Recent news from the College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty
Kiira Schmidt Carper, Department of Drama
Kiira Schmidt Carper, assistant professor of musical theater, served as associate choreographer at The Houston Grand Opera, where she faithfully recreated Jerome Robbin’s original choreography.
London Ladd, School of Art
London Ladd, assistant teaching professor of illustration in the School of Art, illustrated “When I Hear Spirituals” (Holiday House), a book released in early January. Throughout the book, a girl connects with heritage, history and a higher power through the lyrics of 12 beloved spirituals and four seminal events in African American history.
Timothy Norton, Setnor School of Music
Timothy Norton, instructor of applied music and performance (jazz bass), will be releasing a second album, “The Wrenning Hour.” Listen to unedited mixes from the recording session.
Andrew Zhou, Setnor School of Music
Andrew Zhou, assistant teaching professor of composition, who, with Ryan McCullough, is the piano duo HereNowHear, released a double album on False Azure Records featuring Karlheinz Stockhausen’s iconic “Mantra” for two pianos, percussion, and ring modulators. The album also includes contemporary companion works commissioned for the duo and miniatures (including one written by Zhou) inspired by Beethoven’s “Rage Over a Lost Penny.”
Alex Jainchill, Department of Drama
Alex Jainchill, professor of practice of theater design and technology, served as lighting designer for “Gounod’s ‘Faust,’” which won Outstanding Production with Fewer Than Six Performances at the Berkshire Theatre Critics Awards. He was also the lighting designer of the world premiere of “Shit. Meet. Fan.” at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space in New York City.
David Tarleton, Department of Film and Media Arts, and Adria Dawn, Department of Film and Media Arts and Department of Drama
David Tarleton, professor and chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts, and Adria Dawn, instructor in the Department of Film and Media Arts and Department of Drama, were directors of the Kid Culture segment in season 1, episode 4, “Air,” of the Apple TV+ series “Yo Gabba Gabbaland!” The segment tells the story of Bailey, a young girl living in Chicago. The series is a reimagining of the previous award-winning kids’ show “Yo Gabba Gabba!”
London Ladd, School of Art
London Ladd , assistant teaching professor of illustration, recently celebrated the release of two picture books, “My Hair is a Book” (Harper Collins) and “A Voice of Hope: The Myrlie Evers-Williams Story” (Philomel Books). Read a research spotlight about his work.
Sam Van Aken, School of Art
Sam Van Aken, associate professor of studio arts, had his work “The Tree of 40 Fruit” included in Amy Stewart’s new book “The Tree Collectors” (Penguin Random House), which was reviewed by The New York Times (subscription required).
Izmir Ickbal, Department of Drama
Izmir Ickbal, assistant professor of theater design and technology, was selected as the set designer for the New York City premiere of “The Divining: Ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree,” a co-production of The Apollo and The National Black Theatre that ran in September. The production used movement, poetry, percussion, and visual art to encourage audience members to understand that their connection to the natural world is critical to their liberation.
Marianne Solivan, Setnor School of Music
Marianne Solivan, assistant professor of applied music and performance (jazz voice) was selected to work with Amherst College Press on “Re-Entry,” her latest album as a leader with her working band featuring music from a wide range of jazz and Latin repertoire.
Margie Hughto, School of Art
Margie Hughto, professor of studio arts, exhibited work in “Process” with Beth Bischoff and Darcy Gerbarg at the Louise and Bernard Palitz Gallery at Syracuse University’s Lubin House. The artists each challenged conventional ways in which an artist’s process can be understood. By resisting traditional notions of artmaking in their own ways, their works asked viewers to be more expansive in imagining how art can be made.
David Lowenstein, Department of Drama
David Lowenstein, professor of practice of musical theater, was invited to play Miss Agatha Trunchbull in Music Theater Wichita’s production of “Matilda,” directed by former drama faculty member Brian J. Marcum. A review noted, “Veteran David Lowenstein as Miss Trunchbull channels comic genius Peter Sellers at his most manic, squeaking and roaring in a fury that is both precise and overbearing, a bullhorn with physical prowess to match his razor-sharp verbal gifts.”
Juan Juarez, School of Art
Juan Juarez, associate professor of studio arts, had his series of works titled “South Texas (Looking for Ghosts)” selected for “The Last Sky,” the Texas Biennial, a geographically led, independent survey of contemporary art in Texas that opened Aug. 24 and is ongoing. This past summer, Juarez was invited to have the solo exhibition “Looking for Ghosts” at the Laredo Center for the Arts (Art Acquisition Exhibition Series) in Laredo, Texas, with one of his works acquired for the permanent collection. “Looking for Ghosts” focuses on the history of South Texas revealed through abandoned buildings and other geographical sites. The exhibition was ranked no. 1 of the top five art events in Texas for the week of July 11, 2024 on Glasstire Texas Visual Art.
