedication will include a support for the College and its programs continues Heather Jones Sandy Veneziano variety of events, beginning with a formal ceremony to increase significantly each year. Thanks to you all Susan Varner Wilkins on Friday, Oct. 12, and culminating on Sunday, Oct. for your ongoing support for our efforts to move the 14 with a special alumni and friends program entitled College forward. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln does not discriminate based on gender, Temple and Beyond, that we hope you will be able to age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or attend. The celebration will also feature the unveiling With warmest regards, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. of a video documentary on Johnny Carson that is being created as a collaborative venture by four students, two from the College’s Film and New Media Giacomo M.