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HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
HIXSON-LIED
COLLEGE OF FINE
AND PERFORMING ARTS

 ‘Time
   and the
  River’       project blends Platte Basin
               imagery, chamber music
                                             FALL 2019
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
C O V E R S T O R Y                                                          FALL 2019
    D E A N ’ S                   L E T T E R                                                                                      4 ‘Time and the River’ project blends Platte Basin imagery, chamber music
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  For Alumni and Friends of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and
                                                                                                                                  		F E AT U R E S                                                                Performing Arts, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
    It’s a historic year for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as we celebrate the 150th anniver-                                 13 Blue bets on himself for creative career
    sary of the university through the year-long N|150 festivities. The arts have been an import-                                  18 Two Nebraska ceramics alumni selected as 2019 NCECA Emerging Artists        Hixson-Lied Endowed Dean
    ant part of the university since its founding. In fact, our original charter states: “The object                              20 LOVE project unites two art alumnae in Texas                                 Charles O’Connor
    of such institution shall be to afford to the inhabitants of this State, the means of acquiring a                             24 School of Art, Art History & Design alumna wins major printmaking prize
    thorough knowledge of the various branches of literature, science and the arts.”                                              26 College helps university celebrate 150th anniversary                         Editor | Kathe C. Andersen
         We were pleased to have the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts be                                           29 Two composition alumni commissioned for new works for                        Art Director | Ella Durham
    an integral part of the N|150 Charter Day Celebration: Music and Milestones on Feb.                                           		 N|150 celebration                                                            Photography | All photos by Justin Mohling unless otherwise noted.
    15. Created by Nebraska Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Andy Park and Directed by                                         30 Korff School faculty, students travel to South Korea
    Director of Opera William Shomos, the event featured readings by Marg Helgenberger and                                        32 Graphic design students, alumni receive awards                               Cover photo: The Platte River at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary located on
    Dick Cavett, as well as Carson School student Karen Richards, along with performances by                                      34 Carson Film enjoys success on film festival circuit                          the central Platte near Kearney, Nebraska. These images were captured by a
    the UNL Symphony Orchestra, University Singers, Chamber Singers, Varsity Men’s Chorus,                                        38 Hill takes advantage of opportunities for long film-editing career           Platte Basin Timelapse time-lapse camera..
    UNL Opera, UNL Dance and the Cornhusker Marching Band. The event also featured com-                                           42 Love of storytelling propels Raymond in animation
    missioned music by alumni David von Kampen and Garrett Hope.                                                                  46 Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts opens                           Special Thanks
         See photos from the celebration in this issue of our Hixson-Lied College                                                 49 New faculty begin this fall                                                  Hixson-Lied Endowment for assistance with the funding of this publication.
    of Fine and Performing Arts magazine. We also have stories on the                                                             53 Carson School students study at Shakespeare’s Globe in London
    much-anticipated opening of the Johnny Carson Center for Emerg-                                                                                                                                               How to reach us: Alumni news, story ideas or address changes may be
    ing Media Arts, as well as the special “Time and the River” Lin-                                                              		 D E V E L O P M E N T                                                        sent in any of the following ways. Via mail: Kathe Andersen, Hixson-Lied
    coln Friends of Chamber Music concert last April that featured                                                                57 Donor List                                                                   College of Fine and Performing Arts Magazine, 113 Woods Art Building,
    a commissioned work by alumnus Kurt Knecht and photos                                                                          61 Circle Lists                                                                Lincoln, NE 68588-0144. Via e-mail: kandersen1@unl.edu.
    and video from Michael Forsberg and Michael Farrell’s Platte                                                                  64 Korff School purchases 2 harps with support from donor
    Basin Timelapse project.                                                                                                      67 Lincoln Collects series opens with extensive glass collection                arts.unl.edu
         Thank you for your support of the Hixson-Lied College of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  facebook.com/HLCFPA
    Fine and Performing Arts.                                                                                                     		 D E P A R T M E N T S
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  twitter.com/UNLArts
                                                                                                                                    2 Dean’s Letter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  instagram.com/UNLArts
                                                                                                                                  10 Alumni Notes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  linkedin.com/company/unlarts
                                                                                                                                  36 Honors Day Highlights and Award Nominations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  #UNLArts
                                                                                                                                  45 In Memoriam
                                                                                                                                   71 Faculty Notes

    Chuck O’Connor
    Hixson-Lied Endowed Dean
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The University of Nebraska–Lincoln does not discriminate based upon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     any protected status. Please see go.unl.edu/nondiscrimination.
    twitter.com/charlesoconnor

                                                                                                        Photo by Madeline Cass.

2   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS                                                 3
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
‘Time
                                                                            cience, photography, musical composition and
                                                                            performance were brought together by Lincoln                   Jeff Dale installs a Platte Basin Timelapse
                                                                            Friends of Chamber Music, when they presented                  time-lapse camera on a tower overlooking
                                                                            Time and the River on April 27.                                the Wyoming-Nebraska state line near Henry,
                                                                                The performance featured nine Glenn Korff                  Nebraska. Photo by Mike Forsberg.
                                                            School of Music faculty, who performed an original work com-

      and the
                                                            posed by Kurt Knecht (D.M.A. 2009) that was inspired by and
                                                            incorporated visual images from the Platte Basin Timelapse
                                                            project of conservation photographers Michael Forsberg and
                                                            Michael Farrell and their team.
                                                                 The Platte Basin Timelapse project began in 2011. The proj-
                                                            ect tells the stories of the Platte River Basin using innovative,
                                                            multimedia content. It currently uses more than 60 time-lapse
                                                            camera systems placed throughout the 90,000 square-mile basin,

     River’
                                                            from its headwaters in the Colorado Rockies to the river’s con-
                                                            fluence with the Missouri River on Nebraska’s eastern border.
                                                                 Like chapters in a book, each camera tells one part of the
                                                            story of the water’s roughly 900-mile journey through the heart
                                                                                                        of North America.
                                                                                                            “Mike [Forsberg] and I were finishing up a documentary

                    project blends                                                                      called Great Plains: America’s Lingering Wild, based on his
                                                                                                        book,” Farrell said. “We were driving around on one of our last
                                                                                                        shoots, and Mike said, ‘You know what would be really cool is
                                                                                                        if we could timelapse an entire watershed.’ The idea was that

     BY
                    Platte Basin imagery,                                                               we could take that basic way of portraying change over time
                                                                                                        and stretch it out both for years, if not a decade or more, and
                                                                                                        stretch it out from some specific location to an entire water-
     K AT H E C .

     ANDERSEN
                    chamber music                                                                       shed. That’s pretty unusual.”
                                                                                                            Robert Kuzelka, associate professor emeritus of natural
                                                                                                        resources and the president of the board of directors for Lincoln
                                            The Platte River at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary                Friends of Chamber Music, first came up with the idea to put the
                                            located on the central Platte near Kearney,                 timelapse project and chamber music together.
                                            Nebraska. These images were captured by a
                                            Platte Basin Timelapse time-lapse camera.
4                                                                                                                                                FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS   5
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
Members of the
    Platte Basin
    Timelapse team
    install a time-
    lapse camera at
    Lake Agnes in
    northern Colo-
    rado. Photo by

                                                                                                               “We’re trying to
    Mike Forsberg.

                                                                                                                reach people                                                                                                                                  Knecht said the music reflected
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          the diversity of the river.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “I believe that the diversity of

                                                                                                                in a number of                                                                                                                            music and moods reflects the incred-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ible diversity and beauty of the Platte

                          “I’ve known Farrell since he was a filmmak-        trying to build that commu-
                                                                                                                different ways                                                                                                                            River,” Knecht said. “I hope that,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          combined with the video, the work
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          will expose a broader audience to the
                      er at NET, and I’ve known Forsberg almost as
                      long,” Kuzelka said. “The first time I saw their
                                                                             nity with us to think about
                                                                             being neighbors upstream and
                                                                                                                to care about                                                                                                                             tremendous beauty that the Platte
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          River has to offer.”
                      timelapse project, I thought this needs to be set
                      to chamber music.”
                          Both Farrell and Forsberg were interested.
                                                                             downstream of everybody else.
                                                                             We all live in a watershed.
                                                                             This is one other way to sim-
                                                                                                                where our water                                                                                                                               Once the music was completed,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mariah Lundgren from the Platte
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Basin Timelapse Project, pulled
                          “We’re trying to reach people in a number
                      of different ways to care about where our water
                                                                             ply open a door and reach peo-
                                                                             ple and get them to appreciate
                                                                                                                comes from and                                                                                      “I spent quite a lot of time on the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                website of the Platte Basin Timelapse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                website, and I jotted down different
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          images and video from nearly 22TB of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          archived material from the project to
                      comes from and what does it mean to live in a
                      watershed today,” Forsberg said. “We don’t want
                      people to think that we are apart from nature, but
                                                                             it and to see it in a new way.”
                                                                                 Kuzelka found funding
                                                                             through the Mid-America Arts
                                                                                                                what does it                                                                                    ideas that inspired me,” Knecht said.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                “I then determined that the best
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          create the videos for the performance.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “Mariah did an absolutely as-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          tounding job of pairing the music
                      rather we are a part of nature. So in this work, you
                      can reach some people by showing them a film.
                                                                             Alliance’s arts innovation grants
                                                                             program and additional private
                                                                                                                mean to live in a                   The Platte River at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary located on
                                                                                                                                                                                                                approach would be to do miniatures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                instead of one large piece. Time and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                the River is comprised of nine short
                      You can reach some people by creating a book. You
                      can reach some people by creating a website. You
                      can reach some people by live performance. The
                                                                             support to get the project
                                                                             funded. He then approached
                                                                             Knecht, an organist, composer
                                                                                                                watershed today.”                   the central Platte near Kearney, Nebraska. This image was
                                                                                                                                                    captured by a Platte Basin Timelapse time-lapse camera.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                movements each lasting around three
                                                                                                                                                                                                                or four minutes. Once the music
                                                                                                                                                                                                                was written, Mariah [Lundgren] and
                      Platte Basin is a great laboratory of learning and     and conductor, to commission
                                                                                                                                                                                                                the team over at the Platte River
                                                                             the chamber work. Kuzelka had one requirement for the project.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Timelapse took inspiration from the
                                                                                 “I do not want this to be a soundtrack for a movie,” he said. “I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                music to create the videos. The rela-
                                                                             want this to be integrated, and they all agreed.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                tionship between the two is dialogi-
                                                                                 Knecht reviewed the project’s website for inspiration for
                                                                                                                                                                                                                cal rather than subordinate.”
                                                                             his piece.

6   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                                             FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS   7
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
nonet of 1813—which is why we paired Kurt’s piece       performances in other places, from mountains to
                                                                                                                                                                                  with the Spohr on our concert,” he said. “Though        plains. That would be another really neat con-
                                                                                                                                                                                  the faculty knows Kurt from his time as a DMA           nector—and really powerful. Water is the binding
                                                                                                                                                                                  composition student at UNL, this was the first          agent that connects all of us together that we can’t
                                                                                                                                                                                  piece by him that I had played. It was fascinating      live without. It provides us life, and we should cel-
                                                                                                                                                                                  to hear him start with a simple motive and develop      ebrate that rather than fight about it all the time.”
                                                                                                                                                                                  the musical idea with such conviction—each move-            For more information on the Platte Basin
                                                                                                                                                                                  ment a miniature characterization.”                     Timelapse Project, visit http://plattebasintimelapse.
                                                                                                                                                                                      Bailey said it was exactly the kind of project      com/. For more information on Lincoln Friends of
                                                                                                                                                                                  that Nebraska can tackle.                               Chamber Music, visit https://www.lfcm.us/. ■
                                                                                                                                                                                      “This kind of project is rare, because it in-
                                                                                                                                                                                  volves so many facets and so many people: the
                                                                                                                                                                                  composer, the filmographer, the funding (with
                                                                                                                                                                                  grants, etc.), the sponsoring organization (Lincoln
                                                                                                                                                                                  Friends of Cham-
                                                                                                                                                                                  ber Music), the
                                                                                                                                                                                  performers, who
                                                                                                                                                                                  rehearsed and pre-
                                                                                                                                                                                                      “It’s exactly the kind of
                                                                                                                                                                                  sented the work,
                                                                                                                                                                                  plus all the techni-
                                                                                                                                                                                                       project we are able to
                                                                                                                                                                                  cal expertise—film,
                                                                                                                                                                                  screen, projector,
                                                                                                                                                                                  microphones,” he
                                                                                                                                                                                                       take on at UNL.”
       A bird’s eye view of the central Platte River in Nebraska taken at sunset. Photo by Mike Forsberg.                                                                         said. “It’s exactly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The Platte River at Audubon’s Rowe
                                                                                                                                                                                  the kind of project we are able to take on at UNL.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Sanctuary located on the central
                                                                                                                                                                                  It was a blast for the musicians. We look forward
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Platte near Kearney, Nebraska. These
    with visual images that generally related to the                  Farrell said he thinks the concert achieved              “I was very honored to have the piece played       to performing this concert again in Nebraska.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         images were captured by a Platte Basin
    titles,” Knecht said. “It was important to me at              their goals to educate more people on the project        with Mariah there. I was also happy that it was            Kuzelka is exploring the possibility of creating
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Timelapse time-lapse camera.
    this point in the collaboration to give her as much           and the watershed.                                       done by the faculty at UNL,” Knecht said. “I hope      a DVD of the livestream that NET recorded or
    room and freedom for artistic creation as I had                   “The audience was really engaged with this,”         people gained an appreciation for the beauty of the    re-recording the performance for a DVD.
    taken when writing the music.”                                he said.                                                 river and an appreciation for a slightly different         “We also want to do at least two live concerts,
         Lundgren has been with the timelapse project                 The faculty chamber ensemble that performed          kind of artistic collaboration.”                       one in North Platte and one in Omaha,” he said. “I’m
    for a long time, first as a student intern and now as         Time and the River, along with Louis Spohr’s Grand           Bailey, the Richard H. Larson Distinguished        working now on the cost and fund-raising for that.”
    a full-time employee.                                         Nonetto, op. 31, included John Bailey, flute; William    Professor of Flute in the Glenn Korff School of            Forsberg would like to see the piece per-
         “I really wanted to show people visually what the        McMullen, oboe; Diane Barger, clarinet; Jeffrey          Music, said the faculty had a great time with          formed elsewhere, in the spirit of the community
    watershed is and really have them get a sense of not          McCray, bassoon; Alan Mattingly, horn; David             Knecht’s new piece.                                    around a watershed.
    just what’s on the river, but where the water comes           Neely, violin; Clark Potter, viola; Karen Becker, cel-       “[The piece has] really interesting textures and       “What would be really cool is to see this per-
    from and what are all the elements that are a part of         lo; and Hans Sturm, bass. Professor and Director of      colors from the nonet—a chamber ensemble that          formance go elsewhere around the watershed,” he
    it. So it’s wildlife, it’s people, it’s weather,” she said.   Orchestras Tyler White conducted.                        has a history dating back to Louis Spohr’s famous      said. “Wouldn’t that be neat to have a series of live

8   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                     FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS   9
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
LO E C K A U D I T I O N S F O R T H E                    1958                                           1998
                                        LO N D O N S Y M P H O N Y O R C H E S T R A
                                                                                                  Jim Cantrell (B.F.A. Ed.) was one of 15        Kristin Hensley (B.A. Theatre) and Jen
                                        Sam Loeck (B.M. 2014) is a finalist for the Prin-         artists to be included in the internation-     Smedley, who co-created the popular web
                                        cipal Bass position in The London Symphony                al juried exhibition 10th Annual NUDE          series I Mom So Hard, have written a book,
                                        Orchestra (LSO), one of the world’s most presti-          Exhibition at Manifest Gallery in Cin-         “#IMomSoHard,” (Harper Collins Publish-
                                        gious orchestras.                                         cinnati, Ohio. The exhibition ran Aug.         ing), which was released this spring.
                                            Loeck performed in a set of concerts with the         16-Sept. 14, 2018.
                                        London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in
                                        March, as well as a set in August at BBC Proms and                                                       2 000
                                        on tour to Hungary and Latvia. He is also scheduled       1 979
                                                                                                                                                 Gregory Peters (B.A. Theatre) wrote Mün-
                                        to rejoin them for additional weeks later this year.
                                                                                                  Ronald Geibert (M.F.A. Art) recently           sterspiel for The Plagiarists theater group in
                                            Loeck is currently principal double bass for the
                                                                                                  had a retrospective exhibition at Wright       Chicago, which was directed by Jack Du-
                                        Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in Canada, which he
                                                                                                  State University in Dayton, Ohio, where        gan Carpenter (B.A. Theatre 2005). The
                                        joined in 2016. He received his Master of Music degree
                                                                                                  he taught from 1981-2007. Commonly art-        piece was featured in Rolling Stone’s “Real
                                        from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
                                                                                                  ists work with a particular theme, prob-       Life Rock Top 10” column in February. The
                                            Loeck has performed at the Aspen Music Festi-
                                                                                                  lem or issue for long periods, which is        cast included Amy Johnson (M.F.A. 2000)
                                        val; the Moritzburg Festival in Dresden, Germany;
                                                                                                  the case for Geibert. For 20 years he was      and lighting design by John Jacobsen.
                                        and the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. He
                                                                                                  a color documentarian, followed by 20
                                        has also served as a substitute bassist with the Chica-
                                                                                                  years as an experimental installation and
                                        go Symphony Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony.
                                                                                                  multi-media artist focused on Orwellian        2002
                                            “Sam was a truly exceptional student, one of the                                                                                                       Iren Tete, untitled. Courtesy photo.
                                                                                                  issues of deception and the oversatura-
                                        rarest who excels at the highest levels in all the in-                                                   Sarah Berkeley (B.F.A. Art) received a
                                                                                                  tion of stimuli. Recently, Geibert returned
                                        gredients for success necessary in any field: talent,                                                    $1,000 Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF)
                                                                                                  to the camera, then an iPhone, and then
                                        intelligence, work ethic and attitude,” said Hixson-                                                     from the Nebraska Arts Council. The IAF           CERAMICS GRADUATE HAD TWO WORKS ACCEPTED
                                                                                                  onto obsolete software to modify previ-
                                        Lied Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies                                                           program recognizes exemplary work by              FOR NCECA JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION
                                                                                                  ously made works.
                                        Hans Sturm. “He was originally planning to major                                                         Nebraska artists. It supports originating
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Iren Tete, who received her Master of Fine Arts in ceramics in
                                        in math at college, but after attending a summer at                                                      artists in their respective fields by providing
                                                                                                                                                                                                   May from the School of Art, Art History & Design, had two of
                                        a music festival on the recommendation of his local                                                      public recognition and monetary awards.
                                                                                                  1982                                                                                             her works accepted into the 2019 National Council on Educa-
                                        bass teacher in Lincoln, Mike Swartz, he changed
                                                                                                                                                                                                   tion for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Juried Student Exhibition,
                                        his mind. I would describe him as thoughtful, quiet,      Anne Hamersky (B.F.A. Art) has been
                                                                                                                                                                                                   in conjunction with the NCECA annual conference in Minne-
                                        funny, inquisitive, challenging and relentless. A         developing for the past three years a large,   2007
                                                                                                                                                                                                   apolis, Minnesota, last spring.
                                        voracious musician, he devoured advanced rep-             public installation that will hang for 10
                                                                                                                                                 Wendy Jane Bantam (M.F.A. Art) is the                 Only 34 pieces by 32 artists were selected for the exhibition,
                                        ertoire at a frenetic pace and yet, performed at a        years under the eaves of the historic Ferry
                                                                                                                                                 fourth artist-in-residence at the Lincoln         out of more than 530 works that were entered.
                                        highly refined level with a sense of ease and grace       Building on San Francisco’s Embarcade-
                                                                                                                                                 Cornhusker Marriott Hotel. She began                  “Of course I was surprised,” Tete said of her reaction to
                                        that belied his years. While at UNL, he is the only       ro. Her photographs grace the project,
                                                                                                                                                 her year-long residency on April 1. The           learning that two of her pieces were selected. “I was really
                                        bassist to have won the Play with the Chiara Cham-        comprising 16 8’ x 8’ square murals. The
                                                                                                                                                 artist-in-residence program allows artists        happy and excited to represent UNL at the student show. We’re
                                        ber Competition and the Undergraduate Concerto            project showcases leaders within the
                                                                                                                                                 to share their work and interact with             a great program, so I want us to be out there and for people to
                                        Competition, competing against his peers across           sustainable agriculture world of Northern
     Sam Loeck. Photo courtesy of the                                                                                                            guests on hotel property in the studio            know that we are in the top 10 of ceramics programs.”
                                        the School of Music student population.”                  California. For more information on the
     Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.                                                                                                             space for one year. During this year of res-
                                                                                                  project, visit go.unl.edu/r5w2.

10                                                                                                                                                                                                 FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS          11
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
2015
     idency, Bantam will spend 30 hours per
     week in the on-site studio creating pieces,   Scott Rieker (M.M.) received his Doctor of
     hosting gallery nights and networking         Music Arts degree in choral music Summa
     with guests to create a truly enriching       Cum Laude from the University of Southern
     experience for travelers. By the end of the   California. He has been appointed Director
     year, a legacy piece will be created and      of Choral Activities and Choral Music Edu-
     permanently displayed in the hotel.           cation at Frostburg State University in Mary-
                                                   land, where he inaugurated the first-annual

                                                                                                                                                                        Blue bets on
                                                   Tenor-Bass Sing Invitational Choral Festival
     2 01 0                                        for high school and middle school tenor and
                                                   bass singers and founded the Troubadours
     Bradley Peters (B.A. Art) and Ella
                                                   Tenor-Bass Chorus at Frostburg State. He
     Weber (B.F.A. Art) each received $3,000
                                                   also had his original composition, La Can-
     Individual Artist Fellowships (IAF) from

                                                                                                                                                                        himself for
                                                   ción del Caminante, published with Santa
     the Nebraska Arts Council.
                                                   Barbara Music Publishing.

     2 01 1
                                                   2 01 7

                                                                                                                                                                        creative career
     Anthony Blue (B.F.A. Art) returned to
                                                   Michael Villarreal (M.F.A. Art) received
     campus in March as this year’s Masters
                                                   a $4,000 Individual Artist Fellowship
     Week candidate from the Hixson-Lied
                                                   (IAF) from the Nebraska Arts Council.
     College of Fine and Performing Arts. Blue
     is an avid photographer, animator and DJ.

                                                   2 01 8

     2 01 3                                        Colleen Carney (B.M.) and her duo piano                                                                               By Kathe C. Andersen
                                                                                                   Colleen Carney (left, B.M. 2018) and her duo piano partner Melissa
                                                   partner, Melissa Terrall, won first place at
     Mallory Prucha (M.F.A. Theatre Arts)                                                          Terrall won first place at the National Federation of Music Clubs’
                                                   the National Federation of Music Clubs’
     was hired as an assistant professor of                                                        Ellis Competition for Duo Pianists. Courtesy photo.
                                                   biennial Ellis Competition for Duo Pianists                                                                                came here as a student athlete with dreams of playing in the NFL. That
     costume design at Texas Tech University.
                                                   in March with a cash prize of $20,000.                                                                                     didn’t really work out. I kind of fell in love with the art department and the
     She has also been inducted into United
                                                   They also received the Abild American                                                                                      art staff and was able to find things that showed me my passion, showed
     Scenic Artists, Local 829, IATSE, and was
                                                   Music Award (for best performance of                                                                                       me a direction. Once I made it to New York, I moved with the Nebraska
     appointed USITT Vice Commissioner for
                                                   an American piece) with a cash prize of                                                                                    foundation behind me. It’s been an incredible experience. . . . Nebraska is
     Hair and Make-Up.
                                                   $1,000. This biennial competition is for                                                                                   such a welcoming place, a beautiful place. I’ll always find home here.”
                                                   pianists between the ages of 18 and 38.                                                                                  With those words, Anthony Blue (B.F.A. 2011) accepted recognition as the           Anthony Blue at the Cadillac House
                                                   All repertoire, including a concerto, was                                                                             Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts honoree for Alumni Masters            during New York Fashion Week, 2017.
                                                   required to be performed by memory The                                                                                Week at the Medallion Dinner on March 8 at Nebraska Innovation Campus.                Courtesy photo.
                                                   Portland, Oregon-based Carney-Terrall
                                                   Duo has performed together since 2014.

12   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                              13
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
Each year, a selected group of exceptional               school I love and the place I love, is just crazy. It’s
                                                      alumni return to campus to share their experiences           an unreal experience.”
                                                      and knowledge with the University of Nebras-                     While on campus in March, Blue met with stu-
                                                      ka–Lincoln community through Masters Week.                   dents and faculty in the School of Art, Art History
                                                      Known as Alumni Masters, these individuals are               & Design; gave a lecture with information on his
                                                      proven trailblazers in their respective fields.              career and advice for being creative; and met with
                                                          Blue arrived on campus in 2007 as a highly touted        a select group of students at Sheldon Museum of
                                                      football recruit, but knee injuries kept him off the field   Art to view and discuss a selection of works pulled
                                                      in 2008 and 2010 and eventually ended his football           from Sheldon’s permanent collection by prominent
                                                      career. That’s when he refocused his energy on art.          African-American artists.
                                                          “This honor means so much. Coming here my                    “I remember being in their shoes not knowing
                                                      vision was just kind of sports oriented,” Blue said.         much about the world, so to come and share my
                                                      “So to be able to shift gears toward the arts and            experiences from graduating in 2011 until now, to
                                                           be recognized for the work that I’ve done               be able to share the information back to the univer-
                                                               after leaving here is amazing. Even within          sity, that’s just been my favorite part—to connect
                                                                   the art world, you never really know            with people that are possibly the future of what’s
                                                                         what your work is doing or who is         to come,” Blue said.
                                                                              viewing it, so to be honored             Associate Professor of Art Sandra Williams nom-
                                                                                                                                                                             noticed and pointed out sculptures and paintings I had never really noticed
                                                                                   by a prestigious univer-        inated Blue for Masters Week after having him in
                                                                                                                                                                             before. On days off I always let students know what I am doing in case they
                                                                                         sity like this, in the    her London and Paris education abroad class in 2011.
                                                                                                                                                                             are interested—and I completely understand when they are not. Anthony was
                                                                                                                       “I didn’t know him before he enrolled in my
                                                                                                                                                                             always happy to hang out and curious about new experiences. I also remem-
                                                                                                                   London and Paris class in 2011,” Williams said. “He
                                                                                                                                                                             ber how quickly he picked up French and how completely at ease he was in
                                                                                                                   was great, such a fun student to have in class. Even
                                                                                                                                                                             Paris. Most students struggle with culture shock, but he never did. It doesn’t
                                                                                                                   then he was so completely passionate about art. He
                                                                                                                                                                             surprise me that he moved to New York and is a world traveler.”
                                                                                                                                                                                 Blue travels the world as an avid photographer, animator and DJ. He has
                                                                                                                                                                             hosted numerous residencies in New York City while also playing various
                                                                                                                                                                             venues globally.
                                                                                          Anthony Blue reviews his career and tips for being a                                   He has also shot for Milan Fashion Week and has become a favorite among
                                                                                          successful creative in a lecture to students and faculty in                        Influencers for his easy-going approach and keen eye. His resume spans a
                                                                                          the School of Art, Art History & Design.

14   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                          FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS         15
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
range of clients including Nike,
     Revlon, B.E.T. and Zegna to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   “To start freelancing on my own and just bet-
     name a few. He has also DJ’d
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ting on myself, that’s the highlight,” Blue said. “One
     parties with many popular artists
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               of the first lessons I learned was how to invest
     including Migos, Virgil Abloh,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               in myself and put myself out there more and just
     Soulection, Big Boi, and more.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               take control over my life versus being an employee
         Originally from Dallas, Texas,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               somewhere and waiting for them to give me roles
     Blue said he got his first camera
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               or give me assignments. And I guess from there,
     around eighth grade, though he
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               as gigs started to grow, there was that moment of
     was initially more interested in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               wow, I can charge more because this company just
     creating videos than photography.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               gave me a bigger price than the last one. I think
         “It was more video, at first,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               just realizing that the stuff you are truly interest-
     because I could watch it back
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ed in, if you stay at it and consistently at it, it just
     or film stuff at school or film my
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               turns into your life, and it works for you. It’s just
     friends,” he said. “It was kind of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               been a blessing overall.”
     just creating these moments. My
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   In 2018, he photographed Solange Knowles, a
     mom always had photo albums,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               singer-songwriter and Beyoncé’s younger sister, as
     and I just always thought it’s
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               she prepped for the Met Gala, a fundraising benefit
     interesting that you can look
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Described by
     at these moments in time—like
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Vogue magazine as “fashion’s biggest night out,”
     wow, you can really just freeze
                                                                                                                                                                                           Solange Knowles by Anthony Blue, Jr.                the event welcomes celebrities, young creatives
     a moment. I was just kind of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               and industry stars.
     addicted to that.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   This year, Blue is focusing on his music. He and
         He came to Nebraska for col-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               a friend formed a record company called “Believe
     lege because it was the biggest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               in Yourself, Do it Yourself.”
     football program that offered
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   “This year I’m mostly focusing on trying to
     him a scholarship.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               travel and grow my music because it’s such a good
         “It just blew me away as a           Anthony Blue (center) reviews pieces by prominent African-American artists from the Sheldon Museum of Art’s collection with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               feeling for my soul,” Blue said.
     recruit,” he said. “I was here as a      students in the School of Art, Art History & Design in March.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Masters Week honor meant a lot to Blue.
     recruit and signing autographs. I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   “I’ve been cherishing the whole week because
     was like, wow, this is the life for me. I’m not even here         “I was just kind of filling that void of not being   creating those moments for my friends to put on
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               these types of opportunities don’t really come that
     yet, and people know who I am, so it’s just super en-        able to do anything with my energy and just being         Facebook and Twitter at the time.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               often for people who look like me,” Blue said. “I’m
     ticing as an athlete in Texas coming to a place where        productive in the downtime,” Blue said. “Being                After graduating from Nebraska, Blue got
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               just happy to be able to represent and show people
     there’s no NFL team. You’re the cream of the crop            on the sidelines hurt, but I was able to take pic-        an internship in New York that eventually
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               that this is possible. The idea that they’re honoring
     when you’re a Nebraska player.”                              tures and get different angles that the camera guys       turned in to a full-time job. But he eventually
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               me for things that I’m making just from following
         When injuries ended his playing career, he               couldn’t get on the sideline. They couldn’t get as        became a freelancer, which he said is the high-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               my heart—it’s just so powerful.” ■
     refocused on art.                                            close. So I was in the huddle taking pictures. Just       light of his career.                              Photos for BIYDIY Records (Believe in Yourself, Do
                                                                                                                                                                              It Yourself) by Anthony Blue, Jr.

16   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                                   FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS            17
HIXSON-LIED - 'Time and the River' project blends Platte Basin - University ...
Two Nebraska
                                                                                                                                                       an international audience during NCECA’s                               Joseph is interested in using ancient
                                                                                                                                                       annual conference. The intent of the award is                      processes in a contemporary context. By
                                                                                                                                                       to recognize, cultivate and amplify vital, new                     combining clay, bronze, wood and found

                                                                                                 ceramics
                                                                                                                                                       voices of creative endeavor in ceramics.                           objects, he makes mixed media sculptures that
                                                                                                                                                            Jurors for this year’s competition were School                push against the limits of material hierarchies.
                                                                                                                                                       of Art, Art History & Design Professor of Art                      Working intuitively, he creates order and
                                                                                                                                                       Eddie Dominguez, along with Linda Sikora, of                       meaning from the fluid nature of the creative

                                                                                                 alumni selected
                                                                                                                                                       Alfred University (New York), and Julia Galloway,                  thought process.
                                                                                                                                                       of the University of Montana in Missoula.                              To see his work, visit www.qwistjosph.com.
                                                                                                                                                            “What’s interesting is that Sean was here                         Scott earned his B.F.A. from Ohio University and

                                                                                                 as 2019 NCECA
                                                                                                                                                       14 years ago, and Qwist was a recent grad, so                      an M.F.A. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
                                                                                                                                                       it’s exciting to see our students doing so well,”                  Since then, he has operated Pomme de Terre Pottery
                                                      Qwist Joseph, “Dowsing for Before”
                                                                                                                                                       Dominguez said. “Sean represents the functional                    near Battle Lake, Minnesota. He exhibits his work
                                                      (exhibition view), site-specific instal-
                                                                                                                                                       pottery realm, and Qwist was picked because                        nationally and teaches workshops.

                                                                                                 Emerging
                                                      lation in a swimming pool, Riverside,
                                                                                                                                                       he’s doing really innovative, sculptural mixed                         “The NCECA Emerging Artist award is
                                                      California, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                       media art. It’s nice to know that within our                       humbling,” Scott said. “It has made me feel
                                                                                                                                                       program, we are supporting a real, traditional,                    a deeper appreciation for NCECA and the

                                                                                                 Artists
                                                                                                                                                       utility, pottery makers and also moving toward                     community they foster around the ceramic arts.
                                                      A teapot by Sean Scott.                                                                          more conceptually based, contemporary thinking.                    It has also validated my own creative process of
                                                                                                                                                       That’s a nice stretch to have, and we must be                      being an artist and the commitment and trust it
                                                                                                                                                       pretty good at it since two people got presented.                  takes to persevere. I feel indebted to my family,
                                                                                                                                                       But it’s not about us, it’s them. They’re the ones                 teachers and supporters. This recognition may
                                                                                                                                                       doing all the work. We’re just lucky to work with                  be in my name, but it is dependent on a larger
                                                                                                                                                       people who are that ambitious and that talented.”                  network of people who care. I hope they feel
                                                                                                                                                            Joseph received his B.F.A. from Colorado                      that this is their award, too.”
                                                                                                                                                       State University, and his M.F.A. from the                              To see his work, visit www.seanscottclay.com.
                                                                                                                    wo ceramics alumni from the
                                                                                                                                                       University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In 2016 he                             Dominguez said the Emerging Artist
                                                                                                                    University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s
                                                                                                                                                       was selected as an emerging artist by Ceramics                     program is one of the most exciting parts of the
                                                                                                                    School of Art, Art History &
                                                                                                                                                       Monthly and awarded a summer residency at the                      NCECA Annual Conference.
                                                                                                                    Design were selected as 2019
                                                                                                                                                       Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana.                             “They’re the stars of the new generation.
                                                                                                                    National Council on Education
                                                                                                                                                            He has shown nationally and internationally                   It’s a good honor,” he said. “Everyone is curious
                                                                                                    for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Emerging Artists.
                                                                                                                                                       and is currently a resident artist at the Roswell                  who is next.” ■
                                                                                                        Qwist Joseph (M.F.A. 2016) and Sean Scott
                                                                                                                                                       Artist-in-Residence Program in New Mexico.
                                                                                                    (MF.A. 2005) were among six artists nationally
                                                                                                                                                            “I’m honored to be recognized by NCECA,
                                                                                                    selected for the honor. NCECA’s Emerging
                                                                                                                                                       and I am thrilled to have such a fantastic
                                                                                                    Artists program recognizes exceptional
                                                                                                                                                       platform to present my work,” Joseph said.
                                                                                                    early career artists highlighting them to

18   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                             FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS         19
S
                                                                                ix years ago, the Dallas LOVE Project,
                                                                                organized by 29 Pieces and School of
                                                                                Art, Art History & Design alumna Karen
                                                                                Blessen (B.F.A. 1973), was unveiled. The 29
                                                                     Pieces organization partnered with more than 120
                                                                     community partners and 20,000 artists (from ages 5
                                                                     to 86) to create 10,000 pieces of unconditional love
                                                                     art that was displayed throughout the city in tribute
                                                                     to President John F. Kennedy’s legacy.
                                                                         Blessen is the executive artistic director and
                                                                     founder of 29 Pieces, which was established in
                                                                     2005 to develop and deliver arts programs to the
                                                                     Dallas-area community. It uses art to awaken,
                                                                     uplift and give voice to the creative human spirit to
                                                                     make genuine, positive social change.                        But 29 Pieces hasn’t actively pitched it to other
                                                                         “The LOVE Project was the biggest city-wide          school districts. One person who learned about it,
                                                                     public art exhibit in Dallas history, and it was a       though, was Judy Stone-Nunneley (M.F.A. 2002),
                                                                     response to the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy          who is the Grand Prairie Independent School
                                                                     assassination, after which Dallas was labeled a          District (ISD) Artist-in-Residence and Visual Arts
                                                                     city of hate,” Blessen said. “So we, in 29 Pieces,       Coordinator, where she has been since 2011.
                                                                     proposed to some of our colleagues that we do                Stone-Nunneley first met Blessen when she
                                                                     a big city-wide project of art about love and that       was pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree
                                                                     we use quotes from great poets, peacemakers,             in the School of Art, Art History & Design from
                                                                     visionaries and musicians about agape, about this        2000-2002. She was the gallery manager for
                                                                     bigger kind of love for all humanity.”                   the newly opened Eisentrager-Howard Gallery,
                                                                         The works were displayed in 67 Dallas                following the renovation of Richards Hall.              More than 1,500 students and 50 visual art
                                                                     locations. They were primarily exhibited along the           “Karen was one of the first artists to have a       teachers participated in the Grand Prairie
                                                                     Kennedy motorcade route, from Dallas Love Field,         retrospective of her work in the new gallery,”          LOVE Project last year. Courtesy photos.
                                    Judy Stone-Nunneley (left) and
                                                                     where he landed that day, to Parkland Hospital,          Stone-Nunneley said. “And that’s how I met her
                                    Karen Blessen. Courtesy photo.
                                                                     where he died.                                           because she came to the opening reception. The
                                                                         “The artworks were displayed in banks and            show was amazing.”

     LOVE Project unites two
                                                                     business windows, including the Sixth Floor                  Fast forward to 2013, and Stone-Nunneley
                                                                     Museum in Dallas for two months during the time          then heard about the Dallas LOVE Project.
                                                                     of the anniversary of the assassination,” Blessen            “The publicity was everywhere,” Stone-
                                                                     said. “That was a big deal in Dallas. We received        Nunneley said. “There was an all-day symposium

      art alumnae in Texas
                                                                     tremendous press—around 185 million press                in downtown Dallas for remembering that day of
                                                                     impressions. It was the right project at the right       the Kennedy assassination. All the writers and
                                                                     time. And in doing it, we developed a really clear       the Secret Service, journalists, newscasters—
                                                                     methodology for not only training people how to          everybody who had a link to that day were there.
                                                                     do the art, but also how to install it, how to take it   It was amazing.”
             By Kathe C. Andersen
                                                                     down, how to publicize it.”
20                                                                                                                                                                                                                           21
whole project when I saw it in Dallas in person          recreation center and fine arts center and gallery.       of them became very mixed media, and some of              and slowing the viewer down to read it, to look at
                                                                                                                   in 2013.”                                                     Stone-Nunneley said each piece in their LOVE         them cut out letters, some of them used rubber            it and to open up their heart just a little bit. Love
                                                                                                                       Stone-Nunneley applied for and received              Project is square, either six, 12 or 18 inches, so they   stamps. There’s just incredible variety.”                 really is a disruption on this pervasive negativity
                                                                                                                   a $10,000 grant from Southern Poverty Law                fit together during installation.                              Stone-Nunneley hopes students learned about          and division that we’re surrounded by right now.
                                                                                                                   Center’s Teaching Tolerance, a national anti-bias             The student and teacher artists began by             the importance of art through the project.                I think this is a beautiful interruption of our
                                                                                                                   organization to develop the Grand Prairie LOVE           selecting a quote about love.                                  “I hope that they had some joy during this,          thoughts right now.”
                                                                                                                   Project with 29 Pieces. She then contacted Blessen            “Karen had come up with a list of quotes by          and I hope it reminds them how important art                  Stone-Nunneley recommends the project for
                                                                                                                   last summer to begin adapting the LOVE Project           peacemakers, poets, spiritual teachers and leaders,       is,” she said. “Art can change communities. We            other teachers and districts.
                                                                                                                   for the Grand Prairie ISD.                               musicians, artists and writers,” Stone-Nunneley           talked about how artists have been at the forefront           “Go for it. It’s worth all the extra hours, and the
                                                                                                                       “We updated it to what our kids are going            said. “And then I expanded on that to include             of social justice change throughout history. This         process is surprising,” she said. “Karen and I have
                                                                                                                   through in this political climate and in our                                                                                                       kind of art activism      had some fun stories about how things you thought
                                                                                                                   community,” Stone-Nunneley said. “Our students                                                                                                     is so necessary, and      would happen didn’t or something you thought

                                                                                                                                                                            “This kind of art
                                                                                                                   are experiencing many challenges, in addition                                                                                                      it seems so timely        would go this way went a different way. We’ve had
                                                                                                                   to their schoolwork—poverty, homelessness,                                                                                                         right now. I hope,        so many different responses from the community
                                                                                                                   deportation of undocumented family members,                                                                                                        through looking at        that I never thought we would hear from, so it’s been

                                                                                                                                                                             activism is so
                                                                                                                   DACA, school violence and bullying. We wanted to                                                                                                   others’ art, that they    really cool. And something like this where we’re not
                                                                                                                   ask the question: ‘How can a variety of voices work                                                                                                see how a variety of      in a gallery or a museum is different. Just having it be
                                                                                                                   together to build a compassionate community?’ We                                                                                                   voices are what makes     accessible, I think people are really loving that.”

                                                                                                                                                                             necessary, and it
                                                                                                                   wanted something for our teachers that would be                                                                                                    up a community,               It’s been an enriching project for both of these
                                                                                                                   an enrichment as well.”                                                                                                                            so hopefully they         Nebraska alumnae.
                                                                                                                       After some initial meetings and Blessen helping                                                                                                will get more tools           “I just think it’s fantastic that Karen and I

                                                                                                                                                                             seems so timely
                                                                                                                   to train more than 50 art teachers, Blessen said                                                                                                   in their toolbox          ended up working together on this and hav-
                                                                                                                   Stone-Nunneley took the project from there.                                                                                                        about compassion          ing our Nebraska connection is wonderful,”
                                                                                                                       “They’ve been creating art ever since school                                                                                                   and empathy and           Stone-Nunneley said. ■

                                                                                                                                                                             right now.”
                                                                                                                   started last September, and then had their opening                                                                                                 storytelling and
                                                                                                                   reception in March for their exhibits, which are                                                                                                   listening.”               To see more artwork from the Grand Prairie ISD
                                                                                                                   all over Grand Prairie,” Blessen said. “Judy led the                                                                                                   Blessen hopes         Love Project, visit their Facebook page at go.unl.edu/
                                                                                                                   charge, and her teachers have just done a beautiful                                                                                                the students and the      grandprairie. To learn more about the Dallas Love
                                                                                                                   job with it. It’s really like the LOVE Project again.”                                                                                             viewers of the art take   Project and 29 Pieces, visit http://29pieces.org/.
                                                                                                                       Grand Prairie is a city with a population                                                                                                      time to consider the
               One of the artworks from the Grand Praire LOVE Project. Courtesy photo.
                                                                                                                   of more than 175,000 located between Dallas              other spiritual traditions and other poets. We first      words of these leaders featured on this artwork.
                                                                                                                   and Fort Worth. The Grand Prairie ISD serves             did this in February for Black History Month, so I             “Just as with the Dallas LOVE Project, I hope
         The LOVE Project was on display at the event       herself to Blessen.                                    more than 29,000 students on 41 campuses,                found more quotes by African-American authors,            that the Grand Prairie artists who participate in
     center where this symposium took place.                    “She remembered me,” Stone-Nunneley said.          including elementary schools, middle schools             poets and musicians.”                                     it have this moment in time to really consider
         “I just looked for Karen all day,” Stone-          “When you have a show with somebody, you spend a       and high schools. And nearly all of the campuses            They worked from the concept of illuminated            the words of these great leaders and visionaries,”
     Nunneley said. “I knew she was there somewhere.”       lot of time getting to know each other pretty good.”   participated in the Grand Prairie LOVE Project.          manuscripts.                                              Blessen said. “I hope the students have this
         Then, as she was waiting for a panel discussion        Last year, Blessen did a presentation about the        The project, featuring more than 3,000 pieces           “The idea of ‘word as image’ is to show how a          disruption in their lives to really think about love
     to begin, Blessen and her husband, Kelly Nash,         project at the Texas Art Education Association         of art, was on display this spring at each school,       word can be decorative and how it carries part of         and put their hands, heart and mind to creating a
     walked in and happened to sit beside her.              state conference.                                      as well as other buildings in the district, Grand        the meaning,” Stone-Nunneley said. “The students          piece of art that’s about love, and that they know
         “I just looked over and said, ‘Well, it’s meant        “There was a lot of buzz about it,” Stone-         Prairie Main Library, local churches, community          and the teachers were able to interpret their quote       that their art has purpose. And then it goes out
     to be,’” Stone-Nunneley said and re-introduced         Nunneley said. “And I was so impressed with the        centers and The Epic, a state-of-the-art family          with images or just with patterns or textures. Some       there and has the possibility of stopping a viewer

22   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                 FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS               23
Emma Nishimura, “Collected Stories: Harold Miwa,” 2017,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Her work explores notions of memory and how
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 etching and hand painting on gampi with wax, 17” x 22”. Im-

     School of Art, Art History &
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       history is interpreted and renegotiated, through
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 age is composed of text from Harold Miwa, 2015, interview by
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       a varied use of traditional and contemporary
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 artist on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. Photo courtesy of the artist.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       printmaking techniques. From miniscule hand-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       etched texts used in the topographic contours

     Design alumna wins major
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Nishimura traveled to London to accept the award.                       on maps, to photogravure on paper successfully
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       molded three-dimensionally, she incorporates
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           “It was incredible,” she said. “The
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       traces of history and individual stories exploring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           award ceremony was at the Royal

     printmaking prize
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       spatial and temporal realities.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Academy of Arts. It was a beautiful

                                                                                                       E
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           presentation of Norwegian arts and          Her current body of work explores how the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           culture.”                                   memories associated with the Japanese Canadian
                                                                                                                   mma Nishimura (M.F.A. 2013) won
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       internment have been quietly stored and packed
                                                                                                                   the Queen Sonja Print Award. The                                                                                        “Right from the beginning of her time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       away. Drawing inspiration from a traditional form
                                                                                                                   award carries a $50,000 prize,                                                                                          here at Nebraska, Emma proved to be
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       of Japanese packaging known as “furoshiki,”
                                                                                                                   along with a week-long residency in                                                                                     an extremely dedicated and intelli-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       family stories have been layered into the folds of
                                                                                                       Sweden. Nishimura received the award Nov. 8,                                                                                        gent artist with a great deal of artistic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       a wrapping meant to carry or protect. Memories
                                                                                                       2018, at a ceremony at the Royal Academy of                                                                                         potential,” said School of Art, Art
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       have been captured, recorded and archived.
                                                                                                       Arts in London.                                                                                                                     History & Design Director Francisco
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Souto. “Emma’s strengths are found          “She is special in the intangible areas that define
                                                                                                       “It’s all feeling very surreal still,” Nishimura said
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           in all the aspects of art making. Her       a good artist: curiosity, inventiveness, patience,
                                                                                                       of winning the award. “I was thinking it was just
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           character is perfectly suited to ac-        discipline and problem solving,” Souto said.
                                                                                                       an incredible honor to be nominated. And then
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           complish goals that challenge herself       “Emma has been one of the greatest students
                                                                                                       I found out I won, and I think I’m still speechless
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           beyond her own limits of technical          I have had the great pleasure and opportunity
                                                                                                       trying to talk about that.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           and conceptual comfort. Both her            to work with. I am extremely proud of her and
                                                                                                       With its focus on international graphic art in all                                                                                  meticulous attention to detail and her      her accolades speak volumes about the great
                                                                                                       its expressions and techniques, the Queen Sonja                                                                                     calmness provide perfect background         program we have here at Nebraska.”
                                                                                                       Print Award, established in 2011, is one of the                                                                                     to execute delicate and powerful
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Nishimura is grateful for this recognition of her
                                                                                                       most prestigious prizes for printmaking. The            Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway (right) presents the Queen Son-           work. Her very intense concentration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       work.
                                                                                                       award is presented every other year.                    ja Print Award 2018 to Emma Nishimura on Nov. 8, 2018. Photo: Nina          and rigorous attention to intricate
                                                                                                                                                               Rangøy/NTB scanpix.                                                         details are rather remarkable.”             “It’s such a deep honor to have received this
                                                                                                       Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway, a recently
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       award, and it’s incredibly generous,” she said.
                                                                                                       trained and avid printmaker, created the award                                                          Nishimura lives and works near Toronto, Canada, where
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “And it’s a real launching pad for me in terms
                                                                                                       to generate interest in printmaking and to                                                              she teaches at the University of Guelph. Her work
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       of getting international recognition and to
                                                                                                       encourage young artists to develop their craft.                                                         ranges from traditional etchings, archival pigment prints,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       encourage people to see my work and hear the
                                                                                                                                                                                                               drawings and audio pieces to art installations. Her work is
                                                                                                       Only 42 artists were nominated for the 2018                                                                                                                                     stories behind the work. My work is very much
                                                                                                                                                                                                               in public and private collections and has been exhibited
                                                                                                       Award by curators, museum directors and fellow                                                                                                                                  about Japanese Canadian history, but also just
                                                                                                                                                                                                               nationally and internationally.
                                                                                                       artists from all over the world. Nishimura was                                                                                                                                  about how we deal with past traumas and how
                                                                                                       nominated by 2016 nominee Joscelyn E. Gardner.                                                                                                                                  we carry stories forward.”
                                                           Emma Nishimura. Photo by Anna Gaby-Trotz.
                                                                                                       “I’ve always revered and admired her and her                                                                                                                                    To see more of her work, visit her website at
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Emma Nishimura, “An Archive of Rememory,” detail, 2018,
                                                                                                       career, so it was such an honor to be nominated                                                                                                                                 www.emmanishimura.com.        ■
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Open Studio in Toronto, Ontario. Photo courtesy of the artist.
                                                                                                       by her,” Nishimura said.
24   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019
College helps
     university
     celebrate 150th

     anniversary
     R
                 ed burned bright Feb. 15 as the Univer-      branches of literature, science and the arts.”
                 sity of Nebraska–Lincoln concluded a             Music and Milestones on Feb. 15 at the Lied
                 Charter Week celebration with music          Center featured live performances and multi-
                 and reflection on the Lied Center for        media entertainment and was presented by the
     Performing Arts stage, followed by fireworks over        Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing
     Pound Hall and Love Library.                             Arts, Lied Center for Performing Arts and Office
         Events during the week (Feb. 11-15) honored          of the Chancellor.
     the Feb. 15, 1869, passage of the legislative act that       “The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Per-
     formed the university’s charter as a land-grant in-      forming Arts was thrilled to showcase our stu-
     stitution. The original charter states, “Be it enacted   dents, faculty, alumni and friends in this special
     by the Legislature of the State of Nebraska that         Music and Milestones event,” said Hixson-Lied
     there shall be established in this State an institu-     College of Fine and Performing Arts Endowed
     tion under the name and style of ‘The University         Dean Chuck O’Connor. “My thanks to creator Andy
     of Nebraska.’ The object of such institution shall       Park and Director William Shomos and all of the
                                                                                                                   Professor and Director of Orchestras Tyler White conducts the UNL
     be to afford the inhabitants of this State, the means    faculty, students, alumni and friends who partici-
                                                                                                                   Symphony during the N|150 Music and Milestones celebration. Photo
     of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the various         pated in this monumental event.”
                                                                                                                   by Craig Chandler, University Communication.

26   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                   FALL 2019 | HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS         27
More than 300 artists united to perform,
                                                                                                                      including the UNL Symphony Orchestra, UNL
                                                                                                                      Opera, UNL Dance, Chamber Singers, Universi-
                                                                                                                      ty Singers, Varsity Singers and the Cornhusker
                                                                                                                      Marching Band.                                          Two composition alumni
                                                                                                                                                                              commissioned for new
                                                                                                                          Actress and Hixson-Lied Board Member Marg
                                                                                                                      Helgenberger read selections from Willa Cather’s
                                                                                                                      O Pioneers! Dick Cavett, in a video, read So This Is
                                                                                                                      Nebraska, a poem by Ted Kooser. Carson School of
                                                                                                                      Theatre and Film senior Karen Richards read from
                                                                                                                      Dress Like a Woman by Roxane Gay.
                                                                                                                                                                              works for N|150 celebration
                                                                                                                          Alumnus Jeff Zeleny, senior White House cor-

                                                                                                                                                                              T
                                                                                                                      respondent for CNN, was the evening’s emcee.
                                                                                                                                                                                          wo alumni from the Glenn Korff                trusting what a resource our young people are, so
                                                                                                                          The event also featured the premiere of two
                                                                                                                                                                                          School of Music’s composition pro-            that’s where it started.”
                                                                                                                      new commissioned new works by Nebraska alums
                                                                                                                                                                                          gram were commissioned to write new               Hope composed a four-minute piece titled
                                                                                                                      and Glenn Korff School of Music faculty members                                                                                                                            David von Kampen
                                                                                                                                                                                          works for A Celebration of Music and          Redlands to accompany a dance choreographed by
                                                                                                                      David von Kampen and Garrett Hope.
                                                                                                                                                                              Milestone, N|150 on Feb. 15 at the Lied Center for        Associate Professor of Dance Susan Ourada.
                                                                                                                          Shomos said he enjoyed working with Park
      Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film senior                                                                                                                         Performing Arts.                                              “It is for two cellos, two double basses, two
                                                                                                                      on the event.
      performance major Karen Richards read Dress Like                                                                                                                            Garrett Hope (D.M.A. 2011) and David von              marimbas and a vibraphone,” Hope said. “Susan
                                                                                                                          “I had a lot of fun working with Andy Park,
      a Woman by Nebraska English alumna Roxane Gay.                                                                                                                          Kampen (B.M. 2010; M.M. 2011) were each com-              and I wanted to do this post-minimalistic, looping
                                                                                                                      witnessing his creative vision for the production
      Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication.                                                                                                                      missioned for a new work for the event.                   work so it’s a piece of music that takes small ideas
                                                                                                                      unfold, while learning so much about the history of
                                                                                                                                                                                  Von Kampen composed Welcome Pioneers,                 and repeats them with small changes during the
                                                                                                                      the university along the way,” he said. “For the per-
                                                                                                                                                                              which was performed by the University Singers             repetitions to make it interesting and also to create
                                                                                                                      formance itself, I loved being in the audience where
                                                                                                                                                                              and UNL Symphony Orchestra.                               something that has some natural and open kind of
                                                                                                                      I could just revel in the wonderful contributions of
                                                                                                                                                                                  “We wanted something that was capturing the           qualities of sound to represent the prairie land-
                                                                                                                      my orchestra, choral, dance, composition and band
                                                                                                                                                                              tone or the spirit of the event,” von Kampen said.        scape with a sense of emerging and then a setting,
                                                                                                                      colleagues, as they led our students in such fine
                                                               Park was pleased to be a part of the historic event.                                                           “We wanted to find a text that would capture the          as if you’re going through a day.”
                                                                                                                      performances, showcasing the marvelous work that
                                                               “It was a very rewarding experience,” he said.                                                                 feeling of Nebraska—what this place feels like and            Ourada’s dance was titled Sea of Red and
                                                                                                                      goes on in the Glenn Korff School of Music.”
                                                           “It was also, at times, very overwhelming, but it was                                                              the people here.”                                         featured performers from her professional dance
                                                                                                                          To view more photos from the event, visit
                                                           a humongous cast. It was a challenge to coordinate                                                                     Becky Boesen, a local playwright, lyricist,           company, sloDance, which includes five dance
                                                                                                                      go.unl.edu/idbz.
                                                           this and to work with so many aspects of the uni-                                                                  director, actor and teaching artist and adjunct           alumni (Bree Gibbs, Katie Heckman, Beth Jensen,
                                                                                                                          A video of the event, recorded by NET, is avail-
                                                           versity to pull this off, but it was also incredible.”                                                             theatre faculty member at Doane University, wrote         Jordan Patt and Kathryn Hibbard Voight) and one
                                                                                                                      able on YouTube: go.unl.edu/milestones.
                                                               He also felt a duty to pull it off.                                                                            the poem for the piece.                                   former faculty member, Noelle Bohaty.
                                                                                                                          The event was made possible with support
                                                               “I just honestly feel that those of us who are                                                                     “The spark for the poem, Welcome Pioneers                 Hope says there are many connections to the
                                                                                                                      from Christina M. Hixson and the Hixson-Lied
                                                           lucky enough to be around at the time of a major                                                                   came when I read a quote by Chancellor Green,             university with his involvement in this celebration.
                                                                                                                      Endowment. Additional support for the Univer-
                                                           milestone, it’s our job to make it a big deal,” he said.                                                           where he spoke about the future of the Univer-                “I am proud to be both a graduate and to be on
                                                                                                                      sity’s N|150 Celebration was provided by Rhonda
                                                           “It’s our rituals, our celebration. It really was an                                                               sity in relation to our students, as being in ‘good       the faculty here,” he said. “It’s an honor to be asked
                                                                                                                      Seacrest and Earl and Patricia Scudder. ■
Elaina Matthews as Laurie in UNL                           honor to be at this time and place and be one of the                                                               hands,’” Boesen said. “I liked that. I like the idea of   to be part of the celebration.” ■
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Garrett Hope
Opera’s The Tender Land by Aaron                           people in charge of honoring this extremely import-
Copland. Photo by Craig Chandler,                          ant milestone. 150 years is amazing.”
University Communication.
 28      HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                29
“I think that creating worldwide relationships in scope offers artists
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the opportunity to share similar and different ideas, experiences, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           cultural practices,” Hwang said. “Such sharing will not only inspire their
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           own creativity, but it will also help the artists think collectively about their
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           role as an artist in society at the global scale. I hope that our performance
                                                                                                             Left to right: Karen Becker,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           will contribute to developing an international professional and educational
                                                                                                             Seung-Kyung Baek, Kelli Bower,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           network (between the U.S. and South Korea).
                                                                                                             Gayle Rocz and Hye-Won
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Becker echoed many of Hwang’s thoughts.
                                                                                                             Hwang. Courtesy photo.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               “Our trip to South Korea allowed us to share our work with the students
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           and faculty at both schools where we were presenting and will hopefully open
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the door for further collaboration,” she said. “I hope to learn about special
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           collaborative projects that might be going on with the Korean students and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              look forward to having an open
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              dialogue with them regarding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              music and the arts.…Perhaps in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              not-too-distant future there can be
                                                                                                                                                      The University of Nebraska–Lincoln delegation with representatives from Hansei
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              a collaborative performance with

                                                                               I
                                                                                                                                                      University. Courtesy photo.

     Korff School
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              students from Seoul and Lincoln.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              That would be amazing!” ■
                                                                                           nterdisciplinary and globally impactful collaborations     collaboration with dance and music students, a local visual artist, and taiji
                                                                                           can change mindsets, which brings understanding            practitioners at the Sheldon Museum of Art last October. We wanted to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Karen Becker rehearses for a

     faculty, students
                                                                                           and creativity to audiences throughout the world.          continue to do this kind of interdisciplinary collaboration while including
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            performance at Hansei University.
                                                                                           What started as a partnership with the University          our dance and music students in a professional performing arts concert.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Courtesy photo.
                                                                                           of Nebraska–Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music                Seung-Kyung Baek, a doctoral piano student at GKSOM, was interested
                                                                                  (GKSOM) faculty members Karen Becker (cello) and Hye-Won            in the grant and asked if Becker and Hwang would be faculty sponsors of her

     travel to
                                                                                  Hwang (dance) was taken to another level as they embarked           application. Baek then won a grant awarded by GKSOM and the Hixson-Lied
                                                                                  with GKSOM students to South Korea in May.                          College of Fine and Performing Arts. With the grant support, five music and
                                                                                      The travel was made possible through a new grant, titled        dance faculty and students—Becker, Hwang, Baek, Kelli Bower ( junior dance
                                                                                  “Student Interdisciplinary Creative Activity Grant,” initiated in   student) and Gayle Rocz ( junior dance student)—traveled to South Korea and

     South Korea
                                                                                  the Fall of 2018 by Glenn Korff School of Music Director Sergio     performed five dance-music collaboration pieces at Gyeonggi Arts High School
                                                                                  H. Ruiz. The grant is offered to GKSOM students to present          and Hansei University in May. In addition, both Becker and Hwang offered
                                                                                  interdisciplinary work at international institutions in order to    master classes to Korean music and performing arts students at these institutions.
                                                                   create relationships with music institutions at the international level and            “It has meaning to me because this project has motivated me to continue
                                                                   global visibility for the GKSOM and the university.                                to create music-dance collaborative pieces with my music colleague, Karen
                                                                       “Karen and I conceived a collaboration that can promote peace and              Becker, as well as dance and music students,” Hwang said. “Working with
              BY BRIAN REETZ,
                                                                   respect in the Lincoln community among people of diverse backgrounds               people from different disciplines is all exciting and meaningful to learn the
              G L E N N KO R F F S C H O O L O F M U S I C
                                                                   sometime early last year,” said Hwang, who is assistant professor of practice      unique approach that each person can bring to our collaborative creation.”
                                                                   in dance. “We co-directed a project titled ‘Rhythm of Peace-Movement                   The travel was a chance to connect the two countries and make our world
                                                                   for Change’ and made several interdisciplinary collaborative pieces in             even more close-knit.                                                                     Left to right: Karen Becker, Seung-Kyung Baek, Kelli Bower, Gayle Rocz and Hye-Won
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Hwang following their performance at Hansei University. Courtesy photo.

30   HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE of FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS | FALL 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     31
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