Fall 2018 Connections

CONNECTIONS

from the College of Fine Arts Fall 2018 Edition

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he University of Montevallo held the groundbreaking for its new multi-million-dollar, 36,000-square-foot Center for the Arts on Thursday, April 19 at 4 p.m.

“This facility is to create a new kind of environment that draws together students and faculty from all of the departments,” said Dr. Steven Peters, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “Our students and professors will have the opportunity for more conversations across disciplines in the arts and encourage more high quality, specific and interdisciplinary activity. This will be a creative engine for discovery and innovation.”

The Center for the Arts will provide opportunities OUR COLLEGE for campus and community use with the following key BY THE NUMBERS features: • Performance venues and dance studio • University art gallery • Theatre Department offices, multipurpose classrooms and studios • Multi-use digital fabrication lab • Scene design and wardrobe shops “I am thrilled that we, at Davis Architects, have been fortunate to work with the University of Montevallo and their outstanding theatre, music and art faculty and staff to bring to reality this wonderful new facility that they need and deserve,” said Don Cosper, Davis Architects.

“It’s exciting to be part of a historic project for the University of Montevallo,” said Ken Upchurch, TCU Consulting Services, LLC. “Working with Dr. Stewart on this project to connect the University, the arts and the Montevallo community has been a true pleasure.”

This new Center for the Arts will be a state of the art facility able to accommodate more students in the fine arts programs over the next five year period. Dr. John W. Stewart III, UM president, noted that “The cross function of disciplines under one roof will provide students with more marketable skills for their future occupations.”

112

talent-based scholarships

41

theatre majors working professionally during Summer 2018

Percentage of students employed within one year of graduation:

96%

Communication Studies

100%

Music B.M. Education track

90%

Mass Communication

100%

Theatre BFA

109

total degrees conferred 2017-2018

100%

of full-time faculty hold the highest degree in their field

CANDIDLY SPEAKING — FROM THE DEAN’S DESK We live in a world in motion. Construction has begun on an interdisciplinary collaboratory, the Center for the Arts at the University of Montevallo. Here, when it opens a year from now, a new level of career preparation will serve all our students. In addition, the Department of Theatre will have a new home and the Department of Art will have a new gallery. Montevallo and Shelby County residents will have new arts venues just off Main Street. The Center is a proud testament to many people who have given generously so that our students might achieve new levels of success. I am grateful for their generosity and for all those on campus, in Montevallo and across the county who are part of this investment in student success.

Dr. Steve Peters COFA Dean

THANK YOU to our generous Center for the Arts donors!

Anonymous Alabama Power Foundation Inc. Daisy Aldridge Janie Aldridge Robert and Peggy Altman Susan A. Blumstein Barbara G. Bonfield Natalie N. Bonifay Susan Brenner Randi Brown and Monique Fisher James R. Cash Beth Chapman Peggy Cohn Donna M. Cranmer Mary E. Davis Jim and Leann Dickson

Paul and Connie Doran Aubrey Garrison Elin O. Glenn James B. Gordy Brian Hagan Jeanne G. Hatcher Joe B. Hill Monica I. Hill Sharon Hogg Holle Family Foundation Kelli and Daniel Holmes Blue Phrog Gallery Mary B. Jordan William and Jeanetta Keller Dian Lawler-Johnson Richard LeComte Toni R. Leo Tim and Ellen Lupinacci Susan H. Martin Jean R. McCarley Patricia McKelvey

Mike and Sue Meadows Merrill Lynch & Co. Julie Ann Mezzell H. Fred Mickelson Eric E. Olson Brad A. Osborne Emily V. Pendleton Steven J. and Sandra Peters Steve and Annette Pickett Marie E. Poole Melanie A. Poole Luke Pryor Jo A. Rayfield The Sabia Family Barbara J. Sloan SouthWest Water Company David E. Thomas Jeremy Ward Carl A. Watts Cornelia W. Watts Raymond and Dorothy Wilson

2018 SUMMER CAMPS

Earth & Sky Camp

Young Musicians’ Camp

Mural Camp

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NEW DIGITAL FILMMAKING MINOR

here has been such a growing interest from students for experience in filmmaking that we are pleased to announce a new minor in Digital Filmmaking and Production in the Department of Communication.

Increasingly over the past five years, current COFA students and prospective high school and community college students have expressed the need for training in filmmaking. COFA students majoring in Mass Communication, Theatre and Art have wanted such training because they understand that well-paying jobs and a host of new businesses and production careers demand filmmaking experience. As an industry, filmmaking challenges students to incorporate communication skills, storytelling, business acumen, technological and aesthetic capabilities, creative and critical thinking abilities, interpersonal skills and first-hand experience

in collaboration. The interconnected fields of animation, game design, sports broadcasting, television and radio, advertising, digital marketing and entertainment all require experience in digital media and technical production. Since we have lacked such a curriculum to date, prospective students often turned to other universities. Problem solved.

Classes are currently available for course credit toward the new minor. Official enrollment will begin Fall 2019. The new filmmaking minor will be housed in the Department of Communication now that our state-of-the-art production facilities in Strong Hall are fully operational. The minor in Digital Filmmaking and Production reflects the collaborative, interdisciplinary nature of 21st century creativity and our commitment to achieving excellence in all we do in the college.

Oct. 25 COMS Day

12-4 p.m., Strong Hall Communication Studies senior seminar class organizes a day devoted to career options in communication with guest presentations and networking opportunities.

Oct. 26 Exploring Mass Communication

1-3 p.m., Strong Hall Career exploration workshops for high school and community college students in TV, film production and radio, plus multimedia journalism across all print, electronic and social media platforms.

FALL SEASON at a glance Fall 2018 — Free and ticketed events For latest details and performance times, go to montevallo.edu/cfa.

AUGUST Aug. 21

Guest Artist Andrew Miller, tuba; Laurie Middaugh, piano LeBaron Recital Hall

Aug. 27

Eun-Hee Park, piano LeBaron Recital Hall

Aug. 30- Sept. 20

New Work: Ying Kit Chan The Gallery at Bloch Hall

SEPTEMBER Sept. 7

“UMmm It’s Music” All or Nothing MontevalloForYou YouTube channel

Sept. 16

Guest Artist Daniel Szasz, violin; Alina Voicu, piano LeBaron Recital Hall

Sept. 21

“UMmm It’s Music” American Dream Factory MontevalloForYou YouTube channel

Sept. 24

Festival of Voices Concert Palmer Auditorium

Sept. 25 Lori Ardovino, clarinet/saxophone;

accompanied by Laurie Middaugh, piano

LeBaron Recital Hall Sept. 27- Oct. 18

OCTOBER

Prope Mortis The Gallery at Bloch Hall

4-7

Stop Kiss Chichester Black Box Theatre

5

“UMmm It’s Music” Aun Aqui MontevalloForYou YouTube channel

8

Concert & Lecture Series featuring enhakē LeBaron Recital Hall

18

Wind Ensemble Palmer Auditorium

19

“UMmm It’s Music” Rebecca Egeland MontevalloForYou YouTube channel

25

COMS Day Strong Hall

25

Concert Choir and University Chorus LeBaron Recital Hall

26

Exploring Mass Communication Strong Hall

26

“Scare My Shorts Off” Film Festival Strong Hall, Room 119

Oct. 28- Dec. 7

BFA Senior Capstone Art Exhibitions The Gallery at Bloch Hall

Oct. 29 Brass and Percussion Chamber Ensembles

LeBaron Recital Hall Red Alert Series, enamel and encaustic on polyethylene terephthalate, 4" x 4", 2018

NOVEMBER 9

“UMmm It’s Music” Bee and the Frets MontevalloForYou YouTube channel

9-10

Opera Scenes LeBaron Recital Hall

12

Woodwind Chamber Ensembles LeBaron Recital Hall

15

Jazz Ensemble Palmer Auditorium

15-18

CARRIE the musical Reynolds Studio Theatre

16

“UMmm It’s Music” Jordan Taylor MontevalloForYou YouTube channel

19

Alessandra Feris LeBaron Recital Hall

27

A Montevallo Choral Christmas Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel, American Village

29

Wind Ensemble Palmer Auditorium

30

Community School of Music Honors Recital LeBaron Recital Hall

enhakē

DECEMBER 1

“UMmm It’s Music” Live music show streamed on MontevalloForYou YouTube channel

2

Community School of Music Recital LeBaron Recital Hall

Festival of Voices concert

Tickets: montevallotickets.universitytickets.com Season information: montevallo.edu/performances-and-events If you would like to receive our monthly email COFA Calendar of Performances, contact us at cfa@montevallo.edu or call 205-665-6663.

Vallo Vision News

The UM College of Fine Arts’ student-produced, weekly campus news show each Monday evening. Mass Communication students in Multimedia Journalism and Broadcast Production collaborate to cover news from campus, local communities and the world. Vallo Vision News is available on Facebook (@ValloVisionNews) and the MontevalloForYou YouTube channel.

Eric Olson ’72

Success by Design

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Scenic design by Eric Olson. Above top: Birmingham City Stages (Miller Lite Stage), 1993-1996; above bottom: “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, 2003, Samford University, direction by Don Sandley.

ric Olson’s love for scenic design and theater in general started when a friend found him in Anna Irvin Dining Hall and dragged him into Palmer Auditorium to help move scenery for a Department of Theatre production.

Eric continued to lend a hand backstage, eventually taking over lighting duties in Palmer.

There, he illuminated performances ranging from rock singer Linda Ronstadt, to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra to, of course, College Night.

In his junior year, his scenic design professor, Bill Dannenburg, encouraged Eric to consider pursuing his master of fine arts from his own alma mater, the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

Eric took his advice and spent two intensive years at the UNCG Theatre Department, which averaged more than 12 major productions and 26 minor shows in three theaters per year.

He returned to Alabama in 1974 to become the faculty designer at Samford University in Birmingham, where he would perfect his craft and mentor students for more than 40 years. In

NEWSMAKERS

Above left: (from left) Ryan Foster, Caity Headley, Joanna Edmonson, Steven Mark Finley, Krisalyn Hammond, Cheyanne Smith, Emalee Butler Arroyo, Hannah Irelan, Kyle Limerick and Ashley Foster; above right: Dr. Roderick George.

Art instructor Ryan Foster and participating students completed a 17x48 foot mural in Birmingham at Christian Service Mission. This was the fifth mural completed by the group and the largest to date. The project was funded by a University of Montevallo creative grant and CSM. Assistant professor Michael Willett was named Distinguished Teacher of the Year in the College of Fine Arts.

The College of Fine Arts Concert Choir recently embarked on their second International Invitational Tour. Along with Dr. Melinda Doyle, Dr. Roderick George and Dr. Becky Halliday, students performed in a variety of musical venues in the United Kingdom and France.

1992, he passed the entrance exam for membership in the prestigious United Scenic Artists Local 829 in New York City, which opened numerous doors for even better scenic design opportunities.

One of his greatest pieces of advice for all aspiring designers, actors and thespians is to learn to work and share with other artists.

“Theatre only becomes real through collaboration,” he said. “So if you don’t like other people, learn to. Be nice to others: give credit to your co-workers.”

Before his retirement in 2016, Eric lent his coveted design skills to Six Flags Over Georgia, the set of Birmingham’s WBRC-FOX 6, The Alabama Shakespeare Festival and London’s National Theatre. In all, he has design credits for more than 400 productions.

This year, Eric is giving back to UM by pledging a donation to name the The Olson

Dr. David Callaghan, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre, will be serving on the Executive Board of Red Mountain Theatre Company in 2018-2019.

Brook Pruitt, assistant professor of mass communication, was accepted into an international film festival in Israel for his documentary “Essie,” which examines the extraordinary woodworking talents of Essie Ebrahimi, who, along with his wife Pat, are retired from UM after many years of service.

Dr. Eun-Hee Park, assistant professor of piano, will serve as Secretary for the Alabama Music Teachers Association during 2018-2020.

Family CAD Studio Design Lab in the upcoming Center for the Arts.

“That decision goes back to that scene design class with Mr. Dannenburg. If it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t have a career,” said Eric.

“I’m trying to open a door for somebody else.”

Scenic design by Eric Olson. Below: “The Rover” by Aphra Behn, 2008, Samford University, direction by Mark Castle, technical direction by David Glenn.

Department of Art Bloch Hall • 205-665-6400 Department of Communication Strong Hall • 205-665-6625 Department of Music Davis Hall • 205-665-6670 Department of Theatre Reynolds Hall • 205-665-6210

facebook.com/finearts.montevallo.edu Instagram: UM_fineartsmoments

FORTE FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY APRIL 2018

205-665-6663 montevallo.edu/cfa

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