Fine Arts in Focus

Fine Arts summer camps available

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:29:44 -0600

Instead of spending the summer wishing you had something fun and exciting for your children to do, why not give them the opportunity to create a sculpture, paint a picture, make up a play, or act on stage? The U of L Faculty of Fine Arts Drama and Art Camps are the perfect outlet for their summer fun. There are seven weeklong camps to choose from, which run weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Act 1
Drama for ages 7 to 10

Use your body, voice and imagination to create a world of original characters and stories in this action-packed camp. Participants must be able to read. The camp concludes with a performance on Friday afternoon for parents and friends.
Camps: July 4-8, July 18-22, Aug. 2-4* and Aug. 8-12

Encore
Drama for ages 11 to 15

Acting, comedy, costumes, make-up, improvisation and more! These camps are perfect for older participants looking for a dramatic challenge.
Camps: July 11-15, July 25-29 and Aug. 15-19

ArtVentures
or ages 7 to 10

Explore drawing, painting, mask making, printmaking, sculpture and more – something new and interesting every day. No experience necessary! The camp concludes with an exhibition of the creative exploits of participants.
Camps: July 4-8, July 11-15, July 18-22, July 25-29 and Aug 2-5*

Artist’s Studio
for ages 11 to 15

Specifically designed for students interested in investigating a variety of art experiences including painting, sculpture, printmaking and more. Aug 8-12 and Aug. 15-19

The registration fee for each camp includes all materials and supplies, a unique camp T-shirt and lunch each day.

*Camps from Aug. 3-6 are 4-day camps (Tuesday through Friday). All the rest of the camps are Monday through Friday.

For more information about the drama and art camps call Fine Arts Camps Director Katherine Wasiak at 403-329-2227. To register for a camp, call U of L Sport and Recreation Services at 403-329-2706.

This story first appeared in the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Theatre schedule sure to captivate

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:17:50 -0600

The University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Fine Arts and its Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts have released the theatre schedule for 2011-2012 and it’s a season catering to all dramatic tastes. From the classic drama of Shakespeare to the fantastical work of Canadian Michel Marc Bouchard, the Theatre and Dramatic Arts Season is set to captivate audiences of all ages.

Following is a snapshot look at each of the scheduled productions:

The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol | Showing Oct. 18-Oct. 22, 2011 | 8 p.m. nightly, University Theatre | Directed by Nicholas Hanson

In a small town in rural Russia, the local officials love to embezzle, cheat, and steal – until news of a surprise visit from a government inspector sends them into a panicked frenzy! A classic case of mistaken identity triggers a hilarious series of events, providing a satirical examination of governments and greed.

Movable Fest | Showing Nov. 22-Nov. 26, 2011 | 8 p.m. nightly, Matinee 11 a.m. on Nov. 24 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 26, David Spinks Theatre | Directed and choreographed by Lisa Doolittle, Music by Deanna Oye

Imagination, heart, head – and stomach – are all involved when dance, theatre and live music explore that most basic of life activities: eating. The show invites everyone to play with their food, combining ingredients of intimate and local stories with global food issues to imagine all the ways in which “you are what you eat.” When we grab our next bite, are we cooking up a recipe for disaster or joining a marvelous, moving feast?

Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Showing Feb. 14-Feb. 18, 2012
8 p.m. nightly, Matinee 11 a.m. on Feb. 16, David Spinks Theatre
Directed by Brian Parkinson

His father murdered and his mother remarried to the uncle he suspects of the killing, Hamlet’s world has been turned upside down; tormented with loathing and consumed with grief he plans to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet is the fullest expression of Shakespeare’s genius.

The Madonna Painter by Michel Marc Bouchard | Showing Mar. 20-Mar. 24, 2012 | 8 p.m. nightly, University Theatre | Directed by Sean Guist

A young priest arrives in the small town of Lac Saint-Jean in the fall of 1918 determined to ward off disease and despair infecting the bodies and spirits of its residents. He commissions a painting depicting the Virgin Mary, and its artist begins selecting a model from a medley of local virgins. Against a darkly dramatic backdrop, The Madonna Painter weaves a story of beauty, fantasy and hidden desire. Mature content.

You can attend this season of exceptional entertainment by becoming a Season Subscriber and enjoy 25 per cent off individual ticket prices. Season tickets are on sale at the U of L Box Office beginning Sept. 13 and are available until the first show of each series. Be sure to reserve your tickets early and guarantee your choice of seats all season long.

University Box Office hours are 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 403-329-2616 beginning Sept. 13. Individual tickets are $15 regular and $10 for students and seniors. Season ticket packages are $45 regular and $30 for students and seniors.

This story first appeared in the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Sakamotos show support

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:37:53 -0600

Curtis Litchfield and Calvin Shiu are the inaugural winners of the Joyce and Ron Sakamoto Award for Research and Development. Open to continuing students in the Bachelor of Music program with a declared major in Digital Audio Arts, the awards amount to a $5,000 scholarship for each recipient.

“Considering the outstanding quality of the 12 submitted proposals, it was the unanimous decision of the committee to select two Sakamoto Award recipients this year,” says Dr. Rolf Boon, Chair of the Music Department.

The selection committee consisted of Boon,
Dr. Arlan Schultz, Thilo Schaller and Ian Burleigh.

The eight-month long proposal projects start in September and feature a public presentation component upon completion.

“The Sakamoto research grant gives me the great opportunity of collaborating with The Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble to present ethnic music in a new surround sound listening experience,” says Shiu.

The Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble is an internationally recognized ensemble that performs traditional Chinese and contemporary compositions with a wide repertoire of fine Eastern instruments.

“My project will be carried out in three stages: research into traditional Chinese instruments and their recording techniques, organizing a public performance by the ensemble in Lethbridge and the production of a 5.1 surround sound album in the Digital Audio Arts Studio 1 facility,” says Shiu. “I would like to express my gratitude towards the DAA faculty and
Dr. and Mrs. Sakamoto for providing me with the resources and support to make my dream of working with this ensemble come true.”

Litchfield intends to create a set of audio filters for use when wearing headphones.

“These filters will create the illusion that the sound a person is listening to is coming from outside of their head, in the space around them, rather than from inside their head somewhere between their ears,” explains Litchfield. “This concept is similar to wearing glasses to watch 3D movies, but with more variables to account for. In the end I hope to create a program that will allow people to create their own 3D sonic space to listen to, using headphones.”

These two projects are just the start of many creative opportunities for students in the future thanks to the generous support of Joyce and Ron Sakamoto.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Culture Vulture concludes season

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:35:10 -0600

Culture Vultures learn the art of the double take by experimenting with their own optical illusions during Welcome to the Optical Jungle, the final Culture Vulture event of the season, Saturday, June 11.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the U of L Atrium, artists of all ages can find inspiration in the U of L Art Gallery’s current exhibit, Spectramatic Geometry, and create a mind-twisting image of their own.

“Using multiple mediums similar to those used by the artists of Spectramatic Geometry, we’ll create optical illusions that appear to radiate and move,” says Rosalind Jeffrey, Culture Vulture program co-ordinator. “We’ll play with colours to see how they react to each other and can trick both the mind and our eyes.”

Promising an eye-bending afternoon of art, refreshments and fun, the June 11 Culture Vulture wraps up the series until September.

“We’ve been having so much fun with Culture Vulture,” says Jeffrey. “We can’t wait to present a new series of projects next year.”

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Art Department student awards announced

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:33:04 -0600

As part of its annual Art Studio Open House in April, the Art Department handed out its annual student awards.

Students receiving awards were as follows.

Jennifer Vanderfluit – Excellence in Art History/Museum Studies Award
Chad Patterson & Tyler Stewart – Art History/Museum Studies Gallery Award
Corinne Thiessen-Hepher – SAAG Award
Chad Patterson – Trap\door Artist Run Centre Award
Bonnie Patton – Art Society Award
Allison Crop-Eared Wolf – Students’ Union Award
Shannon Derry – David Lanier Memorial Award
Arianna Richardson – Excellence in Digital Art Award
Brenna Crabtree – Excellence in Art Studio Award
Katie Bruce – Faculty of Fine Arts Award
Sherry Yu Di – The Studio Prize

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Internship program benefits all

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:27:10 -0600

Have you noticed that bridges are being built all over Lethbridge right now, linking the U of L to the broader community?

Exciting new opportunities are being offered each semester through the University of Lethbridge’s Museum Studies Internship program. Each year, this program enables students to build connections with the community for their future careers. Those connections provide a plethora of benefits for students, the institutions they work with and the community as a whole.

Students enrolled in the internship option, which is part of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program, use their interests as a starting point to develop relationships with organizations in the community. These interests lead to internships where students gain valuable work experience and the hosting institutions benefit from having new and fresh perspectives. Interns become ambassadors for their institutions, sharing information with the broader community.

“Internships are a great way for students to gain insight into the career choices they are considering, and to acquire behind the scenes perspectives about how institutions operate,” says Kevin MacLean, collections technician, Galt Museum and Archives.

Students who gain these insights have an advantage when envisioning their future because they have a clearer sense of the roles they want to occupy. By participating in the internship program, students further their careers by gaining practical hands-on experience, which employers are quick to recognize, and by networking within their career fields.

“My appreciation for public programming has definitely grown with my understanding of what goes into creating events,” says Allison Spencer, curatorial intern with the U of L Art Gallery. During her internship, Spencer assisted in hosting public programming activities including Culture Vulture Saturdays as well as assisting exhibition planning.

Hosting an intern is also advantageous for the institution. Students bring enthusiasm, a desire to learn and a willingness to work diligently.

“It’s an excellent way for an institution to achieve its vision, because the interns take on responsibility and help permanent staff to become more effective,” says Ryan Doherty, SAAG Curator.

In non-profit institutions, volunteering is always encouraged and appreciated. Interns, although often unpaid, bridge the gap between permanent staff and casual volunteers by working regular hours and remaining a valuable resource of volunteer energy. Students who complete the internship program promote their institutions in a positive manner by communicating their learning experiences with others.

Granting opportunities to interns is highly beneficial to the community as well. When cultural institutions thrive, the community thrives as a result.

“Having interns is a great way for us to revitalize ourselves. Having new ideas and a fresh perspective allows us to reflect on how and why we do things the way we do. It adds a sense of vitality to our organization,” says Marilyn Smith, SAAG Director.

This year SAAG, Galt Museum, and the U of L Art Gallery had interns in several capacities and expect to have more in the future.

“We welcome interns with an incredibly diverse range of opportunities and will work with students to create the experience that is right for them,” says Lori Harasem, volunteer and special events co-ordinator with the Galt Museum.

Jennifer Vanderfluit, who interned at the Galt and worked with the archivist to complete a digital conservation project, readily recommends the experience to fellow students.

“I think the internship program is an incredible opportunity that students should take advantage of,” she says. “Every major should have a similar program.”

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Students earn Beny awards

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:36:42 -0600

Katie Bruce, Amy Reber and Allison Crop Eared Wolf are the winners of the 2010-11 Roloff Beny Photographic Awards in Fine Arts.

The Roloff Beny Foundation Photographic Awards in the Fine Arts are intended to provide outstanding students with an opportunity for travel in relation to their photographic activity. Any new or continuing students enrolled full-time in any BFA degree program who have a focused interest in Photo-Arts are eligible to apply for this competitive award.

Due to the high quality of applications, three scholarships of $3,333 each are being awarded this year. Following are short synopses of each winner’s proposal.

Amy Reber (third year)

Continuing her self-professed “obsession with human communication and connectivity,” Amy has planned a project in New York City whereby she will extensively record her interactions with 14 people in the city. This project will culminate in a publication incorporating photographs and the artist’s writing, documenting the conversations verbatim along with a more confessional piece elucidating the affect of these meetings.

Allison Crop Eared Wolf (fourth year)

Allison will use her award to travel through First Nations territories during the summer season of cultural celebrations. She will use photography as a tool to challenge stereotypes of the “romanticized, dead or drunken Indians.” Allison believes that photography is a medium that can reveal the true identities of the First Peoples and “create dialogue, awareness and knowledge of our contemporary selves.”

Katie Bruce (fourth year)

Travel and isolation is the foundation of Katie’s proposal. Her two-part project involves recording her experiences with photography and journal entries during a trip through Ireland, Scotland, England, France and Italy. She will stay in one place only as long as it takes to make a connection with the next train and expose one roll of colour film. The second part of the project is to choose a location with which she is completely unfamiliar to create a contemplative space where she can produce a work with the accumulated images from her whirlwind tour.

To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Historic festival

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:18:43 -0600

The 1950s are the focus of the 2011 Historic Lethbridge Festival, May 3-8, with myriad activities planned for everyone in the family. The University of Lethbridge is hosting two events as part of the festivities.

The U of L Art Gallery has an exhibition entitled, The 1950s: Works from the U of L Art Collection & Galt Museum & Archives, in both the Main Gallery and Helen Christou Gallery.

“The exhibition was created from the perspective of the younger generation,” says Dr. Josephine Mills, director/curator. “It highlights areas of artistic developments and social issues from the 1950s.”

The exhibition was curated by museum studies interns David Smith and Allison Spencer.

The official festival kick-off opens with a fashion show (7 p.m., May 3) of 1950s-style clothing, hosted by Leslie Robison-Greene, costume designer and professor in the U of L’s Dept. of Theatre & Dramatic Arts.

Following the fashion show, enjoy a Hot Rock & Cool Jazz performance by
U of L music faculty and students.

For a complete list of events, visit historiclethbridge.org.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Conservatory connects to community

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:16:01 -0600

We’ve all used guidebooks, maps and compasses when hiking in the Rocky Mountains, but have you ever heard of a musical guide to the Rockies? That is what creator (and Calgary native) Samantha Whelan-Kotkas has produced.

Through the University of Lethbridge’s Feel the Beat concert series, Lethbridge audiences will get an opportunity to take part in the experience.

“After the success of the original Rocky Mountain Fairytales, presented as part of the U of L Conservatory of Music’s Feel the Beat concert series in 2008, we knew her More Rocky Mountain Fairytales would also be a hit,” says Breeanne Fuller, Conservatory co-ordinator.

Whelan-Kotkas is doing four concerts in Lethbridge on May 17 and 18 at 10 a.m. and noon each day. Tickets are still available for the noon shows at Southminster United Church.

Children of all ages are sure to enjoy the chamber jazz music performed by U of L music professor Dr. David Renter and local musicians Scott Mezei and Paul Holden in conjunction with some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians, including composer Tyler Hornby and pianist Chris Andrew from Edmonton.

“The Feel the Beat series offers free concerts year round for children, providing opportunities to hear and see classical music performed live,” explains Fuller. “Our programs are age appropriate, relatively short and always free.”

Supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Feel the Beat is enjoying its third successful season.

“More Rocky Mountain Fairytales showcases jazz music, and as an educational music school in this community, it’s important to show young children that jazz music owes a great deal of its legacy to the classical tradition. Duke Ellington, for example, loved classical music,” she says.

“Families of all ages are invited to the concert. Although admission is free, seats must be reserved before the show,” adds Fuller.

Seats can be reserved by calling 403-329-2304.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Open house invites public

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:14:37 -0600

Once again, the U of L Art Department is opening its studios and workshops to the public.

On Apr. 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, everyone is welcome to tour the Art Department.

“We want people to experience the diversity and excellence of work by students in art courses,” says Annie Martin, art faculty advisor to the project, which is largely organized by students. “Visitors will be able to experience works in a wide array of media, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, print, installation, multimedia and video, by undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts students. This is a great opportunity to see work by the next generation of artists.”

The Art Student Open House also provides an opportunity for the public to talk with students about their art practices, and take a look at the excellent art facilities on campus. Students, faculty and technical staff can answer any questions and guided tours are available on a drop-in basis by stopping at the welcome table near the stairs on the 8th level of the University Centre for the Arts. School tours can be arranged by contacting Erin Kennett (erin.kennett@uleth.ca).

In addition to the Open House, everyone is invited to celebrate the achievements of art students with the announcement of the recipients of awards for excellence in Art Studio and Art History/ Museum Studies. This takes place on Apr. 20, 4:30 p.m. in W817.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.