Inaugural Art Magazine for Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts at Indiana University South Bend. Distributed internally and externally to faculty, staff, and alumni.

1. //
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aUGUst 2009
Aspire is published annually by the
Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts,
Indiana University South Bend, for
our alumni, students, friends, faculty,
and staff.
DEAn
Marvin V. Curtis, Ed.D.
EDItoR-In-ChIEf
Michele Morgan-Dufour
MAnAgIng EDItoR
Moira Dyczko
DESIgnERS
tiffany goehring Welcome to Our Inaugural Edition of Aspire
Melissa Wise
the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts at Indiana University South Bend is pleased
WRItERS to celebrate with you the inaugural edition of our arts magazine, Aspire. Inside you will
Mike gonzales
Crystal hill find news about the 2008-09 academic year, articles on productions and exhibitions,
Lisa McKale and information about new programs. I do hope that you will find it informative and
Ron Monsma exciting.
Michael Snyder
Copy EDItoRS Our theme for 2008-09 was “It’s a New Day.” the year was filled with new and wonderful
Kathy Borlik happenings. Our enrollment was the highest ever. We updated our facility with a new
tamea Rector floor for the dance studio, an expanded piano lab, equipment for the theatre design
lab, and new furniture for the Campus Auditorium lobby. We presented a new concert
pRoDUCtIon ASSIStAntS
Blanqui Martini called “Lift Every Voice: Celebrating the African American Spirit” with strong community
trisha Miller support. More than 8,500 children came to our theater to see the production Not Just a
Jeremy Williams Boy: A Story from Lincoln’s Youth and our first musical in more than a decade, Godspell,
was a huge success.
pRoDUCtIon notES
pApER Our Bachelor of Music Education degree has been approved by the State Department of
Unisource Porcelain Ultra Silk Education and will be implemented this fall. Faculty members have secured more than
70 lb text. $78,000 in grants, including our first grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
NOtE: Unisource is a Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC)
for the Euclid Quartet. there have been published articles, books, faculty performances
certified vendor and supplies and exhibitions, all of the highest quality. Our faculty continues to inspire our students
paper from renewable sources. to aspire to new heights in their careers.
PRINtINg
Four color printing with
As the new dean of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts, I invite you to campus to
Silk Aqueous Coating. see what we are doing. I also ask that you keep us informed of your activities so that we
may share them with other graduates of our school. We also encourage you to contribute
typogRAphy to the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts with your gifts. Scholarship dollars are the
Bleeding Cowboys Regular, Cricket
Regular (p.4, by artist Amy Conger,
best way to help many of our students realize their goals.
www.abecedarienne.com), Eurostile
Regular, times New Yorker Regular, On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the
trade gothic Regular, Light, Arts, I welcome you to Aspire. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at
Oblique, and Bold No. 2, and
Vtks Revolt Regular
the many events we offer. It is my sincere hope that you will continue to support our
school and our students as they aspire to be great artists, musicians, actors, dancers,
DIgItAL photogRAphy and communicators.
Matt Cashore, pp. 1, and 7-9
fRont CoVER
Twins Sincerely,
life-casting in hydrocal by gretchen Siebert // student
Gaia, glass by Dora Natella //
associate professor of fine art Marvin V. Curtis // Dean, Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts
copyright 2009 Ernestine M. raclin
School of the Arts, IU South Bend

3. ERnEStInE M. RACLIn SChooL of thE ARtS
Experience Exceptional Artistry
BFA thesis, digital by William R. Palmer // student
2009-10
Arts Foundation Board
Valerie Sabo, President
// ‘
Euclid Quartet Arch, fabricated steel rods by
Albert LaVergne //
detail of The Adoration of the
Magi, oil and gold on wood
Joyce Stifel, Vice President communication arts
Frederick B. Ettl, Secretary
Nubian Girl, acrylic on canvas by
James C. Palmore
by hieronymus Bosch
Joe Mancini, treasurer 4 Lions, tigers, and Bears ... oh My
Linda Bancroft 6 the future of newspapers
EUCLID QUARtEt IMAgES OF AMAhL AND thE Lou Behre
IU South Bend’s String Quartet PROCESSES ExhIBItION NIght VISItORS Roger Dooley, Past President music
A one act opera by June h. Edwards
in Residence Sculptor Albert LaVergne and
Painter James C. Palmore gian Carlo Menotti Leslie gitlin
7 Lift Every Voice
Welcoming new cellist Si-Yan Darren
Li to the ensemble thursday, Oct. 1 - Friday, Oct. 23 Family entertainment for the
Christmas season inspired by
Judith Ferrara graham 8 Lexo on tour
Performing eight Beethoven String Anne hillman
Quartets to complete the cycle OPENINg RECEPtION
4-6 pm thursday, Oct.1
The Adoration of the Magi, tells
the tale of a young boy who Marlene hunt 9 Where in the World is Lexo
5 pm Sunday, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, gALLERY tALK
6 pm thursday, Oct.1
meets three Kings on their way
to greet the Christ child.
Carol Kapson 10 Music Across the Atlantic
and Nov. 22 Chris Kelly
gallery hours: David Kibbe new media
noon-5 pm tuesday-Friday 8 pm Saturday, Dec. 5 Larry Lentych
11 new Media Degree for the 21st century
11 am-3 pm Saturday Alice Martin
Sara Miller theatre & dance
Carmi Murphy
Ernestine M. Raclin 14 Revival of the Musical with godspell
Randy Rampola 16 theatre Celebrates Lincoln’s Birthday
honorary Members visual arts
Robert W. Demaree Jr. 17 Student Receives Commission
Janet thompson
18 Interview with Jason Cytacki
news
tickets free-$15 // 574.520.4203 // arts.iusb.edu 22 Alumni, Students, and faculty

4. lions,
tigers, and oh my
bears …
for my upper level PR class to use them as a previous year.” Fisher stresses, “the additional
client for the semester,” said hosterman. support is critical to our ability to provide vital
services to our community’s most vulnerable
the structure of these projects is what makes members.”
this experience unique. groups are run as an
public relations agency. Each student is assigned hosterman quickly reached out to this
to a role found in an actual public relations firm. organization. Fisher recognized that one-on-
For example, account managers, writers, graphic one contact throughout the semester with
By Lisa McKale designers are several key roles. students resulted in feasible and comprehensive
projects. “I was impressed by how methodically
Public relations student trent Miles states, “this the students worked. they asked many
“I was impressed project was the class. From the first day you step questions in order to have a broad understanding
in the door to the final class period, you will eat, of the community needs, our programs, our
by how sleep, and breathe this project. this project is past marketing successes and failures, and
real life without the paycheck.”
methodically the our goals.”
students worked. Student-led groups were responsible for the students pitched their ideas not only to the
researching and constructing their own agency, but also key opinion leaders from the
they asked many fundraising event. Proposals were then “pitched” Chamber of Commerce. two fundraising events
directly to Marcy Dean, the zoological society
questions in order director at the Potawatomi Zoo. the zoo has
and an image revamp of the organization were
proposed.
to have a broad taken these proposals to heart, with the hope of
implementing several in coming months. Students agree that these experiences were
understanding of unlike a typical assignment. Kayla Ernsberger,
By the spring of 2009, times were changing with
the community the local economy. Organizations that rely on
a student who worked with YSB, claims, “It
differed from classroom assignments because
needs, our government funding experienced a substantial we were in the real world, connecting with people
loss of revenue. One hard hit organization who run businesses and have an impact on the
programs, our was the Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph community.” Adds Ernsberger, “You cannot
past marketing County (YSB), experiencing a loss of more than
Service Learning Takes a New Approach
learn those networking skills within a textbook.”
$167,000 in city and county financial support.
successes and
Within the Local Community
this approach to learning is hardly a glamorous
the YSB provides a safety net to youth in crisis. job, involving long hours, late nights, and no
failures, and More than 20,000 children and families a year pay. however, to these students, being thrown
our goals.” utilize their services. Unfortunately, as the need into the lion’s den never felt so rewarding. “It
A typical classroom has four walls, colors appalling integrates meaningful community service with for services increases, fundraising is simply helped me work out the nervousness I may have
to the eye, and some leaky windows if you are instruction. more challenging than in the past. had right out of college with my first big client. I
lucky. Chairs creak as students squirm in their am more confident now,” states Smith.
seats to stay awake. Some days the minutes on By solving real problems and addressing real According to Karin Fisher, development director
the clock cannot go fast enough. needs, students learn to apply classroom learning of YSB, “We recently canceled our grand Prix Ernsberger adds, “I can take this binder, full
to a real world context. “PR is not a hypothetical, go-kart race … it is a huge blow to us as we of ideas, budgets, timelines, contacts and even
In contrast, for a group of public relations case study driven industry,” argues Alec budgeted to raise $20,000. It was our biggest invitations I have designed and just hand it to
students the confines of their classroom included hosterman, senior lecturer in communication arts fundraiser.” Fisher continues, “I believe the a potential employer and say, this is just the
a tiger, a chimpanzee, and nobody can forget the and the creator of these projects. “When students current economy is largely responsible. Most of beginning of what I am capable of.”
giant anteater. talk about being thrown into the graduate, employers want to see their ability the race teams are manufacturing, construction,
lion’s den. to communicate in many ways and adapt to or automobile-related. We lost more than half the
their surroundings.” teams and large sponsors that participated the
Each spring semester, students in Public Relations
Research and Planning work directly with a not-for- In the spring of 2008, students worked with the
profit organization in the South Bend community. Potawatomi Zoo. “After seeing a report that the
this approach, commonly known as service zoo needed more than a million dollars to improve
learning, is a teaching and learning strategy that their facilities, I thought it would be advantageous
‘
6 //
4 5

5. Newspapers
The FuTure oF
LIFt EVERY
VOICE BY MOIRA DYCZKO
BY MIKE gONZALES
newspaper publisher orage Newspapers are being faced with more and more chal-
Quarles iii looks out the lenges in trying to survive in the world of news. How-
window, studying the st. ever, Quarles believes that the newspaper will survive.
Joseph river. “We’re trying Why some papers Will succeed
to get to the other side of the
river,” Quarles said finally, Five years ago, a prison inmate sent a letter to The
referring to the country’s News & Observer. In this particular inmate’s instance,
he claimed his innocence and an investigative report- this year marked the first for a new annual said Dean Marvin Curtis. “I was struck gUESt PERFORMERS
beleaguered newspapers. event at the Ernestine M. Raclin School of by the number of African Americans who
er looked into the case. The man had been on death
Orage Quarles III
“some won’t make it,” he row for nine years, convicted of murder. The reporter
the Arts. “Lift Every Voice: A Celebration attended the concert. Not only were they MEIShA ADDERLEY, Piano
continued. “some will. for of the African American Spirit” was a pleased, but many told me that it was held a residency in 2002 as
worked with forensic scientists, and together they a Rotary Ambassador Scholar
those who make it, the other concert designed to celebrate Black great to hear the spiritual selections –
found that the man was indeed innocent. For the first at the University of Sydney’s
history Month. On Saturday, February 21, many that they had not heard in years.”
side will be very rewarding.” time in North Carolina history, a retrial was held, and
2009, Dean Marvin Curtis presented the Conservatorium of Music
the young man was not convicted. He got justice. first concert in what he intends to become While the guest artists were on campus, they in Australia.
Quarles is a man of many accomplishments. In 1993, he was named publish- “That’s what it’s all about,” said Quarles. a tradition. talked about their careers with IU South
StACEY hOLLIDAY, Accompanist
er of The Herald in South Carolina, making him the first African American Bend music students. “For our students,
received first prize in the 2006
People need the newspaper for a variety of reasons. For the concert featured the South Bend it was a chance to meet artists with stellar
publisher of a daily newspaper in the South. Selected as Editor & Publisher’s University of South Carolina Piano
the freed prisoner, it was to help him find justice. For Symphonic Choir, University Chorus and careers and hear firsthand what it took to
Publisher of the Year in 2002, he is president and publisher of The News & Concerto Competition.
other people, the need is simply to get the news. gospel Ensemble from IU South Bend reach their goals,” Curtis said.
Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina. On March 25, 2009, Quarles spoke
along with six African American guest JAMES E. LAWS JR., Baritone
about the future of newspapers at the IUSB Forum.
“Journalists have a special calling,” explained Quarles. artists. the program included music In the future, Curtis hopes to add performed in the East Room
Why some papers haVe failed They are protected by the United States Constitution, by European and African American educational components to compliment of the White house in 1999
which gives them that ability to dig for the informa- composers, comparing the varied styles the performance. Members of the for the White house Staff
“The law of the land,” Quarles said, “is that the strong survive.” Some news- tion that people wouldn’t be able to find out otherwise. seen in both musical traditions. community and K-12 students will be Christmas Party.
papers have gone out of business in this economy. According to Quarles, there “When we can’t find out what’s going on,” Quarles invited to attend an open rehearsal and
is one simple reason. said, “democracy is in trouble.” the guest artists opened the concert with talk with the musicians to learn the history ANtONIO RINCóN, Violin
music by European composers such as of the music. he also looks forward to made his solo television debut at
“Those papers failed because they were in markets where there were much the future of neWspapers Bach and tchaikovsky along with African including other performing and visual arts age 15. he performs on a French
stronger papers,” he explained. He pointed out that the newspaper was so American composers Bob Cole and in the Black history Month concert. violin made by Francois Barzoni, a
strong 30 or 40 years ago because there was no Internet, no FM radio, and The main message that Quarles sent during the forum William grant Still. After intermission the gift from singer Julio Iglesias.
there were only three television channels. The newspaper was where people at IU South Bend and his ultimate belief about news- combined chorus presented a collection the free concert was sponsored by the
papers is this: they aren’t going to go extinct. There of classical, gospel, and spiritual works. ArtsEverywhere Fund of the Community tIA ROPER, Flute
went to get their news.
will always be a market for the newspaper, whether it the program concluded with a moving Foundation of St. Joseph County, Lexus presented her Carnegie hall
Now, newspapers have to compete with other news outlets for readers, solo debut in 2005 as a grand-prize
is a daily, weekly, or even monthly product. Once the rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” of Mishawaka, WVPE, WUBU, trios
winner of the prestigious Artists
including cable news channels and satellite radio. The Internet offers on- economy recovers, he believes that the business will written by brothers James Weldon Johnson Restaurant and Jazz Club, and the IU
International Debut Recital Award.
demand news. As one student pointed out during the question and answer expand again and return to what it once was, or even and J. Rosamund Johnson more than 100 South Bend Diversity Committee.
portion of the forum, some newspapers have been talking about going all something better. years ago. the anthem, which celebrates
FRANK WARD JR., Bass
digital and eliminating the paper product. The difficulty with this approach, strength, encouragement, and hope, Next year’s concert will be Saturday, made his European debut
Quarles said, is that the advertising revenue isn’t online, it’s in print. For every “Maybe I’m naïve,” said Quarles, “but people are go- remains popular in African American February 27, 2010. singing the role of Don Bartolo in
dollar spent in print advertising, 20 cents buys the same amount online. “We ing to want that print product.” homes, churches, and schools today. Rossini’s The Barber of Seville in
need national advertising dollars to bring in big revenue,” he said. “That’s the Rome, Italy, with Opera Estate.
problem.” “the Symphonic Choir and University
Chorus captured the flavor of African
American music in their presentations,”
6 7

6. Where in the
World is Lexo?
By Crystal hill
The Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts has been well represented
in the music world lately, thanks to a performance tour by the Martin
Endowed Professor in Piano, Alexander Toradze. Last fall, Toradze
performed across Europe, with concerts in Sweden, Greece, the Czech
Republic, France, England, Portugal, Germany, and Italy.
Toradze, a native of Tbilisi, Georgia, is lauded around the world as
a masterful virtuoso, with The New York Times noting his “bursts of
focused energy and silver-edged timbre.” His energetic playing style,
once considered unconventional, has firmly established him as a
virtuoso of the instrument and one of the world’s foremost interpreters
of Rachmaninoff piano literature.
Dean Marvin Curtis joined Toradze in October for a performance of
Rachmaninoff ’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at London’s Royal Festival Hall
with the London Philharmonic.
“With the 4,000 seat hall filled to capacity, he performed like a Trojan,”
Curtis said. “Toradze received four ovations at that performance. It
was quite an extraordinary experience,” Curtis said, “watching one of
my colleagues performing with a world-class orchestra.”
In his review of the performance, Barry Millington of the London
Evening Standard wrote, “His performance of Rachmaninov’s Third
Piano Concerto with the LPO last night injected new life into what
too often sounds like a knackered warhorse.”
JoIn LExo on toUR For his performances in Strasbourg and Lisbon, “Lexo,” as he is
known, was joined by members of the Toradze Piano Studio, which he
at lincoln center established after arriving at IU South Bend in 1991.
By Moira Dyczko Upon beginning the piano studio, Toradze invited talented pianists
from around the world to train in South Bend. He wanted his students
to have the opportunity to perform and compete internationally. But
In March 2010, Alexander toradze will perform at Lincoln Center for Opera, Lincoln Center theater, Lincoln Center being located in a smaller community has helped Toradze create the
the Performing Arts in New York City. toradze will present Maurice for the Performing Arts, Inc., and the Julliard kind of atmosphere he wanted for his students.
Ravel’s Piano Concerto in g Major with the London Philharmonic School, among others. For more information on “The studio members are always very friendly and extremely helpful
Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Vladimir Jurowski. In the spirit this exceptional performing arts campus visit to each other,” Toradze says. “By having an international community
of education and exploration the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the www.lincolncenter.org within the studio, it was my hope that my students would get exposure
Arts is planning a weekend trip to New York for students, alumni, and to the different cultures. I’m not too shy to say we’ve achieved our
friends to attend the concert. the concert will be held on Sunday, March 7,
2010, at 3 pm in Avery Fischer hall at Lincoln goals.”
New York City offers limitless opportunities to experience the arts, and Center. Along with the Ravel Concerto, the London Today, the studio is very highly regarded, performing concerts across
we intend to make the most of our time in the “Big Apple.” the trip will Philharmonic Orchestra will present Symphony the globe. The studio’s recognition did not come automatically. “It took
include a schedule of activities for each of the school’s disciplines. For No. 4 in C minor by Dimitri Shostakovich. many years of presenting interesting programming,” Toradze says. “It
example, theatre students may tour the Fashion Institute of technology didn’t happen right away.” Toradze often tours with studio pianists,
and backstage at the Met, while music students visit the Manhattan the tour departs on thursday, March 3, and
returns to South Bend on Monday, March 8. Please all of whom are current students or alumni of IU South Bend.
School of Music and the Juilliard School, and visual arts students
enjoy the guggenheim or Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. contact Signal travel and tours for additional “Toradze brings a national flavor to our campus,” said Dean Curtis.
information, 1-800-535-1070. “Because of him, members of the studio come from around the world.
Lincoln Center alone features more than 20 performing arts venues It’s rare for schools to have a person of this caliber on staff.”
including Avery Fischer hall, the Metropolitan Opera house, and Alice
tully hall. Resident organizations include the New York Philharmonic, The Toradze Piano Studio performs regularly at the IU South Bend
School of American Ballet, New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Campus Auditorium.
8 9

7. Music Across the At the crossroads of nothing and exactly
Where the perception of the eyes,
AtLAntIC
Meets the inventions of the mind
I find where beauty hides.
– Bradley thornburg // artist
By Mike gonzales
On an ordinary day, a stroll through art embodied. the medium for creating thornburg and Cotto, the last pair, had
the fine arts studios reveals artists the music was electronic, which was discussions about how to interpret the
absorbed in their work. Across campus something new for all three composers. visual ideas of the artwork into music
in Northside hall music spills into with “brighter shades accompanied by
the hallways as musicians rehearse. At thE CROSSROADS higher tones and the way the smoothness
During two weeks in February, select of the lines, shading and other textural
Siebert presented Whetstone with two
student composers and visual artists ideas could be represented by music,”
figure drawings. She told him they
left the confines of their studios said Cotto.
sounded like underwater sounds, cave
and collaborated to create a blending
sounds, and the heartbeat of the earth. BEAUty REVEALED
of visual art and new music as part
As she described it, they sounded like
of “Music Across the Atlantic 2009,”
nature’s womb. With that, Whetstone Once the visual/musical projects were
an international exchange fostering
worked to record how the drawings complete, the works were displayed
new music.
sounded, initially using sounds on the fifth floor of the Schurz Library. By Crystal hill
“Music Across the Atlantic 2009” was recorded in a metal shop. he worked It was the first time that the visual
Several years in the making, the newly-created Bachelor One significant reason people choose to study new
the second half of an exchange begun alone to compose the music, striving artists heard what their musical partners
of Fine Arts in new media program at the Ernestine M. media is its versatile application in the job market. A
in Spain in 2007 when IU South Bend to create the sounds of the drawings. had composed.
Raclin School of the Arts prepares students for jobs in substantial number of traditional career paths, such as
Professors Jorge Muñiz and Robert “We weren’t allowed to hear what they
“It really happened,” Siebert said. “the the fast-paced multimedia field. instruction or mass media, incorporate digital technology.
Kolt visited the Conservatorio Superior (the composers) came up with until the
music Jeremy came up with really sounded According to Lasater, new media professionals are ideal
de Asturias in Spain to present a show,” said Siebert. New media incorporates digital technology with
like what my drawings looked like.” candidates to work in these evolving fields.
series of lectures and workshops. traditional communication methods to create a dynamic
gilbert already had her artwork picked
In February, Professors Miguel Muñiz and the students all agree that and constantly evolving hybrid. New media practitioners “People can get jobs where they’ve always gotten
out for Kampa to work with. “I chose
Fernandez and Fernando López of Spain the collaboration was a success, and incorporate computer technology into graphic design, jobs, except there are new opportunities within these
the two most colorful works I’ve done
visited IU South Bend for a series of they came out of this more dynamic sound production, and video production. organizations,” he said.
because color and music relate to each
new music concerts, lectures, panels, composers and artists.
other in ways that other elements of “It’s interactivity that really defines new media,” said Ackoff agrees and notes that the graphic design area
and workshops.
design and composition do not,” said Professor Michael Lasater, area coordinator of new of new media allows professionals a great deal of
“I would like to see more collaborations,”
Six students (three visual artists gilbert. media. “We marry up aspects of visual art and sound to opportunity and flexibility. “It’s flexible in two regards,”
said Muñiz. “this is just the beginning.”
and three composers) took part in a build interactive objects like Web sites or DVD-ROMs.” she said. “One – a student could work either as a
Kampa took the prints and tried
multidisciplinary workshop combining staff designer or a freelance designer. two – in regard
to envision their sounds. “It’s very Shortly after Music Across the Atlantic, visual Lasater is careful to emphasize the vital role that digital
visual art and music composition. Muñiz to areas within design, students could go in several
challenging to think outside of my own artist Bradley Thornburg passed away. The technology plays in the new media creation process.
enlisted composers Jeremy Whetstone, directions; developing work for print, Web, multimedia
head,” he said. art world lost a talented and inspiring young “the work is produced using a computer,” he said. “It
Ethan Kampa, and Anthony Cotto for or a combination of these.”
man. February 4, 1989 – March 15, 2009. has to do with final products that are only expressed
the workshop along with gretchen “Before this project, I did not realize the A memorial scholarship has been established through computers or computer-like devices, like DVD the new media degree begins with a solid grounding
Siebert, a sculptor who also draws, importance of the relationship between in his name.
and printmakers tiffany gilbert, and players or cell phones.” in 2D graphic design, video and motion media, basic
sound and visual objects,” said gilbert.
Bradley thornburg. interactive multimedia and Web design, and music/
“Music that is made for a work of art the new media program divides its emphasis between audio production. Students also select one of three
animates the image, gives it some theory and technical skills. According to Karen Ackoff,
the students worked in pairs, and the concentrations in music/audio, graphic design, or
kind of movement and life. It doesn’t professor in new media and program director of graphic
visual artists provided their composer motion media to focus and fine tune their skills.
change the story the artwork tells, it just design, students must be able to navigate current
partners with two works of art. together
enhances it.” technology and quickly adapt to new innovations. Lasater is excited about the fledgling program and feels
they discussed the sound each piece of
confident that it is a timely and valuable addition to the
“We try to teach a balance of theory and technical skills,” academic offerings of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of
said Ackoff. “the hands-on experience helps reinforce the Arts.
that digital technology is always evolving. So we do not
just show students which keys to push. We demonstrate “For right now, I think we’re in the right place,” said
and involve students in troubleshooting digital issues Lasater. “the new media degree is a solid mix of relevant
cut 200 words
so they are equipped to solve problems that they may skills that are extremely valuable in today’s workforce.”
encounter in the professional world.”
12 // ‘
10 11

8. Jacob Denning
Camera on Ledge ??
Postcard Design
digital
Kristen Doversberger // alumna
// gallery
top LEft top RIght
60 Second Murder Mystery “Nets that Catch Nothing” (Paul Celan) BFA thesis; still from animation
digital: stills from video painting digital
Leah Schroder // alumna harold Zisla // faculty emeritus Amy Watson // student
LEft
typography as Music
digital
//
Ambar De Luna // student
Daisies
RIght
photograph
Self Portrait
Rebecca Ewing // student
graphite
Kelly Sandural // student
LEft
LEft Fool Without a Care
Balancing Cloud from series “Steampunk
alabaster stone carving Arcana”
georgia Swanson // student hand drawn/digital
Chad Rajski // student
RIght
Pisa RIght
photograph Looking My Way
Rob White // alumnus digital
Katy Wright // student

9. IUSB theatre Company
Revives the Musical
with Godspell
By Michele Morgan-Dufour
the April production of Godspell marked a
welcome return for musical theatre to the
IU South Bend stage. A longtime audience photography by Michael Banks // student
favorite, Godspell offered unique challenges
and opportunities for theatre students, both “Dancing, which is another passion of mine, was a huge part this I had to learn to balance all the duties . . . when you
of the show,” continued Ruffolo. “I found myself really giving help build the costumes you care for them a lot more. I often
onstage and off. my all in each song and I ended up attending several ballet caught myself breaking character because I would notice
classes our choreographer teaches so that I could learn extra something wrong on a costume and naturally I would want to
the Stephen Schwartz/John-Michael tebelak musical is based on material to incorporate into the show.” fix it. It is hard to balance both, but I had to learn when you
the gospels of Matthew and Luke (the title, Godspell, is itself an leave your personal life outside the door, you leave your life
archaic form of the word “gospel”). Its use of modern pop and rock Student actors also performed all offstage duties, working as a costumer there as well.”
musical forms, coupled with unconventional costuming, made it with technical Director tim hanson, Scenic/Costume
a groundbreaking production when it premiered off-Broadway in Designer Inseung Park, and Costumer Jennifer Fry to create Part of Godspell’s appeal is in the inspired kookiness and
1971. Nearly 40 years after its first performance, Godspell has not a complete visual experience for the production. irreverence. In the IUSB theatre Company production, Josh
lost its power to teach, inspire and entertain. Napierkowski as Jesus appeared as a fringe-costumed pied
Zack hickle, who played Zack/Lamar, commented on his piper who drew the apostles to the Word with his good-
the IUSB theatre Company brought its own brand of innovation experience with the faculty. “Costuming this show was humored high-energy message of love. In the demanding
to its production of Godspell, sacrificing none of the liveliness and wonderful. Inseung Park’s designs were beautiful, both dual role of Judas/John the Baptist, thomas Cleveland
verve that is so important to the play’s success. costume and set. I have been working in the costume shop projected a delightfully darker presence that was both
since my freshman year. It was a great experience to work ominous and exciting at the same time. throughout the play,
“Students from theatre, music, dance and art have come together to with Park and to be able to realize his visions of the world the cast functioned as its own greek chorus, offering verbal
learn from each other while creating a work that has its challenges of Godspell. In the end I was extremely proud of our work on punctuation and comic relief in the form of chants, puns
and rewards,” said Dean Marvin Curtis. “the lessons of Godspell, Godspell on both technical and performance sides.” and even sight gags referencing everything from the Marx
while rooted in religion, are communal – ‘treat others as you want Brothers to the hokey-pokey.
to be treated,’ ‘judge not, that you be not judged,’ etc. In the end, Park’s scenic design took a decidedly industrial style, not
we build a community to bring people together rather than tear uncommon in Godspell productions, but the unusual central Curtis, who also worked as the production’s music director,
them apart.” element, a seemingly monolithic metallic structure, broke commented, “Godspell’s message is universal, and it’s
apart to reveal characters and provide multi-level playing presented in a universally appealing way … Simple truths,
Casting a musical, especially a student-performed production, is spaces, as well as to integrate with hanson’s truly spectacular told with style and a sense of fun are always in vogue. I’m
always a balancing act. “Musicals require a high level of acting lighting effects. Park was also responsible for the innovative proud that we were able to pull together so many diverse
craft, in which actors must establish a believable character much costume designs, which Costumer Jenny Fry helped to realize. departments and talents to create a cohesive, professional,
more quickly than is usually necessary in non-musical productions,” and ultimately very moving Godspell.”
commented Director Randy Colborn. “Combined with the vocal “I worked not only as a cast member but as a costume shop
Godspell
and dance requirements, a musical like Godspell can be quite employee,” said cast member Stacie Jensen. “Because of
demanding for college performers. But this cast was excellent to
work with and brought the right mix of skills to the stage.”
“this is the first real serious musical production I have been
involved with,” said cast member Amoreena Ruffolo. “When I
heard we were doing Godspell I was very excited. For me, growing
up singing in my church choir . . . I knew I could get connected
and give soul to the music and the story.”
14 15

10. Bubelenyi Reaches Out to the Chicago
Community Via First Commissioned Work
By Michael Snyder
Michael Bubelenyi
Children’s Theatre Though IU South Bend fine arts major Michael Bubelenyi has explained. “I painted the work for a community center so I wanted
Celebrates Lincoln’s
created approximately 100 works that he calls “complete,” most of it to be inspirational. I wanted the piece to have a hopeful feeling,
his creations are unnamed. “A lot of my works are abstract pieces with vivid colors.”
200th Birthday
and they are ambiguous,” explained Bubelenyi. “I like them to
remain that way.” Or at least he did until recently. “The painting captured the spirit of Ada S. McKinley as well
as the mission of the organization,” said Dean Marvin Curtis
By Michele Morgan-Dufour
This past year Bubelenyi completed his first commission, a 5-by-4 of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts, referring to the
foot painting for the Walter C. McCrone Industries of the Ada S. organization’s founder and the organization’s mission of promoting
student photography // left: Rebecca Ewing // right: Michael Banks McKinley Community Services Organization of Chicago, which individual and family welfare; preserving human potential, dignity,
he titled A Beacon for Many. and self-development; and serving the community. “His work,”
said Curtis, “is exceptional and shows the talent of our students.”
“It has symbolism,” said Bubelenyi of his self-described “urban mural”
“Buses!” shouts an usher looking down Northside Boulevard. the show. “the acting and sound effects were great. I really that will be on permanent display in the organization’s board room. According to Curtis and Director of the McCrone Center of the
It’s 8:45 am on a cold, wet February morning. A dozen think the cast did a fantastic job,” said Lina, a student from “It’s mostly representational, but it’s done in a stylistic manner,” he Ada S. McKinley Community Services Organization of Chicago
theatre students and faculty members pull on their coats and twin Branch School. Thomas Maxwell III, the commission occurred as a result of a
head outside to meet the buses. During the next 15 minutes conversation they had during the 2008 Labor Day weekend.
this hard working crew will escort hundreds of children “The show was awesome. I couldn’t “Thom was looking at artwork in some galleries for his board
take my eyes off the people,”
and teachers from their buses to their seats in the Campus
Auditorium. room, and I mentioned that I had students at the School of the
Elizabeth Lambert of Meadows
Arts that could do this kind of work,” said Curtis. “Thom took the
this year more than 8,500 kindergarten through sixth idea back to his board of directors and the commission became
graders celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday with
the play, Not Just a Boy: A Story from Lincoln’s Youth, written Edge School commented. a reality. Several students submitted works for consideration, and
Michael was chosen.”
and directed by Assistant Professor Ernie Nolan. Set in Scholarships are an important part of the annual children’s
Indiana, the play tells the story of young Abraham Lincoln “I gave Michael three images to work with,” said Maxwell. “I gave
theatre production. “the amazing part of the program is that
being inspired to read by stepmother Sarah Bush Johnson him images of our founder, the namesake of our center, and our
free and reduced lunch children get free access to a cultural
and the life changing lessons he learns from her that would logo. He opted to go with the images of Ada McKinley and our
event,” said Debbie Carew, second grade teacher at Merritt
later influence him as our country’s 16th president. logo. When I came to South Bend to see his painting,” Maxwell
Elementary. “this makes it possible for students from all
reflected, “I was moved to tears—it was so well done.”
the chattering children fall silent as the house darkens and walks of life to be exposed to the theatre.”
cheer when the stage lights up and the actors appear. For The painting was unveiled at a March reception in Chicago before
“I don’t think the children would ever get to experience live
many youngsters in the audience, this is their first experience 75 guests.
theatre without your help,” added Marcia Niemier, a second
with live theatre. “I believe that live theatre experiences are a grade teacher at Emmons School. A South Bend native who graduated from Washington High
tremendous learning environment for children,” said teacher
Kari Wuszke of St. Monica School. “Seeing a production such School, Bubelenyi took a 13-year hiatus from school before
On the sidewalk in front of the theater the last of the children
as this opens doors to children’s minds that might otherwise beginning his art studies. “I had what was by most peoples’
board their buses. In just 15 minutes the next 800 children
never open and I think that is awesome.” standards a good life, but it wasn’t fulfilling enough for me,” said
and teachers will arrive.
Bubelenyi of those 13 years. “I tried life without art and I didn’t
While this year’s play had a historical basis, often the biggest Back in his classroom, third grade teacher David Weber like it,” he added. “I spent a lot of time thinking ‘What if ?’ ”
lessons learned are about the craft of theatre. “Our students writes, “We love the opportunity to view live performances
gain not just knowledge of Lincoln, but also about how a Since returning to school and doing what he loves—creating
close to home, and at a reasonable price. I just hope we will
theatre production is put on,” said Jennifer Van haver, fourth art—he said that those close to him have noticed a difference.
still be able to get in next year as the popularity continues
grade teacher at Muessel Primary Center. “My family has noticed a complete change,” said Bubelenyi. “I’m
to grow.”
optimistic, more focused.”
Fifty minutes later the actors take their bows to the audience’s
enthusiastic applause. the children have plenty to say about
A Beacon of Many
16 17