Avenues banner fall 2015
 
Natasha Levitas
Dear UArts Alumni,
 
The excitement and enthusiasm of UArts' 2015 Commencement ceremony poured out of the Kimmel Center, flooded Broad Street and flowed through Hamilton Hall! It was a celebration of the highest order complete with faculty/alumnus Peter Bertini MFA '79 (Modern Dance) and samba band Al� Brasil; keynote speaker Lynda Barry, whose wit and engaging presence tickled our funny bones and awakened our senses; and, of course, the UArts Commencement Ensemble and Vocalists' soul-stirring rendition of "With a Little Help from My Friends," just to name a few of the highlights. Congratulations recent graduates; we welcome you to the Alumni Association!
 
As we begin a new academic year, I want to send heartfelt thanks to outgoing Alumni Council chair Michele C. Kishita BFA '97, MFA '10 (Painting) for her years of hard work and enormous commitment. I am honored and excited to accept the position, and on behalf of the Alumni Council Executive Committee, I am thrilled to welcome our new Alumni Council members Sarah Rene MFA '09 (Painting), Eryc Taylor BFA '95 (Dance), Faith Brody Patane BFA '06 (Writing for Film + Television) and Cheryl Hazzard BM '71, BME '72 (Voice). We pledge to do our best to continue to lead the Alumni Association in new and exciting ways, and to collaborate and create along with the growing Philadelphia art scene, talented students and alumni.
 
First up is Alumni Weekend, October 16-18. Please join us! During this exciting weekend, you will have many opportunities to connect with your friends, old and new, participate in workshops, attend performances, and enjoy great food and drink as you mix and mingle at the "Making It" exhibition reception. More information can be found winthin this newsletter or at uarts.edu/alumniweekend.
 
In addition, throughout the year, the Alumni Council is planning to host more student and alumni events, which will be open to all UArts students and recent graduates interested in speaking with alumni about professional development, life after UArts and more. There will be opportunities to speak with alumni one-on-one, socialize and enjoy some refreshments. Stay tuned for more details.
 
Warmly,

Natasha signature  



Natasha Goldstein-Levitas BFA '00 (Dance Education)
Chair, UArts Alumni Council
 
SPINNING YARNS: 
Photographic Storytellers 
 
"In this era of the mass consumption of images, how can photographers be effective storytellers?" asks Photography Program Director Anne Leighton Massoni. She's shown us how: "Spinning Yarns: Photographic Storytellers," a provocative exhibit of 64 works by 23 artists curated with Texas-based photographer Libby Rowe, which considers ways in which photography serves as a vehicle for constructing tales. The experience of migration; the chasm between public and private personas; the divide between memory and actuality. Tales of relationships across generations, displacement and domestic space. Tales that "balance beauty and peculiarity," introduce characters and explore childhood experiences.
 
Spinning Yarns
"Plume Vs. Plume" by Grace Weston; Fuji crystal archive C-print, 15" x 15", 2003.

Storytellers and audiences depend on one another, stitching plot, character, place and events together. Tellers initiate the act -- teasing at meaning -- and rely on audiences to complete the yarn. We'll have the opportunity to share in the process as the exhibition concludes a successful five-year national tour with its final show in Hamilton Hall this fall from September 22 through October 9. 
 
"We chose photographers working with open-ended narratives to explore the meaning of authorship," says Massoni. In keeping with Massoni's approach as an artist and teacher, she and Rowe showcased work based on diverse techniques. Artists from around the United States, England and Ireland present work balancing documentary and pre-visualized photographs (stills and portraits), employing digital images, demonstrating a "re-photographic approach" (altering photographic prints and creatively lighting the results), creating complex tableaux, incorporating "found images" and using traditional photographic processes. "Photographs serve as souvenirs of the everyday... memory idealized... a moment preserved... unspoken narrative," says Ruth Zelanski of Nashville, Tenn., a photographer exhibited in the show.
 
The tour concludes with a public auction at UArts on Friday, October 9. Auction proceeds will benefit scholarships for UArts students whose work focuses on narrative photography. Professor Massoni, who joined UArts in 2013, is an advocate for the University and an enthusiastic member of the Philadelphia community. With colleagues, she served as coordinator for UArts' collaboration with the Print Center 100, a centennial celebration, featuring exhibitions and presentations at UArts. "I'm confident our students will contribute as much to the evolution of the medium in the future as they have throughout the University's history," she says.
 
LANDMARKS
   
Wesley Mancini
THREE DECADES OF LEADERSHIP 
Wesley Mancini BFA '74 (Art Education)
received the International Textile Market Association's (ITMA) inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the ITMA 50th Anniversary Gala. Over the last 32 years, Wesley Mancini, Ltd. has designed more than 20,000 textiles, rugs and trimmings, and worked with the world's largest fabric mills. 



Suib Hironaka
MOVING IMAGES
Nadia Hironaka BFA '97 (Film) and Matthew Suib BFA '95 (Photography) won a prestigious 2015 Guggenheim Fellowship. The Foundation receives nearly 4,000 applications every year for just 200 awards. Hironaka and Suib have been collaborators since 2008; their projects have been exhibited in museums, galleries and film festivals worldwide.



Brad Loekle
REALLY FUNNY!
Brad Loekle BFA '00 (Musical Theater), star of the hit TruTV series, "World's Dumbest," was selected by comedian Wanda Sykes to appear on the 9th season of NBC's popular show, "The Last Comic Standing." Loekle was Joan Rivers' personal writer for E!'s "Fashion Police," and has appeared as a guest on VH1, MTV, Oxygen and LOGO. 
 
 
 
Christine Hiebert A GREAT SPACE 
Drawings by Christine Hiebert BFA '82 (Graphic Design) were exhibited at the Morgan Library & Museum in NYC in "Embracing Modernism: Ten Years of Drawing Acquisitions," alongside the work of Matisse, Pollack and Warhol. Her work investigates the personal psychology of space. 
 
   
 
 
Alita Moses ALL THAT JAZZ
After her spectacular 2014 win at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Alita Moses BM '15 (Vocal Performance) was featured at the 2015 event, opening for jazz legend Al Jarreau.  
 
INTERSECTIONS 
A dialogue between two alumni, one established, one emerging,
whose work is making an impact on the arts around the world.

PIPER SHEPARD 
 
Piper Shepard  
 
Piper Shepard BFA '85 (Fibers), MFA '88 (Cranbrook Academy of Arts) has exhibited her work in galleries and museums in Philadelphia, New York City, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Helsinki, Finland and Birmingham, England. She is the author of numerous publications and has received four Individual Artists Awards from the Maryland State Arts Council in Craft. Shepard was a featured artist in Philadelphia's Structure and Surface Project. She has taught at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) since 1994. Her work is in the collections of the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Museum of Arts and Design, New York.

Her Vision: 
"I am interested in investigating the physical tolerance and qualities of cloth: its abilities to sustain and absorb, and to hold history and memory. I've been working with large-scale textiles that reference architectural elements as well. How does cloth function in an architectural capacity as division, protection, separation and ornament?

When did you develop an interest in Fiber Art?
My mom was a self-taught painter who encouraged me to pursue my artistic inclinations. Friends studying craft at PCA (UArts) motivated me and my professors showed me the possibilities of working in fiber. It was an exciting time.

How do your interests shape your choice of materials, and how do the materials then influence the direction of the work? 
Objects in our textile historical record serve as a model and guide for me. I move between the micro and macro, creating large-scale pieces based on delicate, intricate patterns. I have recently completed an 8x8 foot piece titled "Only Their Silhouettes," made of thousands of little fabric dots creating flowers modeled on Victorian textiles. History and memory are "material" (sources) for me as much as cloth.

What's next?
I've just completed a sabbatical and my work appears this fall in the Faculty Sabbatical Show at MICA. I'm glad to get back with my students. Teaching is a reciprocal process, a great exchange and dialogue. My teachers at UArts were influential in my decision to become a teacher-they were so engaged with their students and so enthusiastic about fiber art. Naturally, I'm working on a number of new projects, some still in the research stage.

Your last visit to UArts? 
Last year I was invited by Cynthia Thompson, director of the MFA programs in Book Arts + Printmaking and Studio Art, to serve as guest critic. We had three fantastic meetings with students. I continue to stay connected to former teachers and classmates. I was also back on campus this past May to receive the Silver Star Alumni Award during the 2015 Commencement Ceremony at the Kimmel Center. The UArts community will always be a part of my life.
YUNJUNG KANG 

Yungung Kang  
 
Yunjung Kang Post-Bacculaureate Certificate '10 (Fibers + Textile Studies), MFA '14 (Cranbrook Academy of Art)
earned her BA and MFA degrees from Dong-A University in Busan, South Korea, before emigrating to the U.S. Her work has been exhibited at universities and galleries in Michigan, New York City and at the Fiber Art Fair in the Seoul Art Center in South Korea. In 2015, she received a scholarship to participate in the Manhattan Graphic Center Residency Program at Brooklyn Art Space and relocated to NYC.
 
Her Vision: 
I am interested in material manipulation and transformation. How do ordinary and mundane materials become something special? New materials always make me curious and curiosity always leads me to experimental activity.
 
When did you develop an interest in Fiber Art?
I learned how to sew by observing my grandmother. I used to darn the holes in my family's socks for fun! I also made doll clothes and even mysterious abstract forms. My mother was worried about my using sharp needles, but she was surprised by the unique things I created.
 
How do your interests shape your choice of materials, and how do the materials then influence the direction of the work?
I wanted to study abroad because I believed it would push me further to become a greater maker and thinker. When I came to Philadelphia, I was fascinated by the new sources for my work: Dollar Stores, Staples, hardware stores. It was incredible. I began cutting, attaching, accumulating. The materials sparked experimentation, which inspired new uses for the materials. I became obsessed with repetitive action, making more and more.
 
What's next?
I just completed work with the International Opera Theater of Philadelphia making costumes and sets for the Theater's August premier in Citta Della Pieve, Italy, of "Errori," based on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. Two UArts Fiber students were interns on the project. I wonder if my work will be influenced by the opera performance, and I look forward to seeing where my work is going next.

Your last visit to UArts? 
My teachers at UArts were amazing and I have been motivated, as well, by alumni who have accomplished so much in the field. They inspire me, and I hope one day to inspire others in the same way. I was very fortunate last winter to have a show with Maggie Cassie BFA '05 (Crafts) in Anderson Hall, curated by faculty member Mi-Kyoung Lee MFA '96 (Book Arts + Printmaking)
 

Each October, the University of the Arts welcomes family, friends and alumni back to Center City Philadelphia to connect with one another and experience campus life.
 
Alumni Weekend will take place October 16-18, 2015. Please make plans to join us for this great weekend! Register for at uarts.edu/alumniweekend.

MILESTONE BRUNCH:
Hosted by the Alumni Association, the Milestone Brunch invites the classes of 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990, 1985, 1980, 1975, 1970, 1965 and beyond to celebrate their milestone reunion together! This event is a great opportunity to reconnect with friends old and new. Class photos will be taken. $20 per person.

Making It logo 2015
MAKING IT RECEPTION: 
Join faculty, alumni and staff for a reception and exhibition featuring the work of recent alumni and a musical performance by a School of Music ensemble. Enjoy light fare, beer and wine, and don't forget to capture the moment at the free, professional photo booth. This year, the jury for "Making It" features distinguished members of the Philadelphia arts community including Sara McCorriston BFA '09 (Theater Design + Technology) and Jason Chen BFA '08 (Animation), co-founders of Philadelphia's renowned Paradigm Gallery + Studio.

Evan Solot
Honoring Evan Solot on his retirement from UArts
EVAN SOLOT TRIBUTE CONCERT & SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER
Saturday, October 17 at 2pm
Caplan Recital Hall, Terra Hall, 17th floor
211 South Broad Street 

Join us for an afternoon concert and cocktail reception, featuring alumni musicians and special guests, to celebrate Evan's impressive career and to honor him on his retirement from UArts. All proceeds benefit the Evan Solot Scholarship Fund for students in the School of Music. To purchase tickets or to make a donation to the Evan Solot Scholarship Fund, please visit uarts.edu/SolotTribute. You may also call (215) 717-6147 for more information. 



ALUMNI WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
  
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
REGISTRATION & HOSPITALITY
4:00-6:00 p.m.
Hamilton Hall Lobby
320 South Broad Street 
WELCOME BACK HAPPY HOUR
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Misconduct Tavern
1511 Locust Street 
 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
MILESTONE BRUNCH
(additional ticket cost)
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Solmssen Court
Hamilton Hall
320 South Broad Street

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS OR THEATER PRESENTATION
2:00-3:30 p.m.
(Location TBD) 
EVAN SOLOT TRIBUTE
CONCERT & SCHOLARSHIP
FUNDRAISER
(additional ticket cost)
2:00-4:30 p.m.
Caplan Recital Hall,
Terra Hall
211 South Broad Street 
2015 MAKING IT RECEPTION
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Solmssen Court, Hamilton Hall
320 South Broad Street

MUSIC, DANCE & THEATER
ENSEMBLES
7:30 p.m.
(Location TBD) 
 
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 
FAREWELL BRUNCH
10:00 a.m.
Furness Courtyard, Furness Hall
1499 Pine Street 
 
POST

P.O.S.T. (Philadelphia Open Studio Tours)
On October 3-4, UArts has 5 official stops during P.O.S.T. Center City-East.

TAKING REFUGE 
Aliya Naumoff
Sol Mednick Gallery
211 South Broad Street
15th floor
 
STUDENTS FROM THE CRAFT + MATERIAL STUDIES, INTERDISCIPLINARY FINE ARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAMS
CBS Auditorium
320 South Broad Street
+
Gallery 224
333 South Broad Street 
SPINNING YARNS:
PHOTOGRAPHIC STORYTELLERS
Hamilton & Arronson Galleries
320 South Broad Street
 
VIRTUAL SCULPTURES:
TEN YEARS OF 3D EXPLORATIONS
Michelle Rothwell MID '97 (Industrial Design)
President's Office Gallery
320 South Broad Street
 
Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, a program of the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, is the largest tour of artist studios and creative workspaces in the region and one of the premier open studio tour events in the country. 
 
Please send all comments, kudos and criticism to [email protected].

Visit schoolstore.uarts.edu and use coupon code NEWSLETTER for a 10% discount on all UArts merchandise (excluding textbooks).