Kyle Jones (A.D., Woodwinds, 2020) selected as a recipient of a 2023 Rocket Grant
Jones's project, entitled Seasons and Cycles, he will be partnering with composer Paul Berlinsky to envision a public concert that will take place in February 2024 at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium in Kansas City's Union Station. Featuring baritone saxophone and electronics, the new work centers our relationship to nature as human beings, as well as the importance of cyclical change.
Kelly N. Baggett (B.F.A., Art Education/Visual Art Studies, 2001) publishes "Fables for the Connected Age" by FireflySkates, a children's book based on technology
Danny Tejera's (M.F.A., Playwriting, 2020) play, TOROS, had its world premiere at Second Stage Uptown in August
The play was presented at UTNT and stars Tony-Award-winner Frank Wood.
Jacqueline Hinton (B.F.A., Dance, 2001) produced, choreographed, and performed in the short dance film "Mi Gran Dolor"
The short film was chosen to screen at Los Angeles Dance Film Festival's Dance Films on the Lawn at the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica. Hinton can also be seen in the sci-fi film Blue Hour: The Disappearance of Nick Brandreth, now out on Amazon Prime.
Scenic designer Polly Robbins’ (M.F.A., Drama, 1990) work on "Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio” showcased at MoMa
Design work by Polly Robbins was featured at the Museum of Modern Art as part of the exhibition Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. The exhibition showcased a behind-the-scenes look at the Academy Award-winning film earlier this spring. Following her success with Pinocchio, Robbins worked on the stop-motion children’s show Shape Island on Apple TV. She's currently working with House Special as the lead scenic artist on an upcoming film short.
Marya Spont-Lemus (M.A., Art Education/Visual Art Studies, 2010) creates creative writing workshop, "Unearthing Layers, Connecting Stories: Reflections on Environmental Justice in Everyday Life"
The workshop brings together a cohort of 17 adults from multiple communities to build relationships and learn from each other in Chicago's Southwest Side. Spont-Lemus received a Neighborhood Access Program grant (from the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events). Spont-Lemus will work with cohort participants to produce a limited-edition, trilingual (English-Spanish-Simplified Chinese) book of their writings, which will be distributed locally and for free in late 2023 through community events.