CoFACONNECTIONS

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

Montevallo, AL 35115 205.665.6663

Newsletter l Edition #2 l November 2015

I hope you enjoy this latest glimpse into the creative energy of our students, faculty and alumni, and that you find a little bit of yourself as your read through their stories.

It is a pleasure to announce that the College of Fine Arts at University of Montevallo is participating in the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP). SNAAP uses an online survey to collect and then analyze data on educational experiences and career paths of individuals with degrees in the arts and shares the data with participating institutions. In fact, SNAAP has become the gold standard for collection and analysis of data about individuals with degrees in the fine and communication arts.

SNAAP’s 2013 national study of 92,113 arts alumni who completed the survey gives interesting new information about people who are employed in arts and arts-related fields:• They are among the happiest of all professionals;• 75% have been self-employed at some point in their career;• Their work reflects their values, personality and interests more than those employed in non-arts fields;• They have a better opportunity to contribute to the greater good;• They have found creativity to be the most important competency in professional life.

If you are a CoFA alum, you have likely received the SNAAP survey via email or will in the next few days. We are eager to learn from your reflections on your own college experience, to know where you are now, and to hear how you are creating your own career path wherever in the world you may be. Your experiences and advice will help us prepare and guide our current students into the creative workforce.

Warm regards,

From the Dean’s Desk

Steve Peters,Dean, College of Fine Arts

Artwork by Belle Prosser

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

Art

SCOTT STEPHENSattended the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) annual meeting in Houston, October 15-17. NASAD is our accreditation organization for the visual arts and this

year we are in the self-study phase of our reaccreditation cycle.

KELLY WACKERand Instructor Amy Feger attended the Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) in Pittsburgh, October 21-24. Feger presented her recent work, “New Landscapes,” in a session, Art and the Anthropocene. Wacker gave a presentation on “Art History in an Expanded Field” regarding her research and pedogogical practice in a session, Socially Engaged Art History.

KAREN GRAFFEOThe Prime Minister of Romania sent two of his aids to attend Karen Graffeo’s recent exhibition, “Let Us Now Praise the Roma”, which was on display at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Graffeo was a panelist in a symposium addressing human trafficking. This symposium was organized by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in conjunction with her solo exhibition, “Let Us Now Praise the Roma”. Graffeo also was awarded a Research and Creative projects grant for her upcoming projects in Cuba.

MICHAEL WILLETTwas awarded a Research and Creative Project Grant through UM for a project titled Cosmic Order. The grant will support the production of an upcoming solo exhibition at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia, AL. This month, Willett also began a collaboration with Creative 369, a Birmingham Advertisement Agency, and organized an exhibition of his work at Bistro Two Eighteen in downtown Birmingham. Some of the works on display were published this past summer in the June/July issue of New American Paintings, a national contemporary art periodical.

Department of

ArtFACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

RYAN FOSTERrecently completed a 4’x12’ indoor mural at the non-profit organization, Common Thread, located in Homewood. Work will began in late October on two more indoor murals. Ryan’s second solo exhibition with The Richard Heller Gallery opens in Los Angeles in January, 2016. The oil paintings that will be on

display feature ‘veiled landscapes’ and can be viewed on his website - jamesryanfoster.wix.com/jamesryanfoster

MIN SUN LEEis currently a Design Week Birmingham committee member and volunteer. Student Victoria Schlensker and Professor Lee participated in an invite-only industrial design sketching workshop with Spenser Nugent at UAB. Nugent has worked with brands such as Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett Packard, BodyGlove, Adidas, Verifone, Kyocera Altec Lansing, Hasbro, Dell, Tupperwar and Motorola. Nugent also teaches industrial design classes at Brigham Young University, where he focuses on visual communication in design.

Karen Graffeo’s work was reviewed in two issues of Weld magazine by Rebecca Sheehan.

Graffeo’s work will be included in the following upcoming solo and group exhibitions:

l “Let Us Now Praise the Roma,” Julio Larramendi Gallery of Photography, Old Town Havana, Cuba, January 1- March 2

l “Let Us Now Praise the Roma,” Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, July 14-September 27

l “Medium Festival of Photography: Size Matters,” the signature exhibition of the 2015 Medium Festival of Photography and San Diego’s month of photography at the Low Gallery, San Diego, California, October 24-November 23

l “Celebrating Contemporary Art: The Biennial 2015,” Johnson Center for the Arts, Troy, Alabama, July 31-October 24

JOE & MISTY BENNETTreceived a Research and Creative Projects grant for their project, “Coalesce: Birmingham Public Library Exhibition,” which will take place at the downtown branch of the library in November and December of 2016. The exhibition has been designed in collaboration with the curator of the library gallery to include paintings by Misty Bennett and drawings by Joe Bennett, bridged by fifteen new collaborative works.

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

CommunicationBROOK PRUITT

DR. BRUCE FINKLEA

DR. JAY COFIELDmade a proposal for a Green Fund entitled, “LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION: Converting a Red Hot, Energy Consuming TV Studio into a Money Saving Green Machine” and the proposal was granted.The Mass Communication TV Studio will replace six Tungsten-Halogen instruments with 6 LED Lighting instruments. The total grant is for $6474.

DR. BRUCE FINKLEAsubmitted the final version of his invited entry, “Media Effects: Comprehensive Theories,” for the forthcoming International Encyclopedia of Media Effects. Finklea also received revisions from the editor of his paper on male friendships in Pixar films. His publisher says the book, Race and Gender in Electronic Media: Challenges and Opportunities, will be released in early 2016 in time for the Broadcast Education Association convention in Las Vegas. Finklea executive produced a Falcon Weekly Special Report on campus safety in the wake of the deadly shooting massacre at Umpqua Community College. The newscast featured a live in-studio interview with Dr. Stewart and UMPD Chief Chadd Adams. Finklea also organized two movie marathons co-sponsored by the Department of Communication and the UM chapter of the National Broadcasting Society.

DR. TIFFANY WANGCOMS 310 Social Media & PR students are halfway through a nine week Facebook Story Series feature on the Department of Communication’s Facebook page.COMS 310 students developed a series of stories centered on a common theme that would relate well to the people who like the departmental Facebook page. They competed to achieve the highest total reach on their weekly posts by promoting the virality of their posts using Social Media & PR principles to encourage

their social networks to like, share, and comment on each week’s posts. In four and a half weeks, COMS 310 posts have drawn a total reach of 27,108 with many individual posts topping 1,000 total reach. Dr. Tiffany R. Wang’s COMS 310 Social Media & PR students are

also working on a service learning project with University of Montevallo Upward Bound. Four student social media campaign teams conducted four focus groups with Upward Bound students

on October 5th, pitched potential foci areas during presentations for Upward Bound staff on October 15th, and will create social media handbooks that will be presented to Upward Bound staff and community members on December 10th.

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

MusicDR. JOE ARDOVINO was this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award, sponsored by the UM National Alumni Association, and he was recognized at this year’s Founders Day. In one of the more memorable acceptance speeches, “Dr. Joe” pulled out his trumpet and entertained the guests with his famous Louie Armstrong impressions (played and sung)! Of

Joe Ardovino, who has been the Director of Bands at the University of Montevallo since 1991, his nominator said, “Joe draws hundreds of potential students to our campus each year through all-state workshops, clinics, the honor band festival, and the summer young musicians’ camp. From fall convocation to spring commencement, there are dozens of university activities that would seem incomplete without the presence of the University Bands under Dr. Ardovino’s direction.” Another colleague said that he “has built an impressive reputation as a music educator, mentoring an impressive number of UM alums currently teaching in the field. Their success as professionals and our success as an institution that prepares teachers for the challenges they face represent the strongest evidence of his commitment to teaching. He is completely selfless in fulfilling his teaching responsibilities, and his remarkable dedication to the musical and intellectual development of his students is truly inspirational.” Congratulations, Dr. Joe!

DR. LORI ARDOVINO & DR. MELANIE WILLIAMSperformed at the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) Conference in Sioux Falls, SD. In addition to other works, they performed Ardovino’s “From a Crack in the Wall” for clarinet and soprano voice. They also gave Master Classes at Augustana University, and at Northern State University.

DR. BECKY HALLIDAY& DR. TED HOFFMAN were invited to take part in the Vestavia Hills vXchange 2015. Elementary music teachers attended a presentation that approached the synthesis between the new National Arts Standards, the Orff Schulwerk Approach, and the Kodály Concept.

DR. CYNTHIA MACCRAEperformed for the Birmingham Music Club Guild on September 11. More than 300 members strong, the Guild was founded in 1988 to foster an appreciation of music and performing arts.

Department of

MusicFACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

THE BIRMINGHAM ART MUSIC ALLIANCE, a regional consortium of composers and performers dedicated to the performance of new music, presented its second annual Birmingham New Music Festival October 8-10 at several venues downtown. The festival’s director, UM alum Monroe Golden, designed five exciting concerts to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Alliance, showcasing the works of current and past Alliance members as well as invited guest composers. These events also revealed the vibrancy of UM’s Music Department, as many current faculty and students, alums, and Emeriti faculty were actively involved. Composers featured on the festival included alumni Rusty Banks and Bryan Page, as well as UM faculty members JOSEPH LANDERS, ALAN GOLDSPIEL, and LORI ARDOVINO, whose “Eloquence II” for solo clarinet was performed by current UM student Katie York. UM’s LAURIE MIDDAUGH joined Katie York for a performance of Kenneth Kuhn’s “Two Nostalgic Melodies,” and UM faculty member CHARLES WOOD was the soloist on Bryan Page’s new song cycle “Blackout in Eden”. The closing concert featured a stunning performance of PROFESSOR EMERITUS ED ROBERTSON’s “Music for Cello and Piano” given by cellist Laura Usiskin and PROFESSOR EMERITUS ANTHONY PATTIN. The Music Department is proud of its 20-year association with BAMA, and thankful to have had such a prominent role in this year’s festival.

VALLO QUINTETQuintet members AKILAH BRYANT, flute, BECKY HALLIDAY, oboe, LORI ARDOVINO, clarinet, JULIE MCENTEE, French horn, and JOSEPH SARGENT, bassoon will present a program of classic works for woodwind quintet by Hindemith, Lefebvre and Ibert on Thursday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. in LeBaron Recital Hall. The Vallo Quintet is in its second year of existence, and regularly performs for middle and high school students at various recruitment venues for the Music Department. This recital is free and open to the public.

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of

TheatreEMILY GILLpresented the progress to date of her certification in Transformational Reconstruction draping technique, supported by a 2015 T&L Grant at the T&L Forum in Carmichael Library in October.

MARCUS LANE is offering a summer class in performing a staged concert version of a Golden Age era musical. Both classes are new initiatives and part of our efforts to create additional performance opportunities for our students.

AMY MURPHY conducted a 3 hour Master Class on musical theatre audition techniques for all musical theatre students in anticipation of the 6th Annual NYC Musical Theatre Intensive in January 2016, by the Amy Murphy Studio.

DR. DAVID CALLAGHANand adjunct accompanist/Musical Director JENNIFER HARTSELL recently attended casting sessions for Next To Normal at Red Mountain Theatre Company. David is directing the production and Jennifer is the Musical Director. It will run in February 2016 in Birmingham.

MICHAEL WALKERrecently offered a workshop in devised theatre and will offer a class in devised theatre during May Term 2016, culminating in an original public performance.

In partnership with Red Mountain Theatre Company, UM Theatre brought Broadway star EDEN ESPINOSA to campus where she worked with 12 musical theatre students on audition technique. Ms. Espinosa is best known for the role of “Elphaba” in Wicked on Broadway and presented a concert in Birmingham after the workshop on 10/23 and 10/24.

UPCOMINGEVENTS

CoFA BY THE NUMBERS

101ACADEMIC DEGREES CONFERRED

IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2014-2015

OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS

NOV. 5 - VALLO WOODWIND QUINTET(205) 665-6670Quintet members Akilah Bryant, flute, Becky Halliday, oboe, Lori Ardovino, clarinet, Julie McEntee, French horn, and Joseph Sargent, bassoon present a program of mixed repertory from classical to contemporary.

NOV. 7 - SINGLE REED SYMPOSIUMLebaron Recital Hall, 5:00 P.M.(205) 665-6670

NOV. 10 - CONCERT CHOIR & UNIVERSITY CHORUS CONCERTSLebaron Recital Hall, 7:30 P.M.(205) 665-6670Features a variety of literature ranging from choral masterworks to spirituals.

NOV. 11 - KIRK SADUSKION PRODUCING DOCUMENTARY FILMSLEBARON RECITAL HALL, 3:00 P.M.(205) 665-6625Free and Open to the PublicThe Alabama Humanities Foundation, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, co-sponsors this project.

NOV. 11 - 15 - THE ROCKY HORROR SHOWReynolds Studio TheatreBook, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’ Brien

-November 11 – 12, 14 – 15, 7:30 P.M.-November 13, 7:30 P.M.-FRIDAY THE 13TH MIDNIGHT SHOW(205) 665-6200

NOV. 12 - BRASS/PERCUSSIONLebaron Recital Hall, 7:30 P.M.(205) 665-6670

NOV. 17 - JAZZPalmer Auditorium, 7:30 P.M.(205) 665-6670Music from the Big Band Swing era to the present day.

NOV. 20 - 21 - GREAT OPERA SAMPLERLebaron Recital Hall, 7:30 P.M.(205) 665-6670All tickets $10

NOV. 23 - WOODWIND CHAMBERLebaron Recital Hall, 7:30 P.M.(205) 665-6670

FALL BFA STUDENT ART EXHIBITIONSBloch Hall Gallery(205) 665-6400Gallery hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

There is still time to register for six weeks of lessons through the UMCSM. The six week period begins next week and runs to the end of the semester. You may register for lessons by visiting http://bit.ly/csm_reg.

FULL-TIME FACULTYWITH A TERMINAL DEGREE

STATES REPRESENTED BY CoFA ALUMNAE43

STUDENTNEWSArt

COCOA LANEY and Karen Graffeo attended the Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art May 2015.

For New York Fashion Week MARY CATHERINE FEHR was asked to work with photographer Johnny Nunez to cover several fashion shows and major events for Getty Images. She spent four days in NYC shooting models, celebrities, and parties. She also got to spend time doing some street portraits and street fashion. (Images above and below)

JEREMY BLACK, an art major with a concentration in photography, recently participated in an internship at the Birmingham Zoo. His images are now being published and exhibited for the Birmingham Zoo events and newsletters.(Images above and below).

The Birmingham Zoo’s Facebook page Featuring UM Student Jeremy Black’s work

STUDENTNEWSGARRETT HENDERSON and BILLY SHAW participated in The Birmingham Flag Project with Aaron Draplin.

COURTNEY HOLT, JONATHAN BLACK, ZACH EVANS, CHAD LANGSTON, VICTORIA SCHLENSKER, LINDSEY PRICE, JOI BLACK and ASHLEY NOBINGER participated in Design Agency Open House tour, networked and made connections with Birmingham’s design professionals. They visited 10 Design Studios: Telegraph Branding, BIG Communication, BW&Co., Cayenne Creative, FitzMartin, Intermark, Kinetic, Modern Brand and Scout Branding.

BFA students ANNAHEAH COMMER, BEN KAISER, EMALEE BUTLER, and KRISALYN HAMMOND are working with Ryan Foster to design and execute two murals at Seeds Coffee in Homewood and on a new training/workout facility “A 4 One” in Southside. MARY CATHERINE FEHR, a current photography major, has agreed to document the painting process of the murals.

Communication

Junior COMS Major/PR Minor ALLIE ODOM was selected as a COPLAC Social Media Ambassador (SMA). As a COPLAC SMA, Allie will help raise the online profile of the North American consortium of higher education by providing updates on important news and events at UM.

Fourteen students were inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta Lambda Nu Chapter on October 15th. Lambda Pi Eta is the national honorary society for COMS students. Membership is reserved for junior and senior undergraduate students who have declared an interest in the field of communication and have achieved a high level of academic excellence (3.0+ cumulative GPA, 3.25+ COMS GPA). Fall 2015 inductees included RACHEL ANDERSON (COMS), ZAC BROWN (COMS), GISELLE CASADABAN (COMS), OLIVIA COURSEY (COMS), BRIANNA DAVIS (PR Minor), SYDNEY FIELDS (COMS/PR Minor), ERIN HALL (COMS Minor), LAUREN HEADRICK (COMS), KIRSTEN HILL (COMS), KIERA HOOD (PR Minor), BRINKLEY JONES (COMS), JESSICA SPRADLIN (COMS), TIARRA STEVENSON (COMS), and SABRINA ZIZO (COMS).

TheatreUnder the mentorship of David Callaghan, aspiring BFA Directing student CHRIS PATILLO will be directing a series of short scenes this year to explore different theatrical styles and provide acting opportunities for UM Theatre students. 19 students attended his first “interest” meeting!

Musical Theatre students in the advanced dance styles class have been working with Fosse, Hip-Hop and Ballroom dance styles each week.

The cast of the ROCKY HORROR SHOW has been doing a 30 minute workout to “get fit,” led by fitness coach and UM adjunct instructor Jen Lane before each rehearsal.

ALUMNI NEWSArt

DREMA MONTGOMERY (BFA, Drawing and Ceramics, 2012) is in her final year of graduate school at the University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art. She is the recipient of the Mary Rosenblatt Scholarship and the Looney Foundations Fellowship, as well as a UGA Sustainability Grant. She was a Senior Elite at UM, and participated in the Universidade Federal de Goias student exchange program to Brazil during her matriculation.

KELLY REDDING and SARAH REIMER (2014) participated in Birmingham Flag Project last year with Aaron Draplin.

Communication

MC alumna CARLY LAING (2014) reported from the sidelines of a LSU football game against the University of South Carolina for her TV station, KLFY.

MC alumna SAVANNAH (KIDD) DAILY (2014) was promoted from New Producer to Producer/Reporter at WRBL in Columbus, GA.

ALEXIS (HARRELL) FULLER, (Mass Communication 2002):The Internet is a great place for finding things. For example, MC faculty came across alumnus Alexis Fuller who stars in an ad for the Apple Watch. You can catch her and her daughters here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=jwdkXZVLVjE

JORDON SEMIEN (2014) is working as a stringer for the Shelby County Reporter, covering high school sports this fall.

NEAL EMBRY is working as a freelancer for the Shelby County Reporter covering high school sports.

MATT SANDERLIN released his new single, “Breath Into The Room” on iTunes. The song is on his upcoming album, Reconstructor.

ALUMNI NEWS

GREG FUNDERBERG (2006) is working as the morning/midday co-anchor at NewsChannel 9 in Chattanooga, TN. He recently wrapped up a trip to New York City where he visited ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “The View,” “Live with Kelly and Michael,” and NBC’s “TODAY” Show.

BRETT BELL (2015) works as the Audio Board Operator at Scott Communications in Selma, AL.

AMOS HOLLINHEAD (2014) is working at WAFF-TV in Huntsville, AL, and is also a video freelancer.

MC alumna KALYN WOLFE was tapped as the new regular Business Columnist for the Pensacola News Journal. Kalyn is also an adjunct instructor for the Mass Communication program this semester.

DEVAN COOLEY’s (2015) softball documentary, “Lead Off- A First Team,” earned an honorable mention in the Collegiate Student Special Feature category.

MusicALEX STEPHENSON, (2002 Music Education) has been invited to serve as a guest conductor at the 2016 UM Honor Band, an event that brings almost 300 middle and high school band students to campus each year. Mr. Stephenson has been a successful music educator for the past 14 years, and has been the band director at Boaz High School since 2009, where his bands consistently score superior ratings at statewide contests. Congratulations to Alex, and thank you for returning to UM to share your talents!

RICHIE LISENBY (B.A. Music, 2011) recently starred in Three Act Theatre’s production of Next to Normal in Pelham, NY. The internationally acclaimed rock musical by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt is about a mother, Diana Goodman who struggles with bipolar disorder and the effect it has on her family. Playing the role of Diana¹s husband, Dan Goodman, Lisenby was featured in a favorable review by Kathryn Kitt in Broadway World. Kit wrote: Richard Lisenby as Dan kept the household going by not giving in to his own emotions. His pop tenor waseffortless in “I’ve Been” and the trio of “You Don’t Know/I am the One”with Cindy Finegan and Devon A. A. Norris as Gabe was a vocal highlight.”

TheatreSARA LARSON (2012) worked as a Production Assistant on the motion picture 99 Homes starring Andrew Garfield and directed by Eli Roth. The movie opens this month.

DIANA DOUGLAS (2014) is the Production Office Coordinator at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, marking her 9th year of involvement with ASF!ELISE KELLER (2015) starts a new position at the Public Theatre in New York City (within 36 hours of moving in!) after a summer spent working as an Assistant Stage Manager at Mountain Playhouse in Pennsylvania.

After a number of years in Los Angeles as an actor, CHRIS SAMS is back in Birmingham for a period of time and performing the role of “Frank N’ Furter” as a guest artist in our production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW directed by Marcus Lane.

KATIE RAULERSON, (BFA Musical Theatre 2015), is performing with Birmingham Children’s Theatre and guest choreographer on our fall musical THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.

TRENT LOGGINS (BFA Musical Theatre) continues to perform and work in various production capacities including casting at the Seaside Theatre in Florida.

JAMIE SCHOR (BFA Acting) is in his 2nd year of the MFA Arts Administration Program at the University of Alabama.

Greg Funderberg at “Good Morning America”

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

STAY CONNECTEDAlumni, where are you now? Please tell us what you’ve been up to and load your photo.

facebook.com/finearts.montevallo.edu

@fineartsUM

@UM_fineartsmoments

If you would like to receive a hard copy version of CoFA CONNECTIONS or to unsubscribe to this email list, please send an email to: cfa@montevallo.edu

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/