December 17 , 2004
 


Upcoming Events

Happy Holidays From
The University of the Arts!

 
Jan 15-Feb 14 Exhibition: Connecting our Faculties
Jan 18-Feb 22 Exhibition: Field Questions
Jan 27 NYC Recent Alumni Mixer (see article)
Feb 10-13 Theater: Crimes of the Heart
Feb 12

College Jazz Band Festival

Feb 17 & 18 Dance Senior Concert
Feb 18-26 Theater: The Gardener's Dog
Feb 23 Vocal Department Performances:
Voice Plus One
Feb 28-Mar 6 Senior Showcases

For more information on any of the events listed above, visit the
UArts Interactive Calendar
or call (215) 717-6140.

 

 

UArts Hats, Shirts,
and Other Gear

Available online at
The Shop @ UArts
https://secure.uarts.edu/

 


Looking for past issues of
From The Front Steps?

Archives of From The Front Steps are accesible via the UArts alumni website at www.uarts.edu/alumni/frontsteps.cfm


Graphic Design Department
On The Web

The graphic department's website is just what you'd expect it to be –
sharp, lively, full of alumni notes.
www.uartsgd.com

 

 

Holiday Hustle-Bustle at UArts

The students are leaving to go home, audiences are applauding final performances, the man who plays the trumpet at Broad and Locust is wearing a Santa hat…it's almost holiday break, and the first semester is winding down quickly. The line of eager buyers at the student craft show last week was at least a half hour long soon after the doors opened, with everyone clamoring to buy ceramic plates, metal fork/spoon combinations, brooches using fine lace, swirly glass bowls of oranges and blues and pinks.  

Family, friends, and guests enjoy food served in handcrafted vessels at this year's annual Crafts Banquet.

The School of Dance's “Rhythms of the City” programs (in collaboration with the School of Music and CMAC) were enjoyed by at least 4,000 people, all performances of the School of Theater Arts' Pippin were sold out, and the 100-student University Chorus performed at lunch for lucky students and staff. Their pieces seemed to soar all the way up to the glass “dome” of Solmssen Court, and the intricate arrangement of ‘N Zehn's (the a cappella group) Jingle Bells was amazing.

We'll be back in touch in January – and plans for spring, including several alumni events, will continue in earnest.

UArts on the road…and at home

We're coming soon to a city near you!

Thursday, Jan. 27
Social in the City
NYC recent alumni mixer
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Heartland Brewery
127 West 43 rd Street, NYC

Monday, March 7
LA alumni reception and student performance
Disney Hall

  

April 22 & 23
60th Reunion Celebration of UArts Dance
(See below)

Monday, April 25
NYC alumni reception & student performance
St. Peter's Church

Saturday, April 30
1960 - 66 CAD reunion
Hamilton Hall, UArts

Invitations will be mailed for these events. Call (215) 717-6198 or toll free at (866) 717-4090 for information. And as the year progresses we'll also be gathering alumni together in other cities.

Alumni Dancers... Get In Shape!

In anticipation of kicking off celebrations of its 60th anniversary, the School of Dance will host a spectacular alumni reunion weekend for all graduates April 22 and 23, coinciding with the spring dances in the Merriam Theater. Activities will include Legacy, a gala Friday evening performance; dance, jazz and modern classes; tours; brunch; a panel discussion/symposium; alumni career path presentations; and an alumni concert in the Merriam Theater from late afternoon into the evening. E-mail Maria Urrutia at MUrrutia@uarts.edu for more information.

Good As Gold

Almost 50 alumni who graduated before 1956 gathered at the university in early December for the Golden Arts Luncheon, which included a University greeting and update from President Corzo, prizes, a class photo and a tour. Bill Campbell (Adv. Des. '37) was recognized as the “wisest” alum (based on his graduation year), and three couples were honored as UArts love stories. All early ‘50s grads from advertising design or advertising, Peter and Virginia Petraglia, Elaine and Alan Klawans, and Ed and Sheila Letven shared their stories of meeting and dating here.

Need a “gift” for yourself?

Give the gift of learning through UArts Continuing Education at www.uarts.edu/continue/edu. Spring 2005 registration is now taking place for classes and workshops scheduled from Jan. 24 – April 7. Remember, alumni receive a 10% discount on tuition (cannot be processed online). Register by phone at 215-717-6095, fax at 215-717-6538, mail, or in person; call for hours and address.

Now, our gift to you (well, three of you)

The first three alumni who respond to alumni@uarts.edu will receive free tuition for the Business Basics for Artists workshop (normally $105) on Saturday, Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.! Whether it's been six months or 23 years since you graduated, you know there are various realities of being an artist you need to deal with. Instructor Pasquale Guglietta, a practicing attorney, photographer and entrepreneur, will help you face that real world with a little more savvy and knowledge.

Increasing Visibility on the Avenue of the Arts

The University strives to increase our visibility on Broad Street and in the city. We are currently considering proposals from three design firms for University signage along the Avenue of the Arts which can be seen at www.uarts.edu/alumni/sign1.cfm Let us know your feedback and opinions by emailing signage@uarts.edu .

Those “P” words

In the Calder blurb in last month's From the Front Steps, the name of the school in 1959 was mistakenly given as the Pennsylvania Museum College of Art. It was instead the Philadelphia Museum College of Art.

Another “P” word

This time it's Pinocchio, and it's Philadelphia's Enchantment Theatre Company's current production playing at Drexel's Mandell Theatre Dec. 11–23. This resident Philadelphia company has created imaginative theatre for children and families for over 20 years, appealing to all ages and drawing on fables, myths and fairytales for their productions. The production's entire ensemble is made up of UArts alumni (Kate DeRosa, Ahren Potratz, Christopher Roberts, Alicia Bova and Rachel Kantra); in most cases, each actor (except Pinocchio) plays multiple roles. UArts alumni receive a 20% discount; tickets are normally $12-$14 for children and $22-$26 for adults. Call 215-881-9899 or visit www.enchantmenttheatre.org for tickets and information.

Remebering a UArts Professor

A memorial service for former UArts foundation professor Charles Searles will be held January 17th at PAFA (the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts). Contact Regina Barthmaier at rbarthmaier@uarts.edu for information after January 10th.

Alumni Notes

More of alumni overseas:

Alvin Sher (Sculpture '64), who directs the New York Arts Program, exhibited at the Florence Biennale and the Sculptors Guild in NYC and installed sculpture at the New London (CT) Waterfront Park.

Holly Stevens (Writing for Film & Television '02) is a field producer for Shop Around the World, a reality show that is in syndication and airs on stations across the country. She travels the globe, scouting locations and supervising the day-to-day production of the series.

Anna Fine Foer (Fibers ‘80) decided she was going to be an artist when she was 11 and lived in Paris for a summer, visiting every museum and gallery in the city. She emigrated to Israel where she worked as a textile conservationist and studied at the Conservation Centre at London's Courtauld Institute, eventually working in conservation for the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. Now living in Maryland with her husband, Anna continues to work in collage and creates custom-themed pieces including ketubot, or wedding contracts. Her work has appeared at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Maryland Governor's Mansion and the Israeli Embassy.

Maximos Zachariadis (Jewelry/Metalsmithing '93) lives in Greece and has opened a jewelry store in Athens, where he also sells objects of art.

Walter (Rick) Knox (Illustration '60) was the print communications specialist (designer, writer, editor) for International Teams for 22 years; he now directly supervises their personnel in Ireland, France, Spain, Greece and Austria. As associate director/Europe he's a “coach” for the team leaders, who work with European nationals to build international teams that create transformed communities. He works in Wales.

Craig Feinberg (Graphic Design '02) has been working as a graphic designer for Fabrica, the United Colors of Benetton creative research center in northern Italy, for 1½ years. He's also been working with the World Health Organization, Colors Magazine, Fab Magazine, Krvkurva Laga Bag from Portugal, Reporters Without Borders from Paris and the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund. He returned to the states this month. Craig won the silver prize in the 2004 International DesignDo Competition out of Nagoya, Japan.

 

  

Drum roll, please:

Chris Giraldi (Music '96), a drummer, just performed on NBC's Late Night with Jay Leno. In January, his band will tour Osaka and Tokyo; they wrapped up another U.S. tour recently. He plays for RCA recording artist Rachael Yamagata (who can be heard on Philly's WXPN 88.5) and has been given the honor of endorsing Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks.

Paul Goldberg (Drums/Percussion '81) lives in North Hollywood and recorded his debut CD “Whim of the Current”(pictured below) at Universal Studies. He has also recorded and/or appeared for Showtime's The Richard Pryor Story, featuring Eddie Griffin, The Last Samurai, Along Came Polly and Otherwise Engaged.

Spreading their knowledge:

Benjamin Ridgway (Animation '96) is a professor at Detroit's College for Creative Studies animation and digital media department.

Alison Manthey-Stephens (Sculpture '92) is an art teacher at the middle school in Lake County, Colorado, after staying home with her two daughters for four years. She's also working on opening an art gallery in Leadville, which will hopefully be running by March '05.

Lydia Artymiw (Piano'73), a concert pianist, is the Distinguished McKnight Professor of Piano at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. On Jan. 30 she'll be giving the world premiere of composer Robert Capanna's (Composition ‘73) Magic Numbers Two: Reflections in a performance for the Philadelphia Chamber Society Series at the Convention Center.

Michel Gohler (Music Performance, Education '82) is an adjunct professor at New Jersey City University, where he's completing a Master's of woodwind doubling. He also teaches at the United Nations International School with Glenn Guidone (Saxophone ‘84) and will be subbing on the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles.

 

We love hearing from you and sharing your news!
Email updates and images to alumni@uarts.edu

   

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The University of the Arts is the nation's first and only university dedicated to the visual, performing and communication arts. Its 2,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs on its campus in the heart of Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. Its history as a leader in educating creative individuals spans more than 125 years.

www.uarts.edu