CoFACONNECTIONS

College of Fine Arts Office of the DeanDavis Hall, Station 6663

Montevallo, AL 35115 205.665.6663

Newsletter l Edition #3 l December 2015

The College of Fine Arts (CoFA) was recently honored to host Kirk Saduski, an Emmy nominated executive producer of documentary films and TV mini-series at Playtone Pictures, Inc. in Los Angeles, for a Marquee presentation. The timing of Mr. Saduski’s CoFA presentation coincided with UM’s dedication on Veteran’s Day of a beautiful outdoor classroom in memory of Dr. Eugene Sledge, Professor Emeritus of Biology. Saduski had consulted with Dr. Sledge during Saduski’s production of The Pacific, a mini-series on HBO some years ago that is based on Dr. Sledge’s 1981 memoir, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa.

Saduski reminisced about Dr. Sledge and gave insights into his own professional work, including The Sixties, The Seventies, The Pacific, John Adams, and another mini-series, The Eighties, which is currently in production for CNN. His generosity in sharing ideas, responding to students’ questions and offering career advice made it apparent that he was having the time of his life coming to know our wonderful students. His joy reminded us of a secret we all share as faculty and staff - that giving is truly receiving.

As CoFA prepares to pause for the holidays, we are mindful that we give our students more than a working knowledge of their chosen major. What we give them is also who we are as people, too. In that unwavering spirit of goodwill, we wish you,

Warm holiday wishes,

From the Dean’s Desk

Steve Peters,Dean, College of Fine Arts

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

ArtKAREN GRAFFEO

Graffeo’s photography has been selected for the Art of the State 2016 exhibition at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art. The Art of the State exhibition is a juried exhibition of works by studio art faculty at Alabama’s colleges and universities. The exhibition fosters public awareness and appreciation for contemporary visual art and provides a setting to display the experimental, innovative and creative work of studio art faculty. The exhibition will be open to the public from January 17-March 4 at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Graffeo will travel to Cuba to install a solo exhibition, “Hacia Adelante” that opens on January 2, 2016 at the Julio Larramendi Gallery of Photography in the Old Town district of Havana. The installation includes 40 lenticular (3-D) photographs accompanied by a site-specific text installation as well as 20 large-scale mixed media photo/drawings.

RYAN FOSTERrecently completed his third mural for the Fall 2015 semester, a 9-foot mural that was painted inside the “cupping” room of Seeds Coffee in Homewood. BFA students Emalee Butler, Ben Kaiser, and Krisalyn Hammond helped execute the mural. Ashley Santa Cruz (Art 2007) also helped paint. Photo credit goes to Mary Catherine Fehr, a current photography concentration student in the department.

Department of

ArtFACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MICHAEL WILLETTpresented at the UM’s 2015 Teaching and Learning Forum in October. His presentation, “Traditional Art Instruction in a Digital Age,” focused on the content and structure of his Drawing for Non-Majors online course that was piloted during the summer of 2015.

Foster will be having his second solo exhibition at The Richard Heller Gallery beginning January 9th 2016. The Richard Heller Gallery is located in Los Angeles, CA and will be displaying the last three years of Ryan’s oil paintings. The exhibition will run through mid February.

METZ RETIREMENT ANNOUNCED Professor Ted Metz has announced his retirement after 42 years of teaching art at the University of Montevallo. Ted came to Montevallo in 1973 directly from his graduate program at the University of South Carolina, where he earned his MFA degree is in Sculpture and Ceramics. When he began at Montevallo, he was the sole faculty member responsible for instruction in the 3D arts. All art facilities were housed in Bloch Hall, where 4 full-time faculty taught fewer than 50 art majors. Today the Art Department has over 250 majors, 13 faculty, and facilities in 4 buildings on campus, including the newly opened 3D Art Building featuring state–of-the-art studios in sculpture, ceramics and design. Our growth and reputation for excellence during Ted’s tenure is due to his leadership as teacher, artist and citizen.Ted is a nationally recognized artist who has maintained a consistent studio practice throughout his career. He has twice been designated a Visual Arts Fellow of the State of Alabama and he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant for his studio work. His most lasting contribution to our arts community is his completion of five major public sculptures, including Becoming, a 16 ft. tall cast bronze sculpture commissioned for the centennial of the founding of the university. Located near the Bowers Colonnade in the center of campus, the work focuses on the theme of learning through the student/teacher relationship. Ted completed it on campus with the help of his students in foundry facilities he constructed.A dedicated and compassionate teacher, Ted has guided hundreds of students in their discovery of a personally meaningful art that is crafted to professional standards. He has received numerous recognitions for his teaching and was designated Alabama Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation in 1997. Throughout his career in Montevallo, Ted has also given generously to his community. He has participated in all levels of service on campus and been a leading citizen in town: from building Habitat houses, to working with students at Montevallo public schools, and being a founding board member of the Montevallo Sister City Commission, where his earlier work with artists from Echizen, Japan led to our sister city relationship. Ted’s life in art, teaching and community is a model career that sets a high standard for all who continue on a similar path. Thank you, Ted, for leading the way. --Scott Stephens, Professor and Chair, Department of Art Photo by: Ted Tucker

Paintings by Ryan Foster

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

CommunicationDR. BRUCE FINKLEA

was recently awarded an Illuminate Grant of $2,497 to promote information literacy across the Mass Communication curriculum. Dr. Finklea was able to purchase three Smart TVs with rolling stands, along with cables and adaptors that will allow MC students and faculty to better utilize mobile technology in the Mass Communication Building classrooms. This is the third grant awarded to Dr. Finklea in 2015, bringing his grant award total to $10,868 for the year.

Hardig. He provided an informative summary of the history behind UM, his own, and others’ successful advocacy and attempts to protect the swamp from a proposed rock quarry.

DR. JAY COFIELD & MR. BROOK PRUITTfacilitated a session at the Future Falcon Day on October 30 entitled “Lights, Cell Phone, Action!” They discussed mass communication careers and how cell phones can be used to make videos.

DR. SALLY HARDIGIn Dr. Hardig’s Environmental Communication class, environmental artist, photographer, and essayist Michelle Reynolds presented a guest lecture. She spoke about her work which combines her talents as an artist, writer, and naturalist into work that advocates for environmental education and sustainability. Students toured the Ebenezer swamp, led by Dr. Mike

DR. RAY OZLEYOn October 29, 2015, students enrolled in Dr. Ozley’s senior capstone COMS 499 hosted the 5th annual COMS Day in the Anna Irvin Dining Hall. The theme the students chose was “One Message, Many Voices.” Over the course of the event, a diverse group speakers addressed the audience both individually and as a panel, discussing several different aspects of communication and its importance in their lives, both professional and personal. Every single detail of this event was handled by the COMS 499 students, from booking the venue and the speakers down to the flower arrangements and the refreshments. They were even in charge of securing funds to handle any costs involved. The chairs of

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

DR. TIFFANY WANGDr. Wang and COMS majors Giselle Casadaban, Emme Long, Kyle McDonald, Tanya Hoang, Sabrina Zizo, Jessica Spradlin, and Rachel Anderson taught a 25 minute college class to 35 Montevallo Middle School 8th graders during the final session of Future Falcon Day on October 30, 2015. The college class focused on introducing 8th graders to public speaking and the Communication Studies discipline. In the first part of the class, Dr. Wang discussed Aristotle’s four modes of proof, public speaking tips, and essential elements of an effective speech. In the second part of the class, the 8th graders worked with a COMS major mentor to outline, develop, and present a tag team informative speech on a fall/Halloween topic. Topics included favorite fall food or drink, fall family traditions, Halloween candy, Halloween costumes, and scary movies. The 8th graders were enthusiastic about presenting their speeches and left knowing more about public speaking and the Communication Studies discipline. Hopefully, we will see some of these Montevallo Middle School 8th graders return to campus as University of Montevallo COMS majors in 2020!

Department of

Communication

the various committees worked together with other members of the executive committee under senior COMS major Becky Leach, who served as Team Leader. Before the planning officially began, Dr. Ozley delivered a series of presentations on the importance of clear external and internal group communication. He also met with the several committees and facilitated communication outside of regular classroom and office hours, devoting above and beyond the allotted time to make COMS Day a success.

Administrative Assistant OLIVIA ARD participated in Montevallo’s ArtStalk to promote her new book The Marshall Plan.

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

Music

DR. JOE ARDOVINO and The University of Montevallo Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Ardovino, completed a successful tour to Orlando, Florida, October 26-28. The Wind Ensemble was accepted to perform in a workshop at Disney’s EPCOT Performing Arts stage called “You’re Instrumental.” The workshop normally consists of a recording session over a two and one half hour time period focusing on one small excerpt from a Disney film score. However, the Wind Ensemble was so successful that the Disney clinician was able to record multiple tracks with the group. The ensemble returned with a DVD featuring two film excerpts with their own soundtrack, as well as a few other short Disney tunes with images of the ensemble. Overall it was an unforgettable educational experience with a peek into the life of a studio musician.

DRS. TED HOFFMAN & BECKY HALLIDAYCoFA’s Department of Music will facilitate certification courses in the Kodály approach to music education. Participants may complete either Level 1 or Level 2, July 11 – 22, 2016. The Kodály method of music instruction begins with the singing voice – an instrument carried by every child. Using musical material found within the child’s culture, teachers who are trained in this approach focus on the development of musical skill through singing, solfege, and rhythm syllables. Although this method is often found in primary schools, Kodály principles apply to all areas of music education. As the only Kodály certification program in Alabama, this course offers an excellent opportunity for professional development. Participants in Levels 1 and 2 will leave with a wealth of tools and resources that will both enhance their curriculum and strengthen the learning outcomes taking place in their music classrooms.

Department of

MusicFACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

COFA’S DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC VOICE FACULTY hosted a two-hour voice area master class featuring Keith A. Wolfe, General Director of Opera Birmingham in November. Wolfe worked with six vocal performance majors on operatic arias with a primary focus on techniques of the singer-actor.

DR. CYNTHIA MACCRAEhosted guest artist Agnes Wan, piano, in a master class on October 28 and recital on October 29. Praised as a “big pianist, big musician, big potential” with “compelling artistry that draws the listeners in and envelops them with musical joy,” Hong Kong native Wan, a Steinway artist, presented a masterful performance including works of Rameau, Mozart, Liszt, Bolcom and Schubert. [Photo of piano studio: Guest artist Agnes Wan with piano majors (L to R) NICHOLAS ALAGNA, LINDSEY SKIDMORE, LEEARRON KLOSTERMAN, JONATHAN SCOFIELD, SCOTLYN MILLER, and MADISON STEELE.

DR. TED HOFFMANwas named a Fellow in the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD) Fellows Program. He attended the leadership development workshop for ICFAD Fellows at the 52nd Annual International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD) Conference in Atlanta, in October. The Fellows Program is a professional development program designed

to promote a healthy and continuous pipeline of talented arts administrators who are prepared to move into leadership positions.Dr. Hoffman also presented a session titled “Keep Calm & Pass the Praxis: Teacher Education Program and Certification Examinations” at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) National In-Service Conference in Nashville, in October.

DR. RODERICK GEORGEhas been granted a sabbatical leave for spring semester 2017. He will devote the time away to professional operatic and concert performance pursuits.

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

TheatreDR. MARCUS LANE

directed The Rocky Horror Show in November. The production held a first-ever “midnight performance” (which sold out in 2 hours) on Friday, the Thirteenth. UM alumni and professional actor Chris Sams (BFA 2005) returned to play the lead role of “Frank n’ Furter” and Katie Raulerson (BFA 2015) (currently performing professionally for Birmingham Children’s Theatre) was choreographer.

The final Saturday performance of The Rocky Horror Show featured CoFA’s first “Back Stage Pass,” a panel discussion in response to the production and themes of the play. UM Mass Communication alumni and local News Anchor Mike McClanahan moderated the conversation with the audience and panelists: UM Sociology Professor Dr. Steve Parker; Samford University English Professor Dr. Julie Steward; and Jonathan Fuller, Head of Theatre at Alabama School of Fine Arts and Co-Founder/Artistic Director of City Equity Theatre.

DR. DAVID CALLAGHANhosted an auditions workshop for UM Musical Theatre students led by legendary Broadway singer Eden Espinosa. Espinosa was the second performer to play “Elphaba” on Broadway and either understudied or performed the role for 7 years (she is also know for Brooklyn and playing Maureen in the final cast of Rent on Broadway which was filmed by HBO). Espinosa coached 12 musical theatre majors on their audition pieces and also answered questions about pursuing careers in musical theatre and the arts.

STUDENTNEWSCommunications

Communication Studies majors, CRYSTAL ROSKAMP, ZACHARY BROWN, AMANDA FAYE CURRIE, and EMME LONG, have been selected as representatives for this year’s Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Four Mass Comm majors—KALEY BLANKENSHIP, GERALD CUNNINGHAM, BRITNEY WILLIAMS, and MORGAN EVANS—were guests at a special dinner held for Kirk Saduski during his visit to campus on Veteran’s Day.

The UM National Broadcasting Society chapter, in conjunction with Falcon Weekly, provided a live Periscope stream of Mr. Saduski’s presentation on documentary film making and the Q & A with Saduski, moderated by CoFA Dean Steve Peters with the attendees. There were over 50 virtual audience members on Periscope and over 150 “live” audience members.

BECKY LEACH was honored as the Senior Elite for COMS at Elite Night. Senior MC Major/COMS & PR Minor SYDNEY FIELDS was honored as the Senior Elite for MC at Elite Night.

Senior COMS Major/PR Minor BECKY LEACH was featured in the Fall 2015 issue Simply Speaking, The Official Newsletter for Lambda Pi Eta (the national honorary society for COMS students).

Three COMS majors were recognized at the Honors Program’s Fall 2015 Recognition Luncheon. KIRSTEN HILL (Junior COMS Major/Spanish Minor) and GISELLE CASADABAN (Junior COMS Major/Theatre & PR Minor) received the Honors Certificate. BECKY LEACH (Senior COMS Major/PR Minor) received the Honors Diploma.

STUDENTNEWS

Sophomore COMS Major/PR Minor PARIS NELSON (Faculty Mentor, Dr. Tiffany R. Wang) was selected as a McNair Scholar for Summer 2016. She will work on a research project focused on Smith Scholars’ college and family experiences.

MusicMILES JENKINS has been accepted into the 2016 Vann Vocal Institute at Huntingdon College in February. Miles will participate in a master class with Metropolitan Opera tenor David Cangelosi, and he will receive private coachings from other music professionals from New York City. Miles is a voice student of Dr. Roderick George.

The University of Montevallo Concert Choir performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 (also known as The Choral Symphony) alongside the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Concert Choir. Philip Copeland, the director of the Alabama Symphony Chorus, posted the following review of the performances held in November 7-8, 2015. “Alabama Symphony Masterworks Series: Beethoven Symphony No. 9, by Philip Copeland. In the final work, the 200+ chorus was made up of three different choirs: the ASO Symphony chorus, and two fine college choirs from the University of Montevallo and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Despite their separate rehearsals and the lateness of the hour when the choirs finally got to sing, the combined choir came together in a stunning and powerful way, forging a sound and dramatic interpretation not heard in the Alys Stephens Center in many years...their preparation and vocal force was an equal match for the tremendous symphonic forces below them. In the end, the people of Birmingham enthusiastically agreed with standing ovations. The Alys Stephens Center hall was filled to capacity for both performances...Bravo combined choirs! Bravo, people of Birmingham!”

ALUMNI NEWSArt

This panorama image, photographed by DANIEL LAWSON, proves that Art is Big at the University of Montevallo!

KERMIT JONES (1973) writes, “I have just retired (10/1/15) from 42 years of teaching and coaching in the Tuscaloosa area. My plans for retirement are to spend time with my wife, some travel, lots of golf, and rekindle my efforts and love for the arts.”

BENJIE HEU (1994) had a recent exhibition of his work in ceramics and drawing on display at the Durbin Gallery of Art, Birmingham Southern College. After Montevallo, he earned an MFA degree from Ohio University and is currently Professor of Ceramics at Southeastern Missouri State University, where he has been teaching for 10 years.

MusicMusic alumnus, LEE WRIGHT (BME ‘03 and MME ‘13) has been awarded a Presidential Fellowship from the graduate school of the University of Georgia. He will be working towards a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting and will study with Dr. Daniel Bara and Dr. JD Burnett.

CHRIS SMITH has been invited to be one of the guest conductors for the 2015 UM Honor Band Festival. Chris is a 2001 music education graduate, now in his 15th year of teaching, with the last 12 years at Cullman High School. The Cullman HS Band was invited to perform in the America’s Parade in New York City on Veteran’s Day 2015. This will be the second time for Chris to conduct a UM Honor Band.

CODY WEBB (BA music 2013) spent the last six and a half months aboard the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship as a production cast principal with Norwegian Cruise Lines, which included trips from Boston to Bermuda and later to Quebec, Canada. Cody was part of a cast of four singers and ten dancers performing three production shows and Broadway cabaret.

ALUMNI NEWS

MATTIE CRISP (BM Vocal Performance 2015) has been cast in the role of Hippolyta in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Lyric Theater of the School of Music at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Mattie is in her first semester of graduate studies in Vocal Performance at UI, where she studies voice with Metropolitan Opera soprano Yvonne Redman.

TheatreMEGAN STEIN recently directed a segment in the Upright Citizens Brigade “Cram III” Film Festival, NYC.

RACHEL DOZIER-EZELL recently designed The Seagull for The New School in NYC where she is resident Costume Designer, and continues to design costumes for the Classical Theatre of Harlem, NYC.

STEPHEN FRAUSTO is the Assistant Technical Director at North Carolina State University.

HANNAH JEAN FARRIS recently started a position as an AEA (Actors Equity Association) Stage Manager at Playmakers Repertory Theatre, NYC.

MELISSA LAWLER is performing in A Christmas Carol at Dollywood, TN.

LINDSEY BRISTOL is a NYC based actor and recently signed with the JC William Agency in NYC.

JASON STYRES continues his work as a casting director at Jay Binder Casting in NYC and recently cast the Broadway production of Dames At Sea.

CARL DEAN (McAdory HS), BLAIR DYSON (Prattville HS) and ERIC BROWNE (Baker HS) all recently competed in the District Trumbauer Festival Competitions and will be bringing students to the state competitions, as well as directing various productions at their schools.

CAMERON WATSON, Los Angeles, recently directed a production of La Ronde for the UCLA Theatre Department.

JOSEPH WESOLOWSKI is studying improvisation at the famed Second City in Chicago while also working for various Chicago Theatre companies.

LEAH LUKER is currently directing Suessical for the Birmingham Children’s Theatre.

Leah Luker and Chris Sams working together on Suessical.

CoFA ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS

PAM LUCAS will have worked at UM a total of 25 years on August 16, 2016. She first worked in Housing & Residence Life for 3 1/2 years, left for 2 years to pursue a life-long entrepreneurship dream: she owned and operated an upscale ladies’ boutique called Twins Etc. with her twin sister Paula. After closing the business, she returned to UM, working in Theatre Dept. and has been there ever since. Pam was the first recipient of the Outstanding Office Support Personnel Award for Excellence. She has an amazing 4 year-old grandson, Carter, who is the joy and happiness of her life. She has one daughter, Adrian, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from UM. She and her husband love antiques and have gone to the “Longest Yard Sale” for the past 5 years. They collect copper and Pam’s ENTIRE KITCHEN IS ARRAYED IN COPPER. They have collected many, many unique pieces of copper and love finding antique bargains!! Pam is a Montevallo High School graduate and has taken some classes at UM when she can find the time.

JULIE MCENTEE has worked for UM for the past 20 years, this past year in the CoFA Dean’s Office and before that in the Music Department. She is a proud alum of the Music Department, graduating with highest honors and a degree in French horn performance. She continues to play horn to this day with groups as diverse as the Vallo Wind Quintet, the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra, and the Montevallo Community Band. Her most recent performance was with the Festival Brass Quintet at the American Village for the Choral Christmas Marquee event. Other interests include gardening, hiking and camping, reading, working Sudoku puzzles, and vacationing with her sisters.

NITA TERRELL graduated from UM with a BFA degree in 1997. She has worked for the Art Department for 5 years, but has been with the university for over 10 years. She is a ceramic artist and teaches wheel-throwing classes for the Shelby County Art Council. In the summer 2015 she was in the Red Clay Survey at Huntsville Museum of Art, and she has a ceramic piece in the permanent collection at Wiregrass Museum of Art. Most of her spare time is spent trying to keep up with her 5 year-old son, but when she has the time, she also likes to crochet.

ERIN WATKINS, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Music, has worked for the University of Montevallo for a year this December. Erin earned her Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Montevallo where she graduated in 2009. While at Montevallo, Erin was very active in College Night and was the Purple Side conductor for 2008 and 2009. In her spare time Erin enjoys going to sporting events to watch the mascots, taking too many pictures of her dogs, and going on adventures with her husband.

OLIVIA ARD has been a staff member since June 2015, but she is no stranger to campus—she graduated from UM with a degree in history in 2012. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing and trying out new recipes. In addition to her administrative assistant duties, she is pursuing a master’s degree in English.

About CONNECTIONSCONNECTIONS is a monthly e-publication of the Dean’s Office of the College of Fine Arts (CoFA). The newsletter is designed to feature faculty and staff achievements, student achievements and news from our alumni. This letter is also intended to make information from departments and the dean’s office more accessible and available in an easy format. We encourage all contributions that include photos of the topic or people themselves so we can get to know each other better. Submissions are due before the 15th of each month. Electronic submissions can be sent to Administrative Assistant JULIE MCENTEE at mcenteej@montevallo.edu.

The COFA Office of the Dean is the academic administrative office at the College, and the personnel office of its undergraduate faculty. The dean’s office oversees faculty hiring and mentoring, reappointment, promotion, tenure, the performance and event season and instructional and support staff for academic departments and programs.

Publication designed by: Amy Mathews, Senior, BFA Graphic Design and Printmaking

CoFACONNECTIONS

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WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN the College of Fine Arts?For more information on upcoming events, please visit:montevallo.edu/cfa and click on the link to CoFA’s New Interactive 2015-2016 Perfomances and Events Calendaror use the following web address: http://www.montevallo.edu/fine-arts/college-of-fine-arts/performances-and-events/