April 2009
Faculty Accomplishments
BRUCE BENNETT Professor Bennett’s new chapbook VISITATION: A Sequence of Sonnets was published by FootHills Publishing. Professor Bennett, along with Dorothy Bittner ’08, and Caitlin Rice ’08, who also had chapbooks published by FootHills, read at Wells on March 26th.
In addition, Professor Bennett had two poems published in THE LYRIC and a poem published in the Canadian magazine, Ars Medica.
WILLIAM V. GANIS had his review of the Gwen MacGregor and Sandra Rechico “Maps in Doubt” exhibition shown at the new Mercer Union, A Centre for Contemporary Art, Toronto, ON published in issue No. 109, winter 2009 of Border Crossingsmagazine.
Dr. Ganis’s review of Ivana Šrámková’s “Orbis Pictus” exhibition at Heller Gallery, New York, NY was printed in No. 114, the Winter 2009 issue of Glass: The UrbanGlass Art Quarterly, for whom Professor Ganis is also a contributing editor.
Working with the Brooklyn photographer Joni Sternbach, he organized and presented the exhibition, “Surfland” at the Wells College String Room Gallery. His essay “Wetsuits and Wet Plates” accompanied this show of digital prints and tintype photographs.
SIOUXSIE GRADY directed the Spring Faculty Production of "The Maids" by Jean Genet. "The Maids" was on the program with "Escurial" directed by Joe DeForest, and "Absurdist Motions" choreographed and performed by Eden Kostick '10.
"The Maids" and "Escurial" won 6 awards from the Theatre Association of New York State.
Outstanding Accomplishment in Scenic and Costume Designs to Roberta G. Kolpakas Excellence
in Lighting Design to Joe DeForest Excellence in Directing to Joe DeForest Excellence
in Directing to Siouxsie Grady Excellence in Acting to Julian Trutmann as the King
Excellence in Ensemble Acting to Becca Danis, Catherine Marshall and Elsa Dial
Comments: The Wells College production An Absurd Performance provided an evening of
thought provoking theatre for the audience and exciting acting challenges for the
cast. Under the skillful direction of Joe DeForest and Siouxsie Grady the actors accepted
the challenge and raised the bar for the Theatre Department. Talented Scenic and Costume
Designer Roberta G. Kolpakas’ work was stunning and unified the two one-act plays
and the intermission dance performance.
Complimenting the performance, Siouxsie and Joe gave a presentation entitled, "Absurdist Theatre: Directing Genet and Ghelderode" as a part of "Absurd Week".
ROBERTA KOLPAKAS Roberta Kolpakas attended, and assisted four Wells College
students attending, the 49th Annual United States Institute for Theatre Technology
Conference in Cincinnati, OH from March 18-21. Professor Kolpakas and students
attended the "Tech Expo" and conference sessions on topics ranging from “Opportunities
for Interactive Design” to ”Next Generation Digital Portfolios” to “Draping Over Corsets”.
Students also met with Graduate School representatives and interviewed for internship
opportunities in the theatre/design field.
Professor Kolpakas recently completed here premier costume design at the State University
of New York at Cortland for the musical comedy “Guys and Dolls”, directed by Kevin
Halpin. In retrospect, Professor Kolpakas states: “It was a challenge to bring the
darkness of Runyon and the 1930?s and visually bring it to this production. It is
a lighter piece and set following World War II, but the undertones remain in the Depression
which is so relevant to our current national situation. I think we succeeded in creating
a piece that mixes the light and the dark, visually and mentally.” Wells College
student, Caroline Horton, assisted with the realization of the design. The
performances at the SUNY Cortland Dowd Fine Arts Center ran for two weekends from
March 27 to April 5.
MILENE MORFEI joined Tom Gunderson and Elly Venture at a one-day seminar at Syracuse University on April 9. The seminar, "Presidents Climate Commitment -- From Signature to Action" (sponsored by NYAPPA) provided implementation strategies and funding opportunities for institutions who either had already signed or were planning to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
VIC I. MUÑOZ attended the Spring Consolidated Meetings of the American Psychological Association which brings together the governance Boards and Committees of APA. Professor Muñoz participated as a new member of the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns. Washington, DC. March 20 - 22, 2009
LAURA PURDY Professor Purdy's article "Is Emergency Contraception Murder?" has just appeared in Ethics, Bioscience and Life, Vol. 4, no. 1, March 2009 (Reproductive BioMedicine Online, Vol. 18, Suppl.1 2009 37-42.
WILLIAM ROBERTS Two mixed media paintings, Tromp Oil and Old Sparky were selected by members of the jury, Todd McGrain and Sylvia de Swaan, for the 2009 edition of Made In New York exhibition which will be featured at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center from June 6 - August 22, 2009. Exhibition reception will be held on Sunday, June 7th., from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M.
CRAWFORD THOBURN Six of Prof. Crawford Thoburn's published choral works have been selected for inclusion on the list of recommended secondary school choral literature by the Maryland Music Educator's Association.
Two of his original compositions for unaccompanied mixed voices are on the list; "Nowell, Out of Your Sleep Arise" for SATB published by Mark Foster, and "What Child Is This?" also for SATB published by Carl Fischer.
His four arrangements on the list are: "A Shepherd In A Shade" by John Dowland for SSAA, published by Music 70 Music Publishers, "Were You There?" an African-American Spiritual for SATB, published by the Concordia Publishing House, "Hark, All Ye Lovely Saints Above" by Thomas Weelkes for SSAB, published by CPP/Belwin, and "Now Every Tree Renews" by Thomas Weelkes for SSAA, published by Music 70 Music Publishers.