Kutztown University Visual and Performing Arts

DOROTHY SIRAVO Staff Excellence Award DEPARTMENT OF ART Dorothy Siravo has been a warm, constant, and steadying presence in the Department of Art in the midst of a turbulent and stressful academic year. She joined us from a very different area a couple of years ago and adjusted quickly to the quirks of the art department, including helping with the logistics for our life drawing models, ordering vast quantities of art supplies, and helping to maintain and organize studio ...spaces and equipment. This year her work also encompassed helping to get the studio spaces set up for safe social distancing, tracking down PPE, and finding ways to store extraneous furniture. She’s always poised for action, I have literally never seen this woman sit down. ReallyI don’t think she even has a chair in her office! She always goes above and beyond in her awareness of the needs of our co-workers and the community, whether it’s initiating gifts for our custodians, organizing holiday food boxes and donations, or recognizing department birthdays and holidays with delicious baked goods. Even during especially chaotic weeks, such as registration, she can always be counted on to take things in stride and with good humor. I know maintaining this kind of equilibrium can’t be easy, especially considering the complexities of three different programs, the demands of different types of studios, and the large number of faculty in the department. We have been grateful to have her expertise, energy, and sense of humor as we have navigated the challenges of this pandemic. Kutztown University Department of Art #kutztownart #artwork #art #artist

NICOLÀS GÒMEZ AMlN, Student Excellence Award Winner! Nicolás Gómez Amín was born in April 1998 in Santiago, Chile. He first began playing the violin at the age of 7 under the guidance of Professor Nadia Salinas. Nicolás has also studied under professors Ruben Sierra, Elena Batrakova, and Oriana Silva. Nicolás has been extremely active over the years as he has been part of several orchestras as a concertmaster. Notably, Santiago’s Municipal Theatre Chamber Orchestra. He h...as performed in some of the most important concert halls in Chile as both a chamber musician and soloist accompanied by orchestra in Santiago, Concepción, Iquique, Coquimbo, La Serena, Valdivia, Frutillar, Coyhaique, and Puerto Montt. In 2018, Nicolás was accepted at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania as a scholar of the President’s International Piano and String Quartet Scholarship to study under Professor Kurt Nikkanen, concertmaster of the New York City Ballet Orchestra. During his time at Kutztown, Nicolás has continued to perform as a soloist, chamber musician, and as concertmaster of both the Kutztown University Orchestra and KU Chamber Players. With this later organization, in which he also serves as president and musical director, Nicolás performed pieces by Greek composer Dinos Constantinides at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, featuring soloists Kurt Nikkanen, Maria Asteriadou, and Johanna Cox Pennington. He also performs regularly with other local organizations such as Berks Sinfonietta and Reading Pops Orchestra. Back in Chile, he is the first violinist and arranger for 4cuerdas String Quartet and the musical director for Pánico Essccénico Theater Company. Future projects include a violin and piano recital, collaborations with several chamber ensembles, and performances directing KU chamber players, KU Orchestra, and KU Choir. Nicolàs' performances can be heard on YouTube: J. S. Bach: Partita No. 3 in E major. III. Gavotte en Rondeau https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRoOJngriYw Kutztown University Department of Music #kumusic #kutztownmusic #ku #kutztownuniversity

LEIGH KANE, Faculty Excellence Award Winner ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ART Leigh Kane has been providing mentorship to numerous female Applied Digital Arts students, employing them to work as interns on her video projects in order for them to grow their skills and be supported by the ... Bierman Scholarship program. This opportunity for our students allows them to see the fine art applications of the Applied Digital Arts, and gives them a new outlook on how to approach their work with creativity, ingenuity, and passion. The students who work with Leigh Kane show tremendous growth, and are given a chance to have a female mentor, which is not always possible or common. I would love to see Leigh Kane acknowledged for her commitment to her art making practice, and her willingness to allow students to learn from her outside of the classroom. Kutztown University Department of Art #kutztownart #artwork #art #artist

JANNA GREGONIS, Faculty Excellence Award Winner Assistant Professor OF Art Education Janna began teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses part time at KU in 2002 and since 2017 has been teaching full-time. Her professionalism and service has been exemplary. She has served on the Foundations Committee coordinating the annual NYC field trip and Spring Exhibition, the Common Portfolio Committee, the KUAS organization, the Gallery Committee and the Living and Le...arning Community where she has been invaluable in helping to retain first year students. Janna is an onsite faculty member for maintenance and staff maintenance for the IDEA Studio and has been a co-advisor for the Universities Ghost Club. She is an excellent teacher valued by both her students and colleagues, creating a fully online Two Dimensional Design Class and was instrumental in creating a Universal Art Kit for incoming students. Last spring she co-coordinated Kutztown’s Black Lives Matter March in the borough and continues to volunteer locally at the Kutztown Fire Company. Professionally she has exhibited her work in three venues in the last year only and served as a panelist for NYC Jewelry Week Panel on Women and continues to serve as a consultant for the Powerhouse Small Metals Studio in Brooklyn. Janna Gregonis is a highly valued faculty member who’s energy and generosity can always be counted and called upon. We could not accomplish what we do without her. @ku_arted #kutztownart #kuarted #arted #arteducation #arteducators #kutztownuniversity #teaching

PAIGE BALSHY, Student Excellence Award Winner! The Communication Studies faculty recognizes Paige Balshy for the VPA Celebration Excellence Award. Paige joined the department as a transfer student in 2019 from Harrisburg Area Community College. Dr. Urszula Pruchniewska writes, I’ve had her for four classes now, and she has consistently been the top student in all of them. She always goes above and beyond and her projects are used as exemplars in other classes. Her Socia...l Media Strategy project that she created in SMS101, in her FIRST semester here, has been the project used to inspire students in all SMS101 classes. She's impressively both very adept at understanding and critiquing theoretical concepts and in producing creative and research work. Her work is genuinely better than some professionals. In her User Experience class, she created this ingenious plan for fixing the user experience of Zoom, based on her own frustrations with the app. Paige is completing her capstone project with a real company (a non-profit organization) that was looking for some help figuring out their social media. The founders of the organization are blown away by her initiative, dedication, and creativity over the past few months. They are offering her an internship over the summer to continue her great work there. Paige is majoring in Social Media Theory and Strategy and has made the Dean’s list every semester she has attended Kutztown University with a 4.0 GPA. She also is pursuing a minor in Communication Studies. In addition to her academic excellence, Paige is completing an internship at Nurturepa, a charitable non-profit organization that provides moms with information and resources for support following the birth of their baby. Paige is an exceptional student and demonstrates the motivation and dedication for success. It is with pride that we recognize her for the VPA Student Excellence Award. @kucommstudies #communicationstudies

MIKE MILLER, Alumni Excellence Award Winner ART EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Mike Miller is an alumnus who has centered his work on creating murals in the Berks County Area. He is also an art educator at Wyomissing High School in West Reading. He has worked with our ARU 132 Art in Alternative settings course, demonstrating the connections and collaborations that form through community centered projects focused on the arts. This semester, he has attended the ARU 132 course via... zoom to highlight his community art projects while also facilitating the creation of a mural at the Bagel Bar Café in Kutztown. Mr. Miller has included students in every part of the process, from ideation to drawing designs, to the final drawing. Mr. Miller then presented the concept to the Kutztown Borough. Students will participate in the painting component during the month of April. Mr. Miller became interested in the murals when to took a tour of the murals in Philadelphia. Mr. Miller has created numerous murals in Downtown Reading and Wyomissing, along with providing art outreach to the Opportunity House in Reading. He is also currently teaching both elementary and high school students for the district and has mentored our field and art education students over the years serving as an important mentor during our student’s journey to becoming art educators. He has been an art educator for over 20 years, dedicating time and energy to advocating for the visual arts through teaching and service. Proud to call him a Golden Bear! Kutztown University Department of Art Education #kutztownart #kuarted #arted #arteducation #arteducators #kutztownuniversity #teaching

JORDAN VELEZ, Student Excellence Award Winner! Jordan Velez is an exceptional student and a leader among her peers. Jordan’s GPA evidences her dedication and commitment to her education. Her tireless work ethic has earned her the highest respect from the CTM faculty and her peers. Jordan commits herself to every project and every film production. Jordan’s desire to learn and develop her filmmaking craft is reflected in her ability to process a success and a setback equal...ly. Everyone trusts Jordan and relies on her to guide their project toward success this includes both faculty and her current intern location, Make/Films in Lancaster. In addition, Jordan manages the CTM student workers and our social media pages. Jordan is a problem-solver; she is intelligent and self-motivated. Jordan is, without a doubt, a movie producer. Congratulations, Jordan Velez! @KUCinemaTVMediaProduction

DORIE PENNY, Student Excellence Award Winner! Dorie Penny has distinguished herself in the studio through her thoughtful, nuanced exploration of her ideas. She has demonstrated a willingness to take risks and an ability to delve into highly personal topics with work that is both vulnerable and visually powerful.... Although she is a technically skilled draftsperson, she consistently challenges herself to make work that is messier, more complex, and goes beyond meretechnical mastery. She is also a committed and involved member of the KU community and is currently serving as the president of the Allies support group for the LGBTQ+ community on campus. Kutztown University Department of Art #kutztownart #artwork #art #artist

KATRINA NEHMEH, Student Excellence Award Winner! For Katrina Nehmeh, art has played a huge role in her life and has led her to where she is now, here at Kutztown University enrolled in the Art Education Certification Program. Previously, Katrina earned a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Studio Art from Cedar Crest College. At this moment, she is student teaching at Boyertown Area Senior High School after successfully student teaching virtually at Northwest Middle Sc...hool in the Reading School District. Her teaching philosophy is heavily centered on creating a safe environment for self-expression and creativity. She wants her students to use art as a vehicle to express themselves and feel comfortable doing so and focuses on allowing her students to have voice and choice in the art room. Katrina designs an engaging curriculum that is personally relevant and encourages her learners to continuously do their best work while at the same time instilling in them a passion for making art. Dr. Hovanec, her student teaching supervisor adds that she appreciates the fact that Katrina is a gifted and talented artist, who is incredibly passionate about teaching art. It shows in all she doesfrom her impeccably designed lessons to her classroom management skills to her natural and genuine teacher demeanor and to her stellar professionalism. One final note, Dr. Hovanec notes that Katrina is a highly reflective practitionerwhich is a fantastic attributeone which will carry her far in the field of Art Education. @ku_arted #kutztownart #kuarted #arted #arteducation #arteducators #kutztownuniversity #teaching

Please join the Kutztown University Arts Society for their First Annual Arts Hall of Fame to be held on April 28th, 2021 at 7:30pm via Zoom. Please join us in recognizing this year’s winners: Patron of the Arts:... Ellen Finks- KU Faculty Emeriti Richard Wells- KU Faculty Emeriti Performing Arts Fellow Willis Rapp- KU Faculty Emeriti Eric Schaeffer ‘84 Visual Arts Fellow Andrew Kish III ‘07 Karen TenEyck ’80 Zoom Link: https://kutztown.zoom.us/j/91046326631 Kutztown University Arts Society

MEGAN LAIRD, Student Excellence Award Winner! No one student is perfect but every now and then one comes pretty darn close. Megan Laird has been the go-to student for many of the professors in the Communication Design department this academic year. In the world of design, one must be resilient and learn to roll with the punches. Megan takes whatever is thrown her way, from advanced class assignments, to helping on a Saturday with Design Day Camp, and does so with a smile.... When a student exceeds expectations especially under less-than-ideal circumstanceswe notice. We notice! Megan helps KUCD get noticed! She has been our social media guru for 20202021. She works with Professor MacIlwraith to create and post content to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Professor Kate Clair stated Megan has been an exemplary student whose work is of the highest quality. Her work ethic raises the bar for students around her. Megan is also the head lab monitor in the KUCD Print Lab. Even though the print lab might not be as busy as it usual this year, she makes sure all is in order. Professor Kresge stated Meg has served faithfully as our AIGA Vice President and Social Media person. She has been engaged in every event, helping to plan and facilitate speakers, workshops, social events, and even yoga for our KUCD students. Her work has helped to hold together our KUCD family even through the distance that the pandemic has caused. We feel it is important to acknowledge when one goes above and beyond to help their community. Megan Laird is an important part of the KUCD family, and we thank her for all she does. KUCD - Kutztown University Communication Design AIGA Kutztown #kucd #ku_cdrocks #graphicdesign

Simone will be presenting on Monday night! Zoom link below!

More Alumni presenters on Monday! Zoom link below!

Coming up on Monday! Zoom link below!

The College of Visual and Performing Arts is happy to announce the following recipients of excellence awards. Information on each recipient will be posted daily on our social media sites. Congrats to all awardees! STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS: Megan Laird, Communication Design... Katrina Nehmeh, Art Education Jordan Velez, Cinema, Television & Media Production Paige Balshy, Communication Studies Nicolàs Gòmez Amìn, Music Performance Meghan Wald, Music Education Rebecca Domas, Art History Dorie Penny, Studio Art CVPA ALUMNI AWARD WINNER: Mike Miller, Art Education FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS: Janna Gregonis, Assistant Professor of Art Education Leigh Kane, Associate Professor of Art STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS: Dorthy Siravo, Department of Art Melissa Lincoln, Department of Cinema, Television & Media Production Communication Studies @art_kutztown @ku_arted @ku_cd @kucommstudies @ku_ctm @kutztownumusic @kutztownu #kutztownuniversity

This Friday night outdoor live music returns to KU! FREE! The Miller Gallery will be open for a preview of the Art Department's Senior Exhibition from 5-9pm!

April 8, 2021 BIG IDEA BOOK EXCHANGE ART EXHIBITION : CLOSING RECEPTION TONIGHT! Experience conversations between Kutztown Middle School students and Kutztown University preservice art educators through the Big Idea Book Exchange exhibition. These artists collaborated to create co-constructed books about big issues in our world. The project stemmed from a connection between Kris Tuerk, Kutztown Middle School art teacher, and Dr. Carrie Nordlund, professor of art education, af...ter years of collaboration between Kutztown University students and Kutztown Middle School students. The exhibition is curated by Jesse Todero, current Kutztown Middle School student teacher, who took part in the making of these books in September 2019. Sharadin Atrium Gallery Closing Reception, 4-6 p.m., Thursday, April 8. (Carrie Nordlund, professor, Art Education) See more

Live right now! Interview with Jeremy Zuckerman!