Rockin' Downtown

Photo of the Week

The Department of Dance brings its popular show -- Dance Downtown Rocks! -- to the Riffe Center's Capitol Theatre this weekend (Thurs, May 3-Sat, May 5 at 8 pm), and welcomes acclaimed New York City guitarist and composer Vernon Reid (right) as guest artist. OSU dancers including Chris Havner, Ashley Mcgill and Amy Campbell (l-r, above) will perform in the evening event, which spotlights The Vernon Reid Project and Trisha Brown's Set and Reset/Reset. The Vernon Reid Project is rock and roll, up close and live, with 27 dancers and the musicians in Reid's New York band Masque giving a powerful performance. An intertwined sequence of choreography is featured, with works by Bebe Miller (Dance), alumna Kathleen Hermesdorf, Nicole Stanton (Dance) and visiting faculty member Ming-Lung Yang. Set and Reset/Reset is a variation of Brown's original choreography using Laurie Anderson's score. It is directed by visiting faculty member Abigail Yager with 11 dancers from OSU. The design team includes Jeff Haase (Design) and Dave Covey and Nadine Spray (Dance). Tickets are available from CAPA (469-0939) and Ticketmaster (431-3600). For details about the program, call 292-7977. (top photo, Stephanie Matthews)

Notable News

At the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences Spring Reception last week, Joy Reilly (Theatre) was presented with the Rosalene Sedgwick Faculty Service Award and Charles Massey Jr (Art) received the Honors Faculty Service Award. Certificates were presented by Dean Karen Bell at the event, which was presided over by Jackie Royster, executive dean. In addition, 26 students from the College of the Arts were honored with Excellence in Scholarship Awards.

The University Libraries' weekly ReadAloud program on May 3 features Karen Bell, Dean, and Vickie Blaine (Dance, emeritus) with an adaptation of their dance theatre program Heel Talk. The program is at 3 pm Thursday, May 3, in the Wexner Center Cafe and is free to all.

Robert Ladislas Derr (Art) exhibited Intellectual Economy, a two-channel video installation, in the Athens Video Art Festival in Athens, Greece, April 27-29.

The School of Music's new ensemble, OSU Fifes & Drums (above, l-r, Dave Wolf, Amy Garapic, Justin Bunting, Maria Finkelmeier and Joe Spurlock) show off their amazingly authentic uniforms stitched with skill by Louella Powell, faculty member at the University of Milwaukee's Theater Department (and mother of Music faculty member Susan Powell). Last Saturday evening, the ensemble presented a concert of historic music from Army Camps, Marches and Battles covering the years 1588 to 1865. The fifes and drums were joined by two choral ensembles from the School of Music, the Statesmen and Ladies First.

Sarah Weinstock (Art) will exhibit works in the back gallery of Camelot Wine Cellars, 958 N. High St. Stop by during the gallery hop -- opening reception is 6-9 pm May 5.

Vesta Daniel (Art Education) will be recognized as an award winner for Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship on May 10 at the Frank Hale Black Cultural Center.

A flute composition competition was held during the recent Johnstone Woodwind Master Series at OSU. Five pieces for flute and other instruments, written by composition students Antoine Clarke, David Nelson Tomasacci, David Morneau, Yoojin Kim and Matthew Saunders, were performed and judged. The winning piece was Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon by Yoojin Kim. Finalists were pieces by Tomasacci and Clarke. In addition, a performers prize went to flutist Morgann Davis.

Woodland Romance Staged

Photo of the Week

The School of Music presents the fast-paced satirical opera La Calisto, by Francesco Cavalli, at 8 pm Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, in Thurber Theatre. Above, Leah Edmondson as Calisto and James Van Rens as Giove rehearse the production, which will be directed by Peter Kozma and performed by music students. The Early Music Ensemble from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music will perform the sensual score on period instruments. The opera was first perfomed in 1651 in Venice, and is based on the myth of Callisto from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The story includes mistaken identity, disguises, love, cross-dressing and unexpected entanglements. For tickets, call the Theatre box office at 292-2295.

Ann Hamilton (Art) presents the "first sounding of the Tower" for a small group of guests Sunday, May 13, at the Oliver Ranch in California. The Tower is the 18th completed commission of site-specific art on the 100-acre ranch, nestled in the Alexander Valley. Hamilton's structure is an 80-foot tall concrete tower that encloses a double-helix staircase that serves as both seating and a stage. It was built as "vocal chord" for the Alexander Valley. The opening celebration will include a commissioned performance by Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble and a dinner hosted by Alice Waters' Chez Panisse. The Oliver Ranch is not open to the public; limited tours benefit non-profit organizations.


Digital artist Matt Derksen -- an Art & Technology and ACCAD alumnus -- returns to ACCAD this week. Derkson, who is with Rhythm & Hues studio, will give a talk about the company and his work in rigging on Tuesday, April 24, at 5 pm at ACCAD. The following day, he will review student portfolios. Rhythm & Hues is an Academy Award-winning visual effects studio in Los Angeles and is widely known for its computer-generated 3D character animation.

Reinhart Butter (Design) invited Germany-based company Karcher to sponsor a student project on pressure washers with special appeal to the North American market. Eighteen juniors in Industrial Design, working in teams of three, were briefed by Karcher's director of design and manager of consumer products in North America. The sessions earlier this month included performance demonstrations of medium-size electric and gasoline powered models in the Hopkins Hall courtyard. Students have spring quarter to generate design concepts based on semantic theories and approaches developed by Butter and grad students in design.


Five short plays by women writers will be read Sunday, April 29, at 7 pm in the New Works Lab at Drake Performance Center. All five plays look at women and their relationships, and include plays from Shirley Barrie, Vicki Cheatwood, Elaine Jarvik, Gerry Sanseviero and Katherine Burkman. All of the playwrights, who hail from across the country, are represented in the Theatre Research Institute's archives. Alan Woods (TRI), Katherine Burkman (English, emerita) and Beth Kattelman (TRI) will direct the readings. OSU students Cornelius Hubbard, Doreen Salkiewicz and Mary Vade Bon Coeur will act, along with a group of veteran Columbus actors. For more, see this blog.

Charles Atkinson (Music) delivered a paper as part of Music and Texts: The Middle Ages and Beyond, a colloquium and concert in honor of French literature expert Margaret Switten, at Mt. Holyoke College April 20 and 21. He also delivered the keynote address for the Midwest Chapter meeting of the American Musicological Society at Miami University in March.

Undergraduate voice student Taylor Stayton has been accepted into The Academy of Vocal Arts, one of the premier opera training programs in the US. The tuition-free school accepts only about 30 gifted singers -- usually much older than Taylor -- each year. It provides exceptional guidance and training in a competitive, four-year program where they are immersed in an intensive performance program led by some of the leading artists in the world of opera.

Udo Will (Music) has been awarded a University Arts and Humanities Grant for Innovation for his research project "Cultural Effects on Cognitive Processing of Prosodic Components in Music." The substantial grant will fund 5 graduate research associates for two years.

OSU's Film Studies program hosts the 2007 European Cinema Research Forum at venues across campus April 27-29. This international forum exists for discussion of European film and European film culture; it is the first time the conference has been held outside of Europe. Faculty and staff are invited to attend lectures from 40 renowned scholars and authors. For a complete list of panel discussions, click here.

Motorcycle Music

Photo of the Week

Bennetts Bike Concerto, an innovative piece composed by Music alumnus Stephen Montague (DMA 1972), had its premiere outside of the Royal Albert Hall in London on March 28. The work was played by a formal orchestra that included revving motorcycles and former World Superbike Champion James Toseland on piano. It was commissioned by Bennetts insurance company as part of its road safety campaign, the “Rev for a Reason” initiative, which raises awareness of motorcycle injuries and deaths. The eight revving motorcycles were joined by four trumpets, four horns, four trombones, two percussionists, a tuba and the piano. Musicians came from the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestras and SE10 LondonBrass, with Montague conducting. Bennetts Bike Concerto also was featured at Brands Hatch Race Track in Kent the following week in front of 125,000 motorcycle fans for the opening of the UK Superbike Championships.

Notable News

Award-winning artist and alumna Dona Nelson will be on campus through April 17 as the 2007 Dilenschneider Visiting Artist in the Department of Art. While at OSU, Nelson will curate an exhibition of drawings made by upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. The show opens Monday, April 16, at 5 pm in two locations on campus – 443 Hopkins Hall and 469 Hopkins Hall. Nelson will be on hand to give a short talk at the opening. The exhibition is free and open to the public through Friday, April 20. Hopkins Hall is at 128 N. Oval Mall. For information, call (614) 292-5072. Nelson’s visit and support for her work with OSU students is made possible by the generous support of Bob and Jan Dilenschneider.


Tony Mendoza (Art) is featured speaker at an Artist's Talk at 5 pm Monday, April 23, at the Wexner Center's Film/Video Theatre. Mondoza will talk about Flowers -- his latest photographic project -- and sign copies of his recently released Flowers book, which features images mostly taken in the Columbus area and in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The informal lecture is free and open to all.


Rock, Paper, Scissors! A group animation piece created by students in a course co-taught by ACCAD and CSE is featured prominently on the World Rock Paper Scissors website. The two-minute computer animated short, called Rock Paper Swords, was created by OSU students Chris Armitage, Cara Christeson, Jedrik Eliasen, Mike Ford, Kevin Johnsen, Tim Spicuzza and Eric Stegemoller.

Czech Theatre Design in the Twentieth Century is a new book edited by Joe Brandesky (Theatre, Lima) and called " a delight for the eye and an adventure for the mind." The book traces the sources of Czech stage design and is a compilation of essays and images revealing the valuable component of Czech contributions to the world of modern theatre. The book is published May 1 by the University of Iowa Press. See the press website for more.

According to Alan Woods (Theatre), nearly 500 scripts have been submitted for the 2007 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition! They mark the highest number of scripts ever submitted for the Heckart competition, which strives to increase plays available for the rapidly growing field of senior theatre. For more, see the Heckart Drama for Seniors blog.

Speaking of senior theatre, Joy Reilly (Theatre) has a company of 8 women writers/artists over 60 called Howling at the Moon. They are giving a performance at the Wexner Center Film/Video Theatre on April 24 at 4 pm, sponsored by Deb Ballam and The Women's Place and 6 other womens organizations on campus. The company and performance -- The Exquisite Art of Aging -- also have attracted the attention of The Art of Living, a cable TV show about retirement living, which will be videotaping one of their upcoming rehearsals and part of the April 24 event. The performance is free to the campus community. See the group's website for more.

Jazz Fest and Campus Music Hop

Photo of the Week

Enjoy the cool sounds of live jazz during the School of Music's 30th Annual Jazz Festival April 12-15. The weekend event features local and guest artists, the popular OSU Jazz Ensemble (above), directed by Ted McDaniel, and a high school jazz day. Concerts spotlight legendary Memphis guitarist Calvin Newborn, Columbus favorite Bobby Floyd (left), the OSU Jazz Ensemble with soloist Doug Pierce, and the Andy Woodson Band. Concert details are listed under "events" at right, or check out the college website. The Jazz Fest is the cornerstone of a bigger musical event all weekend -- the Campus Music Hop. This event brings live music to many venues along High Street in the university district, showcasing the area as a destination for entertainment and the arts. The Campus Music Hop is a collaborative effort of the College of the Arts, Wexner Center, University Community Business Association, Ohio Union, South Campus Gateway, Campus Partners and the Summit United Methodist Church. For more details, click here.

Notable News

Reinhart Butter (Industrial Design) taught a senior studio last quarter sponsored by well-known automotive supply company Grammer AG, based near Nuernberg, Germany. The subject was "truck drivers' seating for the North American market" and required extensive user-centered research and advanced concept development, all within the contraints of a 10-week quarter. The result was seven conceptual designs, one of which was chosen by the company to be fabricated as a prototype for publication and display at professional events. In addition to providing financial support to cover project expenses, company personnel and consultants participated in class sessions, attended presentations and invited the students of the "winning" team to spend summer '07 as interns in Germany. That team included Tim Payne, April Fiorelli and Dustin Lee. Payne and Fiorelli have accepted the company's offer to spend the summer in Germany.

Photographs featuring dancers from various disciplines -- including dance alum Kristina Isabelle, dance students Jessica DiBattista and Amy Campbell, and dance chair Susan Petry -- are featured in an exhibition called "The Red Thread Photographic Collection" at Les Galleries des Beaux Arts, 777 E. Long St. in Columbus through June 1. The photos are by Stephanie Matthews, fine art dance photographer.

CATCO's current production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning The Piano Lesson has many ties to OSU's Department of Theatre. The play features scenic design by Dan Gray (Theatre), props by alumna Stacey Siak, costumes by alumna Tatjana Longerot, sound design by Eric Mayer (Theatre), alumna Emily Thiel as assistant stage manager, and alumnus Curtis "Nitz" Brown as light board operator. Theatre minor student Damon Trammell is in the cast as Lymon. For information, click here.

James Sanders (Art Education) and a group of students recently traveled to Washington DC for Arts Advocacy Day. They included Connie De-Jong, Janelle Hallett, Jennifer Miller, Katherine Paschal, Keonna Hendrick, Mara Gross, Corrinn Conard, Erin Hoppe, Woong Jo Chang, Yangqiao Lu, Brittany Kiefer and Yang Yang.

Art education student Jodi Kitson has earned the Educational Testing Service Recognition of Excellence Award for outstanding performance on the Praxis II test. Her performance on the national test earned a score that ranks within the top 15 percent of all test takers.

Theatre alumna Carmen Mitzi Sinnott presents her one-woman show Snapshot in Roy Bowen Theatre on Friday, April 13, at 8 pm, and at the Hale Center on Saturday, April 14, at 3 pm. Sinnott graduated from OSU in 1993 with a degree in environmental communications and a minor in theatre. Both performances are free and open to all. Snapshot is described as “a true story of love interrupted by invasion.” It is written and performed by Sinnott, and directed by Michael Cecchi. Also involved in the production is OSU Theatre MFA student Jason Charles Banks, who serves as lighting designer. Sinnott received a Best Actress nomination from the Stage at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival for her performance in Snapshot. While there, the CEO of the Cape Town Festival also extended an invitation for her to bring Snapshot to South Africa.