College of Fine Arts Turns 60

Mar. 2, 2009 – You only turn 60 once and the College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah is doing it in grand style. Honoring a rich tradition in the arts begun in 1888, the College of Fine Arts was founded in 1948 to encompass the departments of art and art history, ballet, film, modern dance, theatre and the School of Music. The 60th anniversary celebrates each of these art forms with a series of speakers, exhibits and performances taking place March 7-13. A complete list of events honoring the College’s 60th anniversary follows.

Bobby McFerrin in Concert, Saturday, March 7, Kingsbury Hall, 7:30 p.m.
It was while working as a piano accompanist in the U’s department of modern dance that McFerrin first discovered he wanted to work as a singer. His first vocal gigs were at Salt Lake’s Hilton hotel. McFerrin will conduct two days of workshops in preparation for the concert and students from the College of Fine Arts will join him onstage to present his performance. For tickets visit www.kingtix.com or call 801-581-7100.

Isaac Chung Film Screenings and Distinguished Young Alumni Lecture
Sunday, March 8, Waldemer P. Reed Auditorium at Orson Spencer Hall, 7 p.m.
Film Front, the student film club in the Division of Film Studies, will screen Isaac Chung’s first feature film Six Days (2005), an investigation of the underground evangelical Christian movement in China in a free screening open to the public.

Tuesday, March 10, Post Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

Chung will be honored as the University of Utah Distinguished Young Alumni for 2009, followed by a screening of Munyurangabo. Featured at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, Munyurangabo played in the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival and won the American Film Institute’s top prize for narrative filmmaking, the Grand Jury Prize, at AFI fest 2007. Chung will share his personal insights into the filmmaking process following the screening. The event is co-sponsored by the division of film Studies and the office of undergraduate studies.

Wednesday, March 11, Post Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

The Film Studies Division will host a preview screening of Lucky Life, Chung’s current work-in-progress.

All screenings are free and open to the public.

David P. Gardner Graduate Lecture: Sir Ken Robinson, Monday, March 9, 6 p.m., Libby Gardner Hall, free and open to the public.

Sir Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation, education and human resources. In 2003, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the arts. His talent for conveying serious messages with humor, passion and wit has taken him throughout the world, speaking on the creative challenges facing business and education in the new global economies.

Founded in honor of former President David Pierpont Gardner, the David P. Gardner Graduate Lecture in the Humanities and Fine Arts features distinguished scholars and artists from the humanities and the fine arts in alternating years.

College of Fine Arts Assembly, Thursday, March 12, Kingsbury Hall, 11 a.m., free and open to the public
A College-wide assembly will honor distinguished alumni from each of the units in the College. Honorees include: Ken Little, art and art history; Victoria Morgan, ballet; Gesel Mason, modern dance; Michael Ensign Evans, theatre; Isaac Chung, film; and Stanford Olsen, music. Each alumnus is nationally and internationally recognized for their achievements in the arts. In addition, Bruce Marks, former artistic director for Ballet West, Orlando Ballet and Boston Ballet, will deliver a keynote address on the relevance of the arts and arts education.

Art Now: Recent Work by U of U Art Faculty, Thursday, March 12, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Marcia and John Price Museum Building, opening reception 5 to 7 p.m., free and open to the public.

The Marcia and John Price Museum of Fine Arts presents the biannual exhibition of artwork by the U’s art and art history faculty. This group of distinguished artists’ work reflects new trends in contemporary art as well as traditional practices in a variety of media continuing the legacy of visual arts at the University of Utah begun in 1888.

Featured artists include Edward Bateman, Laurel Caryn, Alison Denyer, Justin Diggle, Dave Eddy, John Erickson, Beth Krensky, Joe Marotta, Kim Martinez, Ray Morales, John O’Connell, David Pendell, Brian Snapp, Carol Sogard, Paul Stout, Maureen O’Hara Ure and Sam Wilson.

Art Now will remain on exhibit through May 10, 2009.

The Arts Unfolding, A Gala Performance, Friday, March 13, Kingsbury Hall, 8 p.m.
The gala concert honors the mission of the arts at a research university: “making beauty, making waves and making sense.” The performance features student work from each of the units in the College as well as the world premiere of ZIJI, a work commissioned by the College from Emmy and Grammy award winning composer Patrick Williams and internationally acclaimed performer and choreographer Edgar Zendéjas.

The commissioned work is collaborative effort among College units. The Philharmonia student symphony will play the score live; the cast is comprised of dancers from the departments of ballet and modern dance; the set design by Kim Martinez, faculty member in art and art history, is painted by students in that department.

All proceeds from ticket sales go directly to fund student scholarships in the College of Fine Arts. For tickets visit www.kingtix.com or call 801-581-7100.

For more information visit www.finearts.utah.edu, or www.kingtix.com or call 801-581-7100.