Ariel Lee (B.A., Studio Art, 2020) has been named in the Forbes Next 1000 List in the first cohort of 250 founders. This list showcases the ambitious sole proprietors, self-funded shops and pre-revenue startups in every region of the country. Her company Remane offers a platform to identify hair needs for each individual’s hair type to recommend a customizable hair regimen. Photo courtesy of Ariel Lee
Alumni News
Tamara Johnson organizes education-based exhibition program
Tamara Johnson (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2007) has organized Sweet Pass Sculpture Park’s new education-based exhibition program, Sweet Pass Sculpture School. The program consists of a two-week intensive in Dallas, a year-long remote mentorship for research and project development and a concluding exhibition centered at Sweet Pass Sculpture Park. Artists invited to participate will engage in site visits, lectures, screenings, readings and dinners and will meet with local cultural producers, thinkers and experts to collectively explore the city of Dallas and the surrounding region.
Joshua Shank uses choral music to raise COVID-19 funds
A new choral work by Joshua Shank’s (D.M.A., Composition, 2016, Musicology, 2019) was performed by 34 choirs in a nation-wide effort to raise money for professional musicians decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The consortium of choirs from 21 states raised more than $10,000 for relief.
Laura August becomes 2021 Mellon Arts + Practitioner Fellow
Laura August (Ph.D., Art History, 2012) is a 2021 inaugural Mellon Arts + Practitioner Fellow at Yale's Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity and Transnational Migration. She will be developing new writing that expands upon one of the exhibitions she curated in 2020. The work, To Weave Blue: poema al tejido, on view from January to April in the Fogelman Galleries of The University of Memphis, was the first exhibition in the United States to center contemporary Maya art and philosophy.
Carlos Rosales-Silva featured in first solo exhibition
Carlos Rosales-Silva (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2017) will be featured in his first New York City solo exhibition at Ruiz Healy Art in Manhattan. The exhibition, Sunland Park, uses landscape and architecture to express changes in artistic and cultural histories throughout time along the border of Texas, Mexico and El Paso.
Kimberly Archer's work presented at presidential inauguration
Kimberly Archer (D.M.A., Composition, 2003) has been selected by the president’s own Marine Band to compose a new work to be premiered during the presidential Inauguration ceremony. The work, “Fanfare Politeia,” celebrates the traditions of a free and fair election and a peaceful transfer of power. Photo courtesy of Murphy Music Press
Emily Edwards promoted at Dallas Contemporary
Emily Edwards (B.F.A., Art History, 2015) has been promoted to assistant curator at the Dallas Contemporary. Her latest curatorial project opens in late January alongside a video, titled Doubt & Imagination, created by alumna Ariel Rene Jackson (M.F.A., Studo Art, 2019). Photo by Ariel Rene Jackson
Dawn Davis Loring co-writes a Dance Appreciation textbook to be published this month
Dawn Davis Loring (B.A., Dance, 1992) co-wrote a Dance Appreciation textbook, along with Julie Pentz, to be published by Human Kinetics this month. Their book comes from an inclusive point of view, discussing differently-abled bodies, highlighting creative and geographical diversity, and it contains a thread of discussion throughout regarding the importance of social media, YouTube, and streaming services on creating, learning, and disseminating dances including a multiplicity of voices.
Shaun Lane featured in virtual seminar
Shaun Lane (B.F.A., Visual Art Studies, 2014) was featured by the National Art Education Association/Professional Learning Through Research Committee in their webinar, Equitable Access: Removing Barriers to Learning in Digital Spaces.
Mary Paynter launches site to provide income relief
Mary Paynter (B.A., Art History, 2007) launched the site ILostMyGig.com in the wake of SXSW's cancellation due to the pandemic. The site is a peer to peer mutual aid space that documented the individual losses of gig workers, creatives, freelancers, and contractors from Austin dependent on SXSW for income. The site was profiled and I was featured in the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and CNN, among others and has provided $750M in funds. Photo by Ben Sklar
Megan Rabuse stars in online musical production
Megan Rabuse (B.A., Theatre & Dance, 2019) stars in new online production titled Human Resources: The Musical. The work is an internet-based livestream through Zoom and YouTube. Photo courtesy of Human Resources: The Musical
Clare Croft awarded prize for her work in dance research
Clare Croft (Ph.D., Theatre, 2010) has been awarded the 2020 Oscar G. Brockett Book Prize for excellence in dance research from the Dance Studies Association, the leading organization in dance studies research. Croft’s work, “Queer Dance: Meanings and Makings,” was commended by the award committee for its boldness in demonstrating and embodying the generative potential of coalitional and collaborative Dance Studies work on queer dance.
Julie Bistolfo launches business for online baby music
Julie Bistolfo (M.M., Music and Human Learning/Music Education, 2017) launched a business for live online baby and toddler music. She has been a credentialed teacher for over 10 years and is using her skills in a new way to create a community during a time of disconnect.
Jocelyn Chambers composes music for documentary
Jocelyn Chambers (B.M., Composition, 2017) composed the music for Mama Gloria, a documentary directed by Luchina Fisher. The film premiered on Oct. 14 in partnership with the Chicago International Film Festival. Chambers also spoke on a panel run by the Association of Music Producers focusing on "African American Composers in Advertisement Music."
Carlos Rosales named artist in residence at Abrons Arts Center
Carlos Rosales (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2017) was named an artist in residence for 2020-2021 at the Abrons Arts Center in New York City.
Barbara Zabel continues to teach and curate exhibitions in retirement
Barbara Zabel (M.A., Art, 1971) continues to teach courses at museums in Connecticut, despite retiring 10 years ago. She also curates exhibitions, most recently "Art of the Anthropocene" at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum and the exhibition "Fire and Ice," co-curated with artist Timothy McDowell for the Art Department at Connecticut College.
Michael Benson elected to serve on board of directors for Ohio Alliance for Arts Education
Michael Benson (D.M.A., Piano, 2008, M.M., Piano, 1995) began his tenth year serving as an Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at Malone University in Canton, Ohio and his sixth year serving as chair for the Department of Music. Benson continues to serve as the Ohio Music Teachers Association's state chair for the Buckeye Auditions and was recently elected to serve on the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE) Board of Directors.
Miguel Aragon awarded 2020 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
Miguel Aragon (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2012) has been awarded the 2020 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in the category of Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts by The New York Foundation for the Arts. In addition, Aragon has also been named a New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Fellow. Photo by Xavier Minguella
Luis Rodriguez recently appointed operations manager of Plano Symphony Orchestra
Luis Rodriguez (B.M., Voice and Opera, 2010) was recently appointed operations manager for the Plano Symphony Orchestra in Plano, Texas. He continues to work as librarian and cover conductor for the Plano Symphony, as well as librarian for Irving Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Michal Dembinski
Audrey Bounds becomes director of event booking
Audrey Bounds (B.A., Music, 2015) has joined Austin FC, The 27th Club in Major League Soccer, as the Director of Event Booking. Photo by Anne Claire Patterson