UW-W Art Department receives $25,000 NEA Grant
Congratulations to Art Department Faculty Sue Messer and Teresa Faris!
An exhibition celebrating the innovative works and groundbreaking accomplishments of women metalsmiths will open at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater this fall thanks in part to a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
The “Women of Metal” exhibition will represent and celebrate the work of the female artists…Special attention will be given to the roles of education and mentorship in the professional development of the artists.
The NEA grant was awarded in the category of “Access to Artistic Excellence” in the field/discipline of visual arts.
“Women of Metal” will include the presentation of artwork by first- and second-generation women metalsmiths with a professional and educational relationship to Wisconsin. The exhibit will open Sept. 9 and run through Oct. 18. The organizers have a created a weeklong public forum to celebrate the opening of the exhibit consisting of an illustrated lecture, a visiting artist panel presentation and a two-day studio workshop.
One of our grads and his orchestra
Watch this great video of a high school orchestra that alumnus Ryan Ellefsen directs! Ryan received a Music Ed - Instrumental degree from UW-W in 2000 and is the Director of Bands and Orchestras at Chapel Hill High School. The soloist is one of his high school students. Pretty amazing - Bravo Ryan!
Faculty Awards
Fellow College Advisory Board member Bill Lowell ‘82, ‘83, was honored with the University’s 2008 Academic Staff Excellence Award for Instructional Staff.
Incoming Art Department Chair Chris Henige received the “Everett Long Award for the Advancement of General Education”, another University-wide award that recognizes excellence in the classroom and a commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience for Whitewater students.
Classical Music and Charisma
I get a weekly blog from Andrew Taylor, called “The Artful Manager”. This week he has a video of a gentleman by the name of Benjamin Zander, discussing classical music.
It is a great video! I wish I could have all my students watch this as we talk about engaging an audience for the arts - in fact, I probably will. Take a look if you have time, and even if classical music isn’t interesting to you yet - all it takes is 20 minutes.
Posted: Friday, June 27, 2008 from “The Artful Manager”
NOT ALOOF AND DETACHED, BUT DEEPLY, DEEPLY HUMAN…
This one time, at band camp (okay, orchestra camp), I got to watch a slightly crazy and wildly gesticulating individual convince a roomful of young musicians that their power and calling was more than just learning to play well. That slightly crazy man is still at it, and still showing us all how to connect exceptional art to everyday life.
Link: http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/084823.php
Megan’s Note: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html takes you directly to the video; this link is available on Andrew’s blog as well.
Warhawk Sports
UW-W Baseball earns trip to College World Series - a fourth trip!
UW-W Softball team finishes the season 39-11, the second highest victory total in school history. The finish equals the school’s best finish in the NCAA III tournament, also accomplished in 1986.
A bit of what we’ve been doing this semester
Our UWW Dance students did well again this year at the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) conference, with two pieces being chosen for the Gala Concert!
The Art Department had an “iron pour” that they opened to the community in late winter. Student Megan LaPointe (a Weiser Scholarship recipient) coordinated the event, which was a great way for the community to connect with our College. My kids had two pieces poured, which was a unique arts experience that they won’t soon forget. I love it when our students have a great idea and make it happen!
Four music students produced a new jazz CD, “Sax Sounds” that explores contemporary jazz artists like Dana Wilson, Steven Galante and Jacob Veldhuis. Producing the CD gives these students knowledge and practical techniques they don’t normally get in the classroom - another example of hands-on learning that we stress in our college.
Play Expo was organized this year by the Game and Interactive media design program. PlayExpo is a juried show of interactive and animated creative work held annually in the University Center at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. Entries are accepted from all Big 10 states and the states which border Wisconsin.
Communication Dept Faculty Ann Knabe
Communication Department faculty Ann Knabe and her family were recently featured on WUWM (a local NPR station) in a story about military families.
The story starts…”Lt. Col. Ann Knabe lives with her husband and two little girls in Waterford, a small town in southeast Wisconsin. She was deployed twice in 2006 and spent most of that year away from her family. Col. Knabe was based in Southwest Asia with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. The unit flew missions into Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa….” Click on the link above to hear the story.
More good news for Senior Janalyn Bump
Congratulations to Senior vocalist Janlyn Bump, who competed in the 2008 Wisconsin Public Radio/Neale-Silva Young Artists Competition in Madison! The Portage Daily Register has the whole story.
Wynett Barnett Theatre/Dance Scholarship
The Wynett Barnett Theatre/Dance Scholarships increased significantly this fall, due to a planned gift by alumnus J William Schmitz. We can now offer freshmen scholarships as well as increase the amount of money available to continuing Theatre/Dance students! This shows what a difference planned giving can make.
WSUW Station Updates
Our very own WSUW recently had some updates to the studio, with new carpeting and redesigned work spaces. The work was done by Brian Lucas, the Director of Radio, and students. Brian says the result is a more ergonomic studio design and a lot of happy disc jockeys. He sent along a before and after picture. Congratulations on a job well done!
Their Annual Fund Drive will take place from April 10th to the 17th this year.
