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ON THE COVER: Dramatic lighting enhanced the Old Main “set” for Julius Caesar in April 2015. Photo: Michael Palmer

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Joyce Hoffman

EDITOR: Amy Milgrub Marshall, aacommunications@psu.edu

WRITERS: Amy Milgrub Marshall, Stephanie Swindle

This publication is available in alternative media on request. The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information, or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to Dr. Kenneth Lehrman III, Vice Provost for Affirmative Action, Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Email: kfl2@psu.edu; Tel 814-863-0471. U.Ed. ARC 15-230 MPC133951

Special Events Commemorate 50th Anniversary of Penn State’s 1965 Seminar in Art Education

Wing Takes on Associate Dean Role

School of Music Partnership with State College School District Receives University Award

Barbara Palmer “Birthday Endowment” Will Help Palmer Museum Continue to Thrive

Nagles Establish Endowed Chair in Musical Theatre

Penn State Architecture Alumna Serves as President of AIAS

Two Art History Graduate Students Receive Fulbright Awards

Palmer Museum’s Curator of Education Honored by National Art Education Association

Cutler Honored with Appointment at University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies

Glee Club Moves Closer to Achieving Its Dreams

School of Music to Offer Music Technology Degree Option

Landscape Architecture Professor Wins Knight Cities Challenge

Nairn Receives Two University Honors

Thompson Named NAEA Distinguished Fellow

Simpkins to Lead Musical Theatre Program

Clements Named Winner of Penn State’s Open Innovation Challenge

FEATURED INSIDE

Donors Mac Emmert (left) and Evan Bush with scholarship recipient Maria Wirries,

a musical theatre undergraduate.

We appreciate your

SUPPORT!Make a gift today at

arts.psu.edu/philanthropy, or contact Don Lenze, director of development, at 814-863-2142 or donlenze@psu.edu to discuss how

your gift can make a difference.

4 Focus on Outreach

8 Water Tower Design Charrette Highlights Importance of Alumni and Community Engagement

9 Bundy Encourages Graduates to Practice the “Butterfly Effect”

10 Art Education Faculty Member Uses Ceramic Water Filters to Combat Water Crisis

12 Julius Caesar, Philharmonic Orchestra at Old Main

13 Road Tripping Throughout Big 10 Leads to Collaborative Music Education Series

14 Two Gifts, One Purpose: Studio Glass Endowments Enhance Palmer Museum of Art Collection

16 Graphic Design Students Give Jared Box Project a Facelift

17 Blood at the Root Gains International Critical Acclaim

18 New College Initiatives Focus on Arts and Design Research

19 College Launches Arts Entrepreneurship Program

20 2015 College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award Winners

Back Cover Pint-Sized Patrons Learn about Andy Warhol at the Palmer

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Share updates on your life and career, including address changes, via the online form at alumni.arts.psu.edu, or send an email to jeh7@psu.edu.

W E W A N T T O hear from YOU!

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Take a look at our cover feature, and you’ll get a glimpse of the numerous and varied outreach efforts in the College of Arts and Architecture. This issue has a special focus, though outreach is part and parcel of what we do on a daily basis, in our classrooms and studios, on our stages, and in the local community.

We ended this academic year with a first for our college— a performance that actually harkens back to the early days of theatre at Penn State. In April, the School of Theatre presented a production of Julius Caesar in front of Old Main—steps from the lawn where the very first theatre pageants at Penn State took place. Our performances are typically one of our most visible outreach efforts, but this production was really something special, involving hundreds of students, faculty, and staff from across campus. The audience spilled out onto the Old Main lawn on two beautiful spring evenings in April. Prior to the Friday night production on April 17—scheduled to coincide with Blue/White Weekend—the Philharmonic Orchestra performed Lincoln’s Portrait, selected in part to recognize the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14. You’ll find photos from the performances inside the pages of this magazine.

You’ll also read about the generous $2 million endowment created by our longtime friends Paige and Art Nagle, who are committed to ensuring that our musical theatre program remains one of the best in the nation. They established the Nagle Family Endowed Chair in Musical Theatre to allow us to continue to recruit and retain top faculty in the field to lead the program. Our college is appreciative of their support, and their enthusiasm and dedication to Penn State.

In other fundraising news, we are grateful to Glee Club alumnus Mike Helms and his wife, Martha, who offered a dollar-for-dollar match when the Glee Club “Dream Matching Challenge” launched in January. In the last two weeks of the campaign, they matched donations 2–1 until the goal of $100,000 was reached. The campaign ultimately raised more than $109,000 that will go toward uniforms, tours, and the Men of Song Festival, among other areas.

The Glee Club is one of several ensembles that will perform at a very special event on Sunday, September 20. artsUP—taking place the day after the home football match-up against Rutgers—will be an appropriate-for-all-ages celebration of the arts featuring free performances, demos, hands-on activities, and more. If you’re local, please mark your calendars to attend. And if you’re not, this is a great opportunity for a fall visit to University Park! For more information, visit artsup.psu.edu.

Thanks, as always, for your interest in and support of the College of Arts and Architecture. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon!

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Barbara O. Korner, Ph.D.Dean, Penn State College of

Arts and Architectureaadean@psu.edu

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FOCUS ON

Outreach

1. In April 2015, students in LARCH 332: Landscape Architectural Design Implementation II visited Halka Nurseries, which grows nearly 200 varieties of trees on 2,600 acres in central and southern New Jersey. During the field trip, led by course instructor Maria Debije Counts and Kate Posten of Halka Nurseries, students learned about the process of growing trees, tree spacing, and tree selection. Counts co-taught the course with Ron Henderson, Stuckeman Chair in Integrative Design and professor of landscape architecture and Asian studies. Photo: Maria Debije Counts

2. In fall 2014, undergraduate architecture students developed designs for a new building and meeting space for the Norris Square Neighborhood Project (NSNP), which offers art, culture, and garden programming that celebrates Latino culture. On September 22, 2014, the students visited the NSNP facilities in North Philadelphia, where they were welcomed by Executive Director Justin Trezza. Photo: Ute Poerschke

3. Teachers participate in an activity at the Palmer Museum of Art as part of the Summer Institute on Contemporary Art, a professional development institute for preK–12 educators. Faculty for the institute, a collaboration between the Palmer Museum of Art and the Penn State School of Visual Arts, are Dr. Dana Carlisle Kletcha, curator of education at the Palmer, and Dr. B. Stephen Carpenter II, professor of art education.

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4. Children in the Penn State School of Visual Arts’ Saturday Art School listen to a story before starting a project. Saturday Art School, for students ages 4–18, is a long-running SoVA tradition that is offered for eight-week sessions in the fall and spring semesters. Classes are taught by advanced art education students with guidance from faculty and graduate assistants. Photo: Tina Thompson

5. A young skateboarder checks out skatepark designs that were developed by Penn State’s spring 2014 landscape architecture graduate studio. The drawings were on display at the Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund annual fundraiser, held at Paine’s Park in Philadelphia. Photo: Tim Baird

6. A student in the Penn State School of Visual Arts’ Saturday Art School shows her parent the map she helped to create. Photo: Tina Thompson

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Outreach. It’s what the College of Arts and Architecture is all about. Our outreach activ-ities include much more than performances and exhibitions. From art classes for children to studio projects in inner-city neighbor-hoods, the College of Arts and Architecture’s outreach efforts encompass community service, hands-on learning, unique educa-tional opportunities for people of all ages, and more. The photos on the following pages provide a glimpse of the college’s efforts to engage and interact with Penn State commu-nity members, local residents, and members of other communities where our students and faculty participate in service learning.

1. Local residents enjoy classical music on the beautiful grounds of The Arboretum at Penn State during “Music in the Gardens,” a free annual concert offered by Music at Penn’s Woods in partnership with Mount Nittany Health and The Arboretum. Photo: Cody Goddard

2. Audience members surround the Old Main “stage” where Julius Caesar was performed on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. The production was set in a contemporary African nation to draw parallels between Shakespeare’s Roman Republic of 44 B.C. and African dictatorships of today. Photo: Michael Palmer

3. Actors rehearse for the School of Theatre’s NU. Musical Theatre Festival, a summer festival that fosters new works of musical theatre by today’s progressive playwrights and composers in an educational setting. Performances are presented in the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, which is also the home of Broadway on Allen, a summer series of free noontime musical theatre entertainment. In 2015, Broadway on Allen was presented in collaboration with FUSE Productions, a State College-based theatre production company founded by School of Theatre alumnus Richard Biever. Photo: Patrick Mansell

4. Elementary string students rehearse as part of the Partners in Music collaboration, in which Penn State music education students conduct local fifth-graders over a period of six weeks in preparation for a concert at State College Area High School. The program won the 2015 Penn State Award for Community Engagement and Scholarship (see article on page 25).

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5. In April 2015, the School of Theatre presented a free outdoor production of Julius Caesar on the steps of Old Main. The two-night run (a third night was canceled due to bad weather) attracted hundreds of audience members. The Friday night performance was preceded by a Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra concert and both events were livestreamed by students from the colleges of Communications and Information Sciences and Technology. Photo: Michael Palmer

6. First-year architecture students pose in front of Old Main with the arbor they refurbished for the Penn State Recycling Center as part of a studio with James Kalsbeek, associate professor of architecture. The Recycling Center salvaged the arbor during the construction of the Hintz Family Alumni Center. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the original arbor when his brother, Milton Eisenhower, was president of Penn State in the 1950s. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

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Water Tower Design Charrette Highlights Importance of Alumni and Community EngagementWhen the College of Arts and Architecture learned, during fall 2014, that Penn State was making plans to enlarge the water tower adjacent to the Stuckeman Family Building, faculty and administrators saw an opportunity to demonstrate how a highly visible structure at the core of campus could become a unique landmark. So they planned a charrette that involved students, faculty, and nearly 20 professionals from across the country—including many alumni—who worked together quickly over a weekend to develop alternatives to share with the University.

The goal, according to Kelleann Foster, director of the Stuckeman School, was to illustrate the value of design excellence while exposing students to a real-world challenge, under tight time and budgetary constraints. The participants included architects, engineers, hydrologists, landscape architects, and water-tower fabricators, in addition to faculty from the College of Engineering and professionals from the Office of Physical Plant. “The energy was electric and in the end we developed three very different options that were shared with Penn State administrators,” said Foster.

According to Cory Clippinger (’15 B.Arch.), one of the student participants, the charrette was an opportunity for alumni and community engagement that also provided students with technical and theoretical insight. “I was honored to be asked to help influence the visual aesthetic of campus,” he said. “Being able to leave a positive mark within the Stuckeman School, the University, and the community was very exciting.”

Vasiliy Lakoba, graduate student in landscape architecture, said the charrette was a learning experience that informed his work on a College of Arts and Architecture campus plan, completed as a studio project during the spring 2015 semester. “It was great to see the Stuckeman School come together and call on many alumni’s professional experience to make an impact with the University administration,” he noted. “I think community engagement is crucial. It keeps the design professions

vibrant and self-critical, rather than simply a linear transaction with an owner.”

According to Foster, the University ultimately reconsidered the original proposal for the water tower and is now incorporating some aesthetic elements into the design, including a seating terrace/stage beneath the tower with a tensile canopy forming a “ceiling” over the stage area that essentially screens the underside of the tower.

“The charrette inspired administrators to consider how the water tower could be most effectively integrated into its campus location,” said Foster. “The variety of participants in the charrette demonstrated that an engaged, collaborative design process can yield valuable insights and benefits. We hope this will lead to future opportunities to engage with the University in its design and planning processes.”

Penn State architecture alumni, from left, John Jackson, Eli Vazques Luna, Justin Teufel, and Michael Pinto, work on potential water tower designs. Photo: David Goldberg

Landscape architect Fred Bonci (’73 B.S. Landscape Architecture) addresses participants in the water tower charrette in December 2014. Photo: David Goldberg

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Bundy Encourages Graduates to Practice the “Butterfly Effect”

“Be kind. Flap your wings. And carpe (the heck out of your) vita (life)!” — Dr. O. Richard Bundy, Class of 2015 Commencement Speaker

In his commencement address to the College of Arts and Architecture Class of 2015, Dr. O. Richard Bundy (’70 B.S., ’87 Ph.D. Music Ed.), professor of music education and director of athletic bands, spoke about seizing opportunities, embracing one’s life journey, and being kind. In his typical fashion of practicing what he preaches, Dr. Bundy—who retired June 30—distributed envelopes with gifts to randomly selected graduates as they crossed the Eisenhower Auditorium stage. The envelopes also contained a note urging them to enact the “Butterfly Effect”—to practice small, unexpected acts of kindness, because they may ultimately have far-reaching effects.

In honor of Dr. Bundy’s longtime service to Penn State, the Blue Band Building will be renamed the O. Richard Bundy Blue Band Building in a special ceremony during the 2015 Homecoming weekend, October 9–11. Dr. Bundy began his career with the Blue Band in 1983, serving first as acting assistant director, then assistant director starting in 1987. He was appointed director of athletic bands in 1996. During his tenure at the University, he also directed the Concert Band and taught courses in conducting, marching band techniques, instrumental music education, and band literature. In 2014, he was named an Alumni Fellow, the highest award given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

“It is impossible to fully anticipate how many people YOU will impact through YOUR work. But the ‘Law of Sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Conditions’—more commonly known as the ‘Butterfly Effect’—means you WILL have an impact, so I encourage you to make it the most positive one possible, wherever you are and in whatever you do.”

In his commencement address, Dr. O. Richard Bundy spoke about the “Butterfly Effect,” the idea that small, unexpected acts of kindness can have far-reaching effects. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

Dr. O. Richard Bundy and newly minted grad Audrey Conklin (’15 B.M.E.), who was a member of the Blue Band. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

Art Education Faculty Member Uses Ceramic Water Filters to Combat Water CrisisA game-changer. That’s what Penn State art education

professor B. Stephen Carpenter II calls the approximately

50-pound portable filter press designed by engineering

students during the spring 2014 semester. The A-frame-

like contraption, small enough to fit in a suitcase, produces

ceramic water filters that, simply but significantly, make

unsafe water potable.

According to water.org, a nonprofit committed to providing access to safe water for all, 750 million people around the world—more than twice the population of the United States—don’t have access to clean water. Dr. Carpenter wants to help change that, using his experience as a ceramic artist and educator to raise awareness of the issue and show how easily—and inexpensively—we can take action.

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LEARN MORE!sites.psu.edu/reservoirstudio

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“Access to clean water is among the most important human rights issues,” he said. “My efforts to address the issue are motivated by my background in the arts. Artists see the world through their own perspective, and create responses to the world based on that perspective.”

Dr. Carpenter’s creation in response to the global water crisis is Reservoir Studio, a physical and conceptual space where participants learn how to make ceramic water filters, and discuss the how’s, why’s, and next steps. Inside the studio, located in the basement of the Arts Cottage on the University Park campus, is a 500-plus-pound filter press that, while capable of producing water filters, is not easily transportable—especially to communities that are most at risk.

That’s where the engineering students come in. In spring 2014, five mechanical engineering undergraduates spent the semester designing the “game-changer”—in consultation with Dr. Carpenter—as a project for the College of Engineering’s Learning Factory, which provides students practical hands-on experience through client-based capstone design projects.

Dr. Carpenter first learned how to make ceramic water filters eight years ago from Richard Wukich, who had been his undergraduate advisor at Slippery Rock University. When the filters—made of sawdust, clay, and water—are fired in a kiln, the sawdust burns out, leaving a porous pot that traps 95 percent of disease-causing microorganisms. Add colloidal silver—a natural antimicrobial—to the mix, and the filter’s

effectiveness increases to at least 99 percent.

“This approach to clean water is magical, but there’s no illusion,” said Dr. Carpenter. “The power is in the simplicity. We see people creating high-tech expensive solutions to many different problems. These filters cost about $25 to make and can last up to five years. I think that’s a pretty cool response to people dying [from unsafe water].”

Ideally, according to Dr. Carpenter, new water filter production facilities are built in coordination with potters or brick makers who have knowledge and access to existing clay supplies, equipment, and kilns. The missing piece of equipment is the filter press. Because the newly designed press can be transported easily, demonstrations of the filter production process can happen during initial visits to communities in need. The portable press can be used at the facility until a full-sized press is built.

The portable filter press is one of the first steps toward making clean water—inexpensive, accessible clean water—a reality in communities that need it. Next steps include designing and building other portable filter production equipment, such as a clay mixer and a hammer mill.

In addition to making the filters, Dr. Carpenter is working to educate others about the global water crisis and how we can help. He recently received a grant from Penn State’s Africana Research Center to work with high school art teachers in predominantly African American schools to develop and implement an arts-based curriculum about the

ceramic water filters within the context of the global water crisis and the African Diaspora.

The driving force behind Dr. Carpenter’s work is the simple fact that waterborne diseases keep kids out of school “If you’re sick, you can’t go to school. If you take away that element of danger by making available clean, safe drinking water, you start to change notions of education in communities,” he explained.

Dr. Carpenter’s efforts have the potential to impact millions, from the people worldwide who benefit from the water filters to his fellow educators who join the fight against the global water crisis.

“When it comes down to it, though, I’m just an art guy making pots that clean water,” he said. “If an art guy can make a difference in someone’s life, it’s a good day.”

A longer version of this story was originally published as part of the Centre Daily Times’ “Focus on Research” series.

B. Stephen Carpenter II uses a portable filter press made by engineering students. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

B. Stephen Carpenter II makes clay to use in a ceramic filter press. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

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Julius Caesar, Philharmonic Orchestra at Old MainIn April 2015, the steps of Old Main were used as more than an entrance into Penn State’s administrative home. The School of Theatre staged a production of Julius Caesar on the steps on April 15 and 17 (April 16 was canceled due to weather). On April 17, the Philharmonic Orchestra performed Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” prior to Julius Caesar. The April 17 performances were livestreamed by students in the colleges of Communications and Information Sciences and Technology.

This ambitious undertaking was the brainchild of Travis DeCastro, associate director for production in the School of Theatre, who had always dreamed of doing a production on the steps of Old Main. Nearly 400 students, faculty, and staff from across the University were involved in the play and concert.

Two students prepare to perform with the Philharmonic Orchestra at Old Main on Friday, April 17, 2015. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

Gerardo Edelstein, director of orchestral studies, conducts the Philharmonic Orchestra at Old Main on April 17, 2015. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

Timothy C. VanBeverhoudt (left) and Vince Tran perform a scene from Julius Caesar at Old Main on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. The production was set in a contemporary African nation to draw parallels between Shakespeare’s Roman Republic of 44 B.C. and African dictatorships of today. Photo: Michael Palmer

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Road Tripping Throughout Big 10 Leads to Collaborative Music Education Series

Ann Clements and Cody Goddard take a break while “road tripping” for the Collaborative Music Education Series.

Road trip! That rallying cry prompts images of hours spent in a car, armed with good tunes and lots of snacks, perhaps with a vague destination in mind. During the spring 2014 semester, music education faculty member Dr. Ann Clements and multimedia specialist Cody Goddard embraced the road trip ideal, but with a specific goal: record talks with music education faculty members from Big 10 universities.

The talks are now part of the Collaborative Music Education Series (CMES), the largest online collaborative music education teaching and learning environment in the world and the largest collaborative curriculum project ever attempted in the Big 10. All content is open to the public and can be viewed on the website musicedseries.org. Dr. Ann Clements and fellow music education faculty member Dr. Darrin Thornton received a grant for the project from Penn State’s Center for Online Innovation in Learning (COIL).

Dr. Clements and Goddard traveled to 13 universities within the Big 10—every university with a music education program—and interviewed more than 30 faculty members, resulting in the creation of 40 artistically-based video talks focusing on foundational topics of importance to music teacher preparation. Goddard served as videographer and photographer. Each talk has accompanying resources and activities, including discussion board questions and projects, to guide students further into the subjects being presented.

“CMES is the first cross-university collaborative teaching and learning experience in music education,” explained Dr. Clements. “We partnered

with music education faculty from across the Big 10 to create and utilize a collaborative learning platform that leverages the specific expertise found at each participating institution.”

Encompassing the power of social media, CMES allows for discussion and student sharing of projects across university boundaries. “The format of this platform allows students and faculty to experience the curricular content simultaneously, enriching experiences and providing innovative approaches in teaching and learning through cross-university online learning,” said Dr. Clements.

Students who want to share their projects can submit their work through the Penn State Digital Badges platform (https://badgesapp.psu.edu/) and earn a series of digital badges that correspond to the newly released National Core Arts Standards for Music.

According to Dr. Clements, many institutions outside the Big 10 have expressed interest in the project. The content will be open to all interested universities in the fall 2015 semester.

In addition to Dr. Clements, associate professor of music education, Dr. Thornton, assistant

professor of music education, and Goddard, other Penn Staters involved in the project include Gary Chinn, director, College of Arts and Architecture e-Learning Institute, and Bart Pursel, faculty programs coordinator of Teaching and Learning with Technology, a unit of the University’s Information Technology Services.

CHECK IT OUT!musicedseries.org

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The Palmer Museum of Art will someday house one of the leading educational studio glass collections in the country, thanks to the generosity of Penn State alumni. Two couples—Norbert (’47 B.S. Engineering) and Audrey Gaelen, and Earl Shreckengast (’72 B.A. Political Science) and his wife, Dr. Julia Muller, have both promised the museum their studio glass collections, which include works by Dale Chihuly, William Morris, and other leaders in the field. Not only have these two couples made commitments to the museum, but they have also created endowments for the care and maintenance of their gifts once they become part of the Palmer Museum of Art’s permanent collection.

According to Jan Muhlert, director of the Palmer Museum of Art, the museum’s advisory board has been interested in adding contemporary studio glass to the collection since the late ’90s. “It was also around this time that we began conversations with Earl and Julia and, a few years later, with Norbert and Audrey. Now their recent gifts are laying the foundation for a major studio glass collection for the Palmer, and their endowments will ensure that the museum will have the necessary resources to care for and present the collection.”

The Palmer Museum of Art is no stranger to studio glass, having hosted a wildly popular exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s work, Dale Chihuly: “Seaforms,” in 1999. The museum also has a Chihuly piece in the permanent collection, given by Dr. Gerald B. M. Stein in memory of his wife, Dr. Sylvia Stein.

Shreckengast and Muller and the Gaelens have begun gifting parts of their collections to the Palmer, and have been very thoughtful about selecting a variety of work from different artists, demonstrating various techniques of making art glass.

Studio Glass Endowments Enhance Palmer Museum of Art Collection

Two Gifts, One Purpose:

Bandhu Scott Dunham, American, b. 1959. Frosted Regular Sphere Skeleton, 1997. Blown glass, 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. Palmer Museum of Art of The Pennsylvania State University. Gift of Earl K. Shreckengast and Julia K. Muller. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

JOIN THE PALMER!palmermuseum.psu.edu

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Norbert Gaelen said he and Audrey wanted to give their collection to the Palmer because of Norbert’s love for his alma mater. “When we moved from our house to a condo, some of the pieces didn’t fit properly, so we said, ‘It’s time to give them to Penn State.’”

An exhibition of 50 pieces of studio glass drawn from the Gaelen collection, Luminous Allure: Studio Glass from the Collection of Audrey and Norbert Gaelen, is on display at the Palmer Museum of Art through August 16.

Shreckengast and Muller, both having worked in higher education, said they are happy to help enhance the educational mission of the Palmer Museum of Art.

“As a relatively new museum, the Palmer is building its collection in a number of areas. We were impressed that it is both a museum and a teaching venue,” said Muller. “When we considered giving our collection to the University, we wanted the Palmer to have the resources to maintain it, to exhibit it, and offer programming around it. That’s why we provided for an endowment.”

Shreckengast and Muller first began collecting art glass in St. Louis, Missouri, in the mid-’80s, as decoration for their home. Their interest transformed from a decorative one to a true passion for art glass with the very first piece they bought.

“Since then, we’ve filled, overfilled, and refilled the two étagères numerous times. And the glass has spread out everywhere—dining room, powder room, kitchen, library, bedrooms, and now to the Palmer,” said Muller.

Shreckengast and Muller have already given the museum a group of works representative of their collection. Generally owning only one piece by each artist, the majority of whom are American, they also own works by artists from ten other countries.

“You make the decision early on about whether you want to concentrate on one artist or many,” said Shreckengast. “Being on the board of Craft Alliance in St. Louis, we would travel and organize trips to private collections and artist studios. We thought this approach would give our collection more variety and a unique appreciation for each piece.”

Muller said she hopes the couple’s collection “will be used both as a thing of beauty and interest and as a teaching tool.”

Norbert Gaelen agreed with that sentiment. “It’s great when a collection is in a museum and people can enjoy it. I love living with ours, but we’re just two people. When you see it in a museum on display, there are hundreds and thousands of people who can enjoy it. That’s even better!”

Dante Marioni, American, b. 1964. Black Urn, 2007. Blown glass, 28 x 11 x 11 inches. Palmer Museum of Art of The Pennsylvania State University. Gift of Audrey and Norbert Gaelen. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

Graphic Design Students Give Jared Box Project a Facelift

The goal of the Jared Box Project is to uplift the spirits of children in the hospital. The boxes themselves—as well as the project website and related materials—recently got a “lift” of their own, thanks to 2015 Penn State Graphic Design alumni Meagh Cafferty and Annie Seighman. After designing a new logo for the Jared Box Project as part of a class assignment, Cafferty and Seighman went on to volunteer their time to redesign the non-profit organization’s website and marketing materials.

A Jared Box—named for a State College boy who died of cancer in 2001—is a plastic storage box filled with age- and gender-appropriate gifts, toys, and other activities. Individuals and organizations across the country buy and fill the boxes, affix a Jared Box label, and deliver them to local hospitals. The labels, which now feature the new logo, are downloaded from the Jared Box Project website. More than 200,000 Jared Boxes have been delivered in 47 states.

The project relies solely on word-of-mouth and donations from individuals and groups, explained Cindy Kolarik, founder and director of the Jared Box Project. What started as a small activity in vacation bible school at a State College Catholic church has evolved into a nationwide effort to put

a smile on the faces of children in the hospital.

While the Jared Boxes were serving their purpose, Kolarik knew the organization’s logo and the labels used on the boxes could use a little facelift. So she got in touch with her neighbor, Penn State Graphic Design professor Kristin Sommese, who gave her students the assignment of redesigning the Jared Box logo. Kolarik chose Cafferty and Seighman’s logo because of its whimsical yet polished design.

“The ‘smile’ logo that they created is perfect for us, because it crosses all ages,” said Kolarik.

Kolarik was happy to have a new logo, but was ecstatic when Seighman and Cafferty volunteered to redesign the

Jared Box Project’s website and other marketing materials.

“Meagh and Annie really wanted to help the Jared Box Project. They had little experience in web design and development, but they learned as they went along. They were phenomenal to work with.”

According to Cafferty, this project was different from other class assignments. “This is one of the most relevant projects we’ve had because it actually came to fruition and is live, instead of just a proof-of-concept like most of our student work.”

For Kolarik, the new materials are a “game-changer.”

“The materials they designed are so polished, and will help the project grow even more,” she said. “They are professional quality, top-notch. They will be a huge help for the Jared Box Project.”

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CHECK IT OUT!thejaredbox.com

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Blood at the Root Gains International Critical AcclaimIn March 2015, the cast of Blood at the Root, a new play commissioned by the School of Theatre for the M.F.A. Acting class of 2014, returned from the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia with more awards to add to its growing list, including the prestigious Graham F. Smith Peace Foundation Award and The Advertiser’s Best of Fringe Award for Best Theatre.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival was the last stop on an international tour the cast members never anticipated when they began working on the play back in fall 2012. The emotionally charged work, written by award-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, is based on the story of the “Jena Six,” a group of young black men in rural Louisiana who were charged with attempted murder after assaulting a white student at their high school in 2006. The cast toured a workshop production of the play in South Africa in summer 2013. When the actors returned to the States, they realized they needed to share the story with a wider audience.

“This play points to conversations that are begging to be had,” said cast

member Tyler Reilly, who served as managing director for the tour and now works as an associate producer for Penn State Centre Stage. “What we learned [in South Africa] was that the story is a universal one: people have seen themselves, their culture, and their issues in the piece no matter where we’ve taken it.”

During the spring 2014 semester, Blood at the Root toured to many of the Penn State Commonwealth Campuses, with the cast members handling all touring and marketing logistics on their own. The play premiered on the Penn State mainstage in April 2014, fresh off the heels of winning the Kennedy Center’s Hip Hop Theater Creator Award, which honors new theatrical works that

engage hip hop “as an ever-evolving attitude of contemporary resistance and self-definition.”

The cast toured South Africa again in summer 2014 to audience and critical acclaim, and then headed to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, where the play won the Holden Street Theatres Edinburgh Award, as well as being shortlisted for the Amnesty International Award.

In addition to performing the play, the cast members have engaged with hundreds of students and audience members around the world, hosting workshops on the play’s themes of social prejudice, systemic injustice, and the promotion of human rights.

In September 2015, they will head to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they’ll perform as part of the ACANSA Arts Festival. They’ll also perform and conduct workshops at Central High School, site of one of the most intense integration battles in the Civil Rights era.

According to cast member Allison Scarlet Jaye, Blood at the Root is about much more than race. “I wanted audiences to go beyond ‘race’ or deciding ‘this piece is about race.’ It’s not just about that—race is a heavy-weight vehicle for the themes that Blood at the Root brings up, which I believe are challenge and change.”

The original cast of Blood at the Root includes Stori Ayers, Brandon Carter, Allison Scarlet Jaye, Tyler Reilly, and Kenzie Ross, all members of the M.F.A. Acting class of 2014, and Christian Thompson (’15 B.F.A. Musical Theatre). The original production was directed by Steve Broadnax, head of Penn State’s M.F.A. Acting program, and choreographed by Kikora Franklin, associate professor of dance.

Christian Thompson rehearses a scene from Blood at the Root prior to its Penn State premiere in spring 2014. Photo: Patrick Mansell

According to Dr. Andrew Schulz, associate dean for research in the College of Arts and Architecture, ADRI places Penn State at the forefront of the emerging field of integrative arts research. “Integrative arts research crosses and blurs disciplinary boundaries with the aim of claiming a key role for arts practitioners in addressing the fundamental challenges facing us on local, national, and global scales,” he said.

Operating within the Arts and Architecture Research Office, ADRI provides seed funding, technical support, and workspace to projects that, although often in their initial stages, have a strong probability of attracting future external funding. In keeping with goals outlined in the college’s strategic plan, ADRI projects are typically collaborative and interdisciplinary in nature, push methodological

boundaries, link research and teaching, make innovative use of technology, engage with University-wide research initiatives and priorities, and have the potential to garner national and international recognition.

Belser, director of ADRI, said it provides an infrastructure through which College of Arts and Architecture faculty can collaborate with others at the University. “We’ve come to the realization that to solve problems, we need to think expansively across disciplines, and art aids in that communication,” he explained. “ADRI gives us a way to have a public consciousness.”

ADRI coordinates and hosts a range of programming designed to foster and support innovative arts research and its broad dissemination, including the lunchtime lecture series. Speakers during the spring 2015 semester included, among others, Dr. Kimberly

Powell, associate professor of education and art education, on “Walking as Wayfaring: Movement-Based Inquiry in and for the Arts and Social Sciences,” and Dr. Bill Doan, professor of theatre and women’s studies, on “Embodied Mind/Damaged Brain: The Art of Beginnings and Endings.

The College of Arts and Architecture also recently launched the Borland Project Space, a site used to showcase the vibrant research culture of the college, with the term “research” intended to encompass the full range of practices in which faculty engage to create new knowledge in the arts and design disciplines.

“The aim of the Borland Project Space is to move beyond traditional notions of exhibition, performance, and scholarly programming in an effort to reveal the processes and procedures of ‘arts research,’ which are customarily hidden from view,” said Dr. Schulz. “Both ADRI and the Project Space indicate the college’s commitment to playing a more central role in the research enterprise at Penn State. They will help us achieve the aspirational goal of the Arts and Architecture strategic plan, which is to make the arts and design disciplines central to the Penn State identity.”

New College Initiatives Focus on Arts and Design ResearchDuring a spring semester lunchtime session on the ground floor of Borland Building, theatre faculty member Andrew Belser shared his efforts to improve cross-generational communication and combat age-based stereotypes through a project where participants study, describe, and touch one another’s faces. Called “Face.Age,” his project is one of several in the College of Arts and Architecture supported by the newly established Arts and Design Research Incubator (ADRI). ADRI’s goal is to help get high-impact arts and design research projects off the ground and in the public eye.

Visitors check out WATER LAB, a pop-up artist’s studio and creative laboratory in the Borland Project Space in winter 2015. For one month, Ann Tarantino, instructor in art and landscape architecture, undertook research and studio work in the Borland Project Space related to a new, cross-disciplinary course proposal called “Seeing Water.” Photo: Stephanie Swindle

Andrew Belser discusses his “Face.Age” project in the Arts and Design Research Incubator. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

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LEARN MORE!sites.psu.edu/adrisites.psu.edu/borlandprojectspace

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College Launches Arts Entrepreneurship ProgramThe College of Arts and Architecture has joined a growing number of universities offering courses in arts entrepreneurship, intended to teach students the business side of being a successful artist. The Arts Entrepreneurship program, part of Penn State’s intercollege minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ENTI), is directed by Dr. Jonathan Gangi, assistant professor, who joined the faculty in fall 2014.

During its first year, the Arts Entrepreneurship program co-sponsored a number of speakers, including actor, writer, and clown Bill Irwin and Joe (’00 B.F.A. Musical Theatre) and Christine Abraham, founders of The Thriving Artists. In addition, Dr. Gangi partnered with the Center for the Performing Arts’ Classical Music Project in order to bring performers such as Eighth Blackbird and Brooklyn Rider to speak to his students. The first arts entrepreneurship classes—Arts Marketing and Arts Enterprise Development—were offered in spring 2015, and taught by Dr. Gangi.

The Arts Entrepreneurship program also presented workshops as part of Penn State’s Global Entrepreneurship Week activities. “Participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week is a great way for the College of Arts and Architecture to tap into the campus-wide entrepreneurship initiative,” said Dr. Gangi.

The goal of the Arts Entrepreneurship program is to provide the “missing piece” of arts training, explained Dr. Gangi. “We want to give students the skills and knowledge to be able to make a living doing their art. We want to help them feel empowered and to remove the fear associated with launching a career as an artist,” he said. “They should realize that it’s okay to be both an artist and a business person.”

As part of the ENTI minor, the Arts Entrepreneurship program has a “cluster” of four courses. All students in the minor take core courses in entrepreneurial mindset, entrepreneurial leadership, and new venture creation, and then choose a cluster from fields that include—in addition to arts entrepreneurship—food and bio-innovation, new media, new ventures, social entrepreneurship, technology-based entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurship and innovation, and hospitality management.

According to Dr. Gangi, to “entrepreneur” in the arts, one must understand aesthetic value and what drives people to consume aesthetic products. Thus the courses in the arts entrepreneurship cluster cover how to research, create, and market aesthetic products, as well as legal issues related to entrepreneurship. Next year, the Arts Entrepreneurship program will launch an Arts Business Idea Competition, where students will present their own arts business concept and win business start-up funds.

Ultimately, Dr. Gangi hopes to create a primarily student-run arts venture connected to the Arts Entrepreneurship program as an experiential learning opportunity, as well as connect current students to College of Arts and Architecture alumni in a mentoring capacity.

“In this program, we are showing students the door to a successful career in the arts,” said Dr. Gangi. “Once they see where the door is, they’re motivated to run through it.”

Bill Doan (right), professor of theatre and women’s studies, organized Bill Irwin’s Penn State visit in December 2014, which was co-sponsored by the Arts Entrepreneurship program. Irwin led a Q&A on the “Freelance Life of an Artist,” as well as performing for and meeting with School of Theatre faculty and students. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

From left: Gerardo Edelstein, Christian Baldini, and Sue Haug. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

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orchestras around the world, from South Africa to Scotland, Munich to Buenos Aires. But no matter where he lifts his conductor’s baton, it’s the music that is most important. “When so many souls come together for incredible music, it can be remarkably powerful. That is what music is all about.”

Baldini joined the University of California at Davis faculty in 2009, where he serves as the music director of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work there, he regularly conducts several international orchestras, including the Munich Radio Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Buenos Aires Philharmonic, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, among others. He made his debut conducting the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in December 2014 and was immediately invited back for several guest-conducting engagements. Equally at home in the core symphonic and operatic repertoire and in more daring contemporary music, he has presented world premieres of more than 70 works. Baldini has been a featured composer at the Acanthes Festival in France and the Ginastera Festival in London. In addition to his Penn State degree, he holds a Ph.D. in composition from the State University of New York at Buffalo and bachelor’s degrees in conducting and composition from the Catholic University of Argentina.

Baldini credits Gerardo Edelstein, Penn State’s director of orchestral studies, for challenging him and serving as his role model to this day. “Maestro Edelstein is the reason I went to Penn State in the first place. It is not easy to find a musician of his caliber anywhere,” he noted.

Baldini advises current students and new graduates to, simply, work hard and not give up. “We need to remind ourselves that everyone is different. Compare yourself only to yourself. … Set clear goals, and have a plan to get there.”

CHRISTIAN BALDINI

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When Frederick Bonci (’73 B.S. Landscape Architecture) graduated from Penn State, he felt like he still had some learning to do. And for that he’s grateful. “In Penn State’s landscape architecture program, there’s an ethic that you should always be learning. Just because you graduate doesn’t mean you’re frozen in time and know everything,” he explained.

Bonci is a founding partner in the Pittsburgh-based firm LaQuatra Bonci, which provides professional landscape architectural, urban design, and planning services. The practice, founded in 1984, has focused on a variety of project types, including intimate gardens, public gathering places, civic destinations, urban neighborhoods, urban parks, public open spaces, and corporate and institutional campuses.

Bonci said Penn State provided the foundation that has shaped his career.

“I was at a big school, but in a program like landscape architecture, it never felt like it was big,” he noted.

As a volunteer at Penn State, Bonci has been an active member of the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society, where he continues to take a leadership role in advancing the society’s scholarship fundraising initiatives. He served a two-year term as the alumni society’s president in 2011–13, spearheading the alumni society’s involvement in the College of Arts and Architecture’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2013.

He said he gives back to his alma mater both to help today’s students and to stay connected with current faculty, who are training some of the best rising landscape architects in the profession. “When my firm goes to hire people, Penn State has the top students. They present themselves the best.”

For Dr. Douglas N. Dow (’97 M.A., ’06 Ph.D. Art History), the field of art history is about much more than, well, art. “Art touches on so many aspects of human culture, society, and civilization, and art historians get to explore how distinct aspects of culture give rise to and are reflected in works of art. In order to understand Egyptian art, one has to look at Egyptian religion. The same is true of Greek art, which requires a discussion of Greek philosophy and politics,” he explained.

Dr. Dow, associate professor of art history at Kansas State University and scholar of Italian Renaissance art, recently completed a sabbatical in Florence, Italy, where he conducted research for his next major book project. He came to Penn State as a graduate

student in art history in 1995, after completing his B.A. in art history and English at the University of Maine. Twelve years later, he had not only master’s and doctoral degrees, but substantial teaching experience.

“The opportunities at Penn State for graduate students to teach are really pretty great,” he said. “The Department of Art History excels at instilling the value and importance of teaching and also what it means to be a committed scholar and researcher. Having demonstrable experience with both teaching and research provides an advantage to a young scholar who is entering a competitive job market.”

Since graduating from Penn State, Dr. Dow has distinguished himself as a leading expert in

the Florentine art of the 16th century. He wrote Apostolic Iconography and Florentine Confraternities in the Age of Reform, published in 2014, and has received scholarly and teaching awards and fellowships from his home institution, as well as national and international institutions.

Dr. Dow said he is grateful for the faculty at Penn State, who were as dedicated to their students as they were to their research. “The experience of working closely with recognized experts in their fields was one of the most valuable aspects of my graduate education at Penn State.”

FREDERICK BONCI

DOUGLAS DOW

Photo: Cody Goddard

Photo: Cody Goddard

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Gabe Kean (’95 B.A. Graphic Design) is principal of Belle & Wissell, Co., which he founded in Seattle in 2003. The studio crafts participatory experiences that blend inventive design and technology, such as interactive installations, interpretive exhibitions, documentary films, and web experiences. Clients include the Art Institute of Chicago, J. Paul Getty Museum, Harley-Davidson Museum, The Smithsonian Institution, and the Space Needle. Kean was also the founder of an award-winning non-profit organization called Born Presents, which from 1997 to 2011 brought artists and writers together to collaborate in the creation of experimental interactive experiences on the web.

Kean said he appreciated the rigorous training he received at Penn State, which laid the foundation for him to become both a successful designer and a business owner. “You know how you don’t really appreciate your parents until you leave for college? I feel the same way about my Penn State experience. It wasn’t until I graduated that I really appreciated my time at Penn State, and realized what a difference it would make in my career.”

Kean’s design work and projects have received numerous industry awards and recognition. He credits his success in part to Penn State’s “intense” graphic design program, and the work ethic that was instilled in him. “The intense program really made a difference later, as I was establishing my career, and also made things easier, because I was used to hard work,” he said. “I learned how to work well with others, and today Belle and Wissell is known for our ability to work closely with clients, and bring them into the center of our process.”

According to Gina Narracci (’95 B.Arch.), architecture is a competitive field, but Penn State prepared her well through intensive design studios, regular competitions, and constructive criticism and discourse. “In many ways, that’s what the profession of architecture is about.”

Narracci joined Pelli Clarke Pelli in 1997, where she has evolved into a senior designer for many of the firm’s performing arts centers. She is a design team leader for the McCormick Place Events Center (DePaul Arena) in Chicago and for a new performing arts center in Salt Lake City. She was the senior designer for the Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton, Ohio, and for the 18,000-seat BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Narracci was also a senior designer for performing arts teaching facilities at the University of Iowa, DePaul University, and Western Illinois University, and she helped develop the new master plan for Duke University’s central campus.

Narracci said she is grateful for faculty members such as Dr. Craig Zabel, who taught her architectural history, and

Props—they may be big or small, fabricated or natural, grasped by a performer or placed somewhere on the set. No matter what, they are an essential part of any performance. Michael Smanko (’77 M.F.A. Theatre) has made an international career out of designing and fabricating those props, helping to transport audiences to locales ranging from ancient Egypt to 1960s Baltimore.

During his more than 40 years in the business, he has traveled with the companies of Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, and Robert Joffrey to 36 countries on five continents, in addition to working extensively on Broadway. His Broadway credits include the original production of Michael Bennett’s Dreamgirls; several

From left: Rick Kean, Anne Hamilton-Kean (Gabe’s parents), Gabe Kean, and stepdaughter Lily Reed pose outside Esber Recital Hall after the College of Arts and Architecture Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 17, 2015. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

GABE KEAN

GINA NARRACCI

MICHAEL SMANKO

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Storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins (’01 M.F.A.) has always been fascinated by the power of images to tell stories. As an undergraduate printmaker at Kutztown University, he began his exploration by creating dark figurative imagery—diptychs and triptychs—suggesting linear connections between the works. This continued into his graduate work at Penn State, where he had the space and freedom to pursue his artistic interests.

“I was free to spend every waking moment in the shop, learning new techniques and experimenting with them in new ways, and really opening myself up to all the possible artistic avenues and ways for me to tell a visual story,” he explained.

After graduating from Penn State, Wilkins relocated to Los Angeles, and soon snagged his first job as a storyboard artist, on the film Hellboy. He has since made a career at “drawing the movies before they shoot the movies,” working on such diverse films as Monster House, Ted 1 and 2, Cabin in the Woods, Trick r Treat, The Smurfs 1 and 2, and Angels & Demons. He wrote and developed a screenplay for Robert Zemeckis and Disney, titled Calling All Robots!, which he was also able to storyboard. He recently finished working on the upcoming horror films Poltergeist and Krampus.

Wilkins acknowledges that his current work is quite different from what he did as a graduate student, but says he is still “a storyteller at heart.” He advises current students to always be open to exploring new ways of creating imagery. “In college is your best chance to do so, but stay true to your core artistic drive. Know what it is you want to say, and stick with it. How you’re able to say it, and discovering all those ways—that’s the really fun part.”

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Jawaid Haider, “without whom I would not have been in architecture school.” She advises current students to take advantage of the resources at Penn State and to establish a strong work ethic. “If you establish a good work ethic in school, it will be appreciated wherever you go and can be applied to whatever you do. I think that new graduates in a new office will go far if they listen, take notes, ask questions, and be team players.”

productions directed by George C. Wolfe, including Bring in da Noise…Bring in da Funk and Harlem Song; and Disney’s AIDA. More recent credits include Edward Albee’s The Goat, The Rocky Horror Show, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Hairspray.

In 1986, Smanko founded Prism Production Services, which designed and fabricated specialty props. It expanded into a full-service prop shop in 1997 and ultimately had credits on most productions on tour and on Broadway. The Prism partnership ended in 2004 but was restarted in 2007 as Prism Props, supplying creative stage props and décor to the theatrical industry.

Smanko credits his graduate advisor and mentor Ann Gibson, professor emerita of theatre, for helping him get through the inevitable “design dilemmas.”

“I remember asking her what to do when you’re just stumped, and she had an answer right away: ‘No matter where you are or what you’re doing, go take a walk or do anything but think about your design problem. And eventually your muse will strike.’”

Smanko advises recent graduates to take advantage of the network of Penn Staters in the theatre profession. “People in the profession know that Penn State alumni have had rigorous training. If you’re a Penn Stater, you really already have one foot in the door.”

SUBSCRIBE!youtube.com/ArtsandArch for videos of Alumni Award winners and more

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Special Events Commemorate 50th Anniversary of Penn State’s 1965 Seminar in Art EducationPenn State’s art education program will present a series of events and projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Seminar in Art Education for Research and Curriculum Development, which became a benchmark in academic art education. The seminar shifted the focus of art education from psychologically grounded, developmental approaches to teaching and research to a more self-conscious stance as part of the humanities and interdisciplinary scholarship. The 50th anniversary events, to take place from fall 2015 through fall 2016, will include graduate courses, performances, interactive seminars, and other activities. The cornerstone will be a conference, Penn State Seminar in Art Education: 50 Years of Transdisciplinary Inquiry, Practice, and Possibilities, April 1–3, 2016. For more information, contact B. Stephen Carpenter II, head of the art education program, at bsc5@psu.edu.

Wing Takes on Associate Dean RoleScott Wing, RA, AIA, associate professor of architecture, has been named associate dean for academic affairs and outreach in the College of Arts and Architecture, effective July 1, 2015. A member of the Department of Architecture faculty since 2000, including two years as interim department head, he brings experience in administration, academic advising, curricular affairs, recruitment, and outreach to the position, which oversees both the undergraduate and graduate programs in the college. He is also responsible for the college’s outreach programs, including online course development, conferences and summer camps, and e-learning initiatives.

Wing, who served as a Schreyer Honors College academic advisor for nearly 15 years, has focused on providing his students with experience in interdisciplinary, “real world” projects throughout his teaching career. He led the architecture design

team for Penn State’s award-winning 2007 Solar Decathlon house and the 2014 Department of Energy Challenge Home (Race to Zero) Competition. He was awarded a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Prize for Creative Integration of the Academy and Practice for his collaborative work on tribal housing and community buildings for the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer, Montana.

Wing, who holds a bachelor of arts degree from Brown University and master of architecture degree from Princeton University, said he is excited about the prospects of this new appointment and continuing the college’s emphasis on nurturing students’ potential. “I look forward to working with students, faculty, and staff to assist our students’ development as artists, designers, and citizens at Penn State.”

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Edward L. Mattil (’40 B.S. Ed., ’46 M.F.A. Art, ’53 Ed.D. Art Ed.), former head of Penn State’s art education program, served as master of ceremonies for WPSX-TV’s (now WPSU) series Keys to the Cupboard. Photo: WPSU

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School of Music Partnership with State College School District Receives University AwardEach fall since 2007, Penn State music education students have devoted early mornings to conducting fifth-grade musicians from local elementary schools in preparation for a concert at State College Area High School. Dubbed “Partners in Music,” this initiative received the 2015 Penn State Award for Community Engagement and Scholarship.

The program, established by music education faculty members Dr. Robert Gardner and Dr. Linda Thornton in conjunction with Park Forest and Gray’s Woods Elementary band teacher Roy Schaeffer, has benefitted more than 1,240 elementary students over eight years. In 2014, 185 fifth-grade students, 11 senior music education students, two graduate music education students, and all State College Area School District and Our Lady of Victory

elementary instrumental music teachers participated in the program.

According to Dr. Thornton, Partners in Music is the result of considerable commitment by many teachers, students, and parents. “It’s also a lot of fun—it is one of my favorite parts of the year.”

Nominators praised Thornton and Gardner for creating a program that benefits both the elementary and Penn State students. “One of the outstanding contributions of Thornton and Gardner is their vision to offer local band and orchestra students an enhanced, festival-like performance experience that also provides music education students genuine teaching experience with children,” said one nominator.

Both educators and parents noted the program has inspired students to

practice their instruments more, thus greatly increasing their skills. The Penn State students reported the program has significantly increased their confidence prior to student teaching.

“As a future music teacher, this was incredibly beneficial. We often teach other college students in an ensemble setting as a way to practice, which isn’t nearly as effective as teaching real fifth-graders,” said one of the Penn State participants. “During these last five weeks, I’ve learned what it’s like to teach kids who may not know everything about their instrument and sometimes get tired of rehearsing. I also learned that there is an incredible amount of potential in these students who are eager to play music together.”

Fifth-grade students rehearse with guidance from a Penn State music education student. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

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Barbara Palmer “Birthday Endowment” Will Help Palmer Museum Continue to ThriveWhen Barbara Palmer and her late husband, James, made the lead gifts for the Palmer Museum’s expansion and subsequent renovation, their goal was to ensure Penn State’s art museum would serve as a cultural treasure and educational resource for arts patrons of all ages for years to come. In honor of Barbara’s 90th birthday on March 30, friends and family surprised her with the establishment of an endowment at the Palmer, which will help the organization continue to thrive.

Barbara’s longtime friend, Mimi Barash Coppersmith, was the brainchild behind the endowment. “Among the numerous great deeds, personally and philanthropically, this community has received from Barbara and Jim, the Palmer Museum will be their living legacy into perpetuity,” she said. “I consider the endowment in her honor as a perfect gift for her

birthday. Happily, nearly 125 other contributors agreed!”

The Barbara Palmer 90th Birthday Endowment, which will provide lasting support in the areas of acquisitions, conservation, and exhibitions, honors a woman whose longtime philanthropy to Penn State—in areas including music, theatre, engineering, outreach, communications, libraries, and many more—demonstrates her commitment to bettering the University and surrounding community.

“Looking to the future, when the Palmers’ remarkable collection of American art moves on to the University, their generosity, along with our new endowment, will help ensure the museum’s high quality and leadership—also into perpetuity,” said Coppersmith.

If you are interested in honoring Barbara Palmer and supporting the Palmer Museum, you may make a gift to the Barbara

Palmer 90th Birthday Endowment by visiting givenow.psu.edu/Palmer90thSurprise or sending a check with “Palmer 90th” in the subject line to College of Arts and Architecture Development Office, 107 Borland Building, University Park, PA 16802.

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Mimi Barash Coppersmith presents Barbara Palmer a surprise book of notes and photos from friends at her 90th birthday party. Photo: Madison Mock

Phil Young (’14 B.F.A. Musical Theatre), on left, and current musical theatre student Joseph Allen pose with Barbara Palmer at her 90th birthday party. Young and Allen have received scholarships funded by Palmer. Photo: Madison Mock

GIVE NOW!givenow.psu.edu/Palmer90thSurprise

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Nagles Establish Endowed Chair in Musical TheatrePaige L. (’03 Honorary) and Arthur J. (’61 B.A. Arts and Letters) Nagle have created a $2 million endowment to establish the Nagle Family Endowed Chair in Musical Theatre. Cary Libkin, longtime head of Penn State’s musical theatre program, is the first holder of this position. The purpose of the chair is to enhance the musical theatre program by providing funding for a distinguished faculty member to continue scholarly excellence through contributions to instruction, research, and public service.

“One of the hallmarks of the program is the strength of its faculty—they are extremely talented, excellent teachers, and truly committed to preparing their students for the professional world,” said Art Nagle. “We hope this chair will help Penn State continue to recruit and retain the best faculty, so the musical theatre program can continue to produce amazing students who not only have the talent, but also the academic foundation to succeed in such a competitive industry.”

The Nagles are longtime volunteer leaders and benefactors of the University. They have supported a broad range of programs, from the performing arts and the liberal arts to athletics and educational partnerships. Among other endowments, they previously established the Nagle Family Endowment for Music Theatre, which supported senior musical theatre majors making the transition to the profession.

Paige, who ran her own interior design firm, is an honorary Penn State alumna and graduate of Northwestern University, as well as a past member of the College of Arts and Architecture Volunteer Campaign Committee. Penn State honored Art, founding partner and currently senior advisor of Vestar Capital Partners, Inc., with the Alumni Fellow Award in 2000 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001. Together they were the first recipients of Penn State’s Fundraising Volunteers of the Year Award in 2002.

Penn State’s alumni and friends are invaluable partners in fulfilling the University’s land-grant mission of education, research, and service. Private gifts from alumni and friends enrich the experiences of students both in and out of the classroom; expand the research and teaching capacity of our faculty; enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain top students and faculty; and help to ensure that students from every economic background have access to a Penn State education. The University’s colleges and campuses are now enlisting the support of alumni and friends to advance a range of unit-specific initiatives. For more on giving to Penn State or to make a gift, visit giveto.psu.edu.

Penn State Architecture Alumna Serves as President of AIASRecent Penn State architecture graduate Danielle Mitchell (’15 B.Arch.) has long focused on supporting her peers in their efforts, and now she is supporting architecture students across the country as president of the American Institute of Architecture Students. She began her one-year term on July 1.

“Supporting my peers is where my passion is,” said Mitchell. “Here at the Stuckeman School, students and professors work through problems and are okay with not being right all of the time, because there’s usually a great opportunity that comes from being wrong or making mistakes.”

Mitchell will apply that philosophy in her role with AIAS, whose mission includes promoting excellence in architectural education, fostering appreciation of architecture and related disciplines, and organizing student efforts to advance the art and science of architecture. She previously held other leadership positions in the organization, including Penn State chapter president and Northeast Quadrant director.

In his letter of support for Mitchell’s candidacy, Mehrdad Hadighi, head of the Department of Architecture, complimented Mitchell’s natural leadership style: “I have only seen superb organization, thoughtful comments, and exemplary behavior in all my interactions with her. She strikes me as a born leader. Both her peers and our faculty have immense respect for her.”

Mitchell’s work with AIAS has focused on strengthening architecture and design education culture throughout the country. As chair of the AIAS Advocacy Task Force focused on studio culture, Mitchell drives the AIAS efforts to promote optimism, positivity, and mutual respect between faculty and students in design education. Mitchell’s goal for her AIAS presidency is to host a summit that brings together students, professors, sociologists, and economists to create a set of standards that promote a healthy studio culture.

Following her term as president, Mitchell plans to seek licensure and a management career in design.

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Receive Fulbright AwardsCali Buckley and Tess Kutasz, Ph.D. candidates in the Department of Art History, have both been awarded 2015–16 Fulbright U.S. Student Awards. Buckley will spend next year in Germany, while Kutasz will be in Sweden. They will join over 100,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program alumni who have received grants since the program began in 1948.

“This certainly is a testament to the significant international research our graduate students are undertaking,” said Dr. Craig Zabel, associate professor and head of the Department of Art History. “Having an entire academic year to focus solely upon one’s research in another country is a tremendous opportunity that will create a lifelong research foundation for these two young scholars.”

Buckley’s dissertation, “Early Modern Anatomical Models and the Control of Women’s Medicine,” charts the changing mechanisms of control over women’s medicine in the early modern period.

Having already compiled a catalogue of 139 manikins on research trips to London, England; Leiden, Netherlands; Dusseldorf, Germany; North Carolina; and California, Buckley plans to investigate accounts of their manufacture, which are still held in Germany.

The Institute for the History of Medicine and Medical Ethics at the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg will sponsor Buckley, who also plans to spend time in Kassel and Schweinfurt during her Fulbright year—an opportunity for which she credits her advisor.

“There is no way I would even have considered applying for such an award if my advisor, Charlotte Houghton, had not put the idea in my head. It is the kind of award that you imagine other people getting—never yourself. Nevertheless, the department and my committee have been extremely supportive as well as critical enough to help me withstand the rigors of academic life.”

Kutasz, 2015 recipient of a Creative Achievement Award from the Department of Art History, will spend her time researching and writing her dissertation on “Queen Christina of Sweden and the Politics of Antiquities Collecting in Early Modern Rome.” While in Sweden, Kutasz will split her time between Stockholm and the University of Lund, where she has been offered a Visiting International Researcher Residency in the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, which will allow her to complete research already begun at the Swedish National Archives (Riksarkivet), Royal Library (Kungliga Biblioteket), and National Museum (Nationalmuseum).

“I have a huge amount of gratitude for the support that I’ve received from the Department of Art History and my advisor, Professor Brian Curran,” Kutasz said. “It is largely thanks to the generous contributions of funds and time from the Department of Art History and members of my doctoral committee that I have been able to conduct research abroad and take the time necessary to develop a project worthy of support from a program such as the Fulbright Program.”

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Palmer Museum’s Curator of Education Honored by National Art Education AssociationDr. Dana Carlisle Kletchka, curator of education at the Palmer Museum of Art and affiliate assistant professor of art education at Penn State, has been named the 2015 National Museum Division Art Educator of the Year by the National Art Education Association (NAEA).

Dr. Kletchka has been curator of education at the Palmer since 2000, after previously holding museum education positions at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art at the

University of Kansas. She received her Ph.D. in art education from Penn State in 2010 and has been an affiliate member of the faculty since 2002.

According to nominator and colleague Dr. Joyce Henri Robinson, curator at the Palmer, Dr. Kletchka is innovative, efficient, and collaborative. “When I say she is responsible for EVERYTHING involving education at the Palmer, I do mean everything. Never content to merely stay afloat or maintain the status quo pedagogically speaking, Dana continues to pursue new forward-thinking projects—particularly where technology is concerned—and forge meaningful relationships across campus and in the community,” Dr. Robinson wrote in her nomination letter.

At the Palmer, Dr. Kletchka recently initiated and launched a system of iBeacons, small

transmitters created by Apple that communicate with nearby smartphones. As visitors enter the museum, they are prompted to download an app that allows them to receive information on individual artworks as they tour the galleries.

Dr. Kletchka is co-director and faculty for the yearly Summer Institute on Contemporary Art, a joint project of the Penn State School of Visual Arts and the Palmer Museum of Art, and the head of Penn State’s Museum Consortium. She has authored many journal articles and essays, as well as chapters in such books as Judy Chicago at Penn State (2014) and From Periphery to Center: Art Museum Education in the 21st Century (2007). In 2013–14, she was chair of Penn State’s Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equity, a presidential advisory commission.

“I feel fortunate to be able to do work that feeds my soul, connects me with others, and expands my understandings of the world in a university environment filled with learners and seekers of all ages.”

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Cutler Honored with Appointment at University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies Dr. Anthony Cutler, Evan Pugh Professor of Art History, has been appointed a Professorial Research Associate in the Department of the History of Art and Archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, for a two-year term in 2015–17. The first Byzantinist to receive this award, Cutler said his research on the role of artifacts and gift exchange between Byzantium and the Islamic world will expand SOAS’s concentration on the study of material culture.

“This move is a clear attempt to enlarge Byzantium to include Islam and vice versa. It’s an innovation for them, as it is for me,” he said.

As part of Dr. Cutler’s appointment, he will have access to SOAS’s top-

tier library facility, which has every Islamic text and all the translations. He will also give a seminar when he is in residence.

Dr. Cutler, the foremost expert on ivory carvings in Byzantium, uses objects to explain and enhance the study of the role of ivories within cultural exchanges. “It’s up to art historians to restore objects to their primary value,” he said.

A native of England, Dr. Cutler noted that the American academic system is different from the British academic system, where “professor” is much more than a title—it’s a prestigious honor. “It’s an almost completely separate academic world. It’s good to be recognized in both. It’s a mini-step toward globalization,” said Dr.

Cutler, whose position at SOAS is the equivalent of a fellowship in the United States.

On the Penn State art history faculty since 1967, Dr. Cutler’s philosophy is that “the practice of research, leading to publication, is an integral part of teaching.” He has a new book coming out in 2016: The Empire of Things: Gifts and Gift Exchange Between Byzantium, the Islamic World, and Beyond, with Oxford University Press, published with generous support from the George Dewey and Mary J. Krumrine Endowment.

Glee Club Moves Closer to Achieving Its Dreams Thanks in large part to a gift-matching incentive offered by former Glee Club member Mike Helms (’68 B.S., ’74 M.S. Business) and his wife, Martha, the Glee Club raised more than $109,000—smashing the $100,000 goal—during the “Dream Matching Challenge” held during the spring 2015 semester. The Helms originally offered a dollar-for-dollar match when the campaign launched in January. During the last two weeks of the campaign, which ended April 30, they matched donations 2-1 until the club reached $100,000.

The Dream Matching Challenge was created after Chris Kiver, director of

the Glee Club, shared—during the club’s 125th anniversary celebration—his dreams for funding support in five areas: uniforms, tours, music compositions, retreats, and the Penn State Glee Club Men of Song Festival.

“Quite simply, this has the potential to transform how the Glee Club operates,” said Kiver. “We will be able to help defray the significant expense of uniform purchase, as well as the cost of the annual spring break tour.”

Kiver said contributing to the campaign allowed alumni to feel like a continuing—and important—part

of the Glee Club. “The alumni have already given us so much by singing while they were here at Penn State. The great thing about giving now is that they can continue to feel a part of the Penn State Glee Club family by helping us to become better, to grow, and to enable more people to experience the sounds of the Glee Club.”

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The Penn State Glee Club “raises the song.” Photo: Annemarie Mountz

The Hi-Los, a subset group of singers auditioned from the Glee Club, celebrate a successful end to the Dream Matching Challenge. Photo: Stephanie Swindle

LEARN MORE!pennstategleeclub.com

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Music Technology Degree OptionBeginning in fall 2015, the School of Music will offer a music technology option within its bachelor of arts degree, responding to the growing need for tech-savvy musicians. The option will require students to complete courses in such technologies as desktop music production and recording studio maintenance, as well as more general education courses in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

“Musicians can’t avoid technology any longer—music is recorded, edited, and distributed digitally, and many students want to specialize in that,” said Dr. Mark Ballora, associate professor of music technology.

The new degree option will take some elective courses—such as computer programming for musicians—and make them requirements. That course teaches how to compose music with technology using programs such as Max/MSP and SuperCollider, which are both specifically designed for musicians.

According to Dr. Ballora, while the new degree option will have a strong focus on technology, it’s still a music degree at heart. Those interested in the option have to audition with an instrument and take the same core music classes as all other music majors. After graduation, music technology students will

be prepared to pursue traditional music careers or newer, tech-focused opportunities.

“Students can continue pursuing their instrument of choice, or they can go into a field like music production or recording,” said Dr. Ballora. “Arts students can go on to do so many things. That’s the great thing about an arts degree—it teaches you the critical thinking skills to be flexible.”

For more information on the music technology degree option, contact Dr. Ballora at ballora@psu.edu.

Bob Klotz, an IT consultant in the School of Music who also works as a professional audio engineer, records Kevin Lowe in one of Penn State’s recording studios. Photo: Paul Barsom

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Landscape Architecture Professor Wins Knight Cities ChallengeProfessor of Landscape Architecture Tim Baird’s project, “Urban Arboreta: Tree Nurseries Transform Vacant Lands,” was recently named a winner of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Cities Challenge, which funds ideas that make the 26 cities where Knight invests more vibrant places to live and work. Baird and Deenah Loeb, executive director of City Parks Association of Philadelphia, co-authored one of the 32 wining proposals from an initial applicant pool of 7,000. The winners receive a share of $5 million to transform their communities.

“Urban Arboreta” proposes turning the vacant land in Philadelphia into tree nurseries for subsequent tree transplanting along city streets, in parks, and in depleted riparian corridors. This project will lead to the development of a “broader system of green infrastructure that includes stormwater management, bicycle and pedestrian circulation, soil production and composting operations, and remediation processes, along with active and passive recreational programming,” according to Baird. Another benefit of the project is the opportunity for local residents to get job training and hands-on work experience in the nursery trade.

Baird said the major goals of the project are to repurpose vacant property into productive land and support both neighborhoods and sustainability goals within the city. He also hopes to make the project applicable to other contexts and cities with vacancy issues.

Baird’s project is sponsored by the City Parks Association of Philadelphia. He and Loeb collaborated with Penn State alumnus Matt Langan (’06 B.L.A.), a landscape architect with Sasaki Associates in Watertown, Massachusetts. Baird has taught studio courses in Philadelphia in which students helped develop the ideas for this project.

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities, and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more information, visit the Knight Foundation website at knightfoundation.org.

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Nairn Receives Two University HonorsSchool of Music faculty member Robert Nairn received two prestigious honors this year: he was named Penn State Distinguished Professor of Music, and received the University’s 2015 Faculty Scholar Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts and Humanities. Nairn is an internationally recognized performer and teacher considered one of the foremost historical performers on the double bass.

A native of Australia, he has appeared on 16 recordings since 2008 and six in the past year. His recordings have been widely praised in the press, including a recording of duos for cello and bass called “a quietly impressive virtuosity” by American Record Guide and “the most charismatic performance” by Choral Magazine. He’s a founding member of Juilliard Baroque, an ensemble that brings together nine of the world’s most respected and accomplished period-music specialists. He’s also principal of the acclaimed Boston Early Music Festival, the world’s largest and most respected early music festival boasting numerous Grammy awards. In 2009, Nairn was lauded by the International Society of Bassists with an award for Historically Informed Performance, just the third time such an award was given.

Nairn said he is grateful for the opportunity to both teach and perform.

“I have always loved to teach—in an adjunct capacity in Australia and London, before coming to Penn State, and now as a career. Teaching music is part of a long historical tradition, and I was fortunate to study in Europe with some great teachers whose main goal, even as performers, was to pass on that tradition.”

Now Nairn is passing on that tradition as well, and learning from his students in the process. “I think one develops one’s ideas further and becomes a better teacher with experience, and I particularly enjoy the fresh approaches to repertoire that young minds bring.”

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Pint-Sized PatronsJennifer Vanada, director of kindergarten at Bennett, was looking for something specific when she contacted Kletchka in spring 2015. She had been teaching her students in the center’s arts-based kindergarten class about Andy Warhol, and was hoping to show them examples of his work. Fortunately, the museum has many Warhol pieces in its permanent collection, thanks to The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, which gifted the museum more than 350 Polaroids and gelatin silver prints.

Prior to the children’s visit, the Palmer purchased a 1971 vintage Polaroid

“Big Shot” camera just like the one Warhol used. “Ms. Jenn’s students were very interested in the camera and understood that the photographs they were looking at were taken some years ago,” explained Dr. Kletchka. “They thought it was neat to look through the viewfinder and pull the lever of a camera

like Andy’s and then discuss some photographs that he actually pulled from his own camera. It was a fairly unique and special opportunity and I think they really appreciated the experience.”

Dr. Kletchka noted it’s common for the Palmer to respond to queries regarding specific objects and to bring out works on paper from the museum’s permanent collection for professors, instructors, students, and other interested groups—even 5-year-olds.

“I see this type of educational engagement as part of our academic mission,” said Dr. Kletchka. “The students at Bennett may be some of our youngest learners at Penn State, but I think they are some of our most important learners.”

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Distinguished FellowProfessor Christine Marmé Thompson, coordinator of the art education graduate program, has been named a 2015 National Art Education Association (NAEA) Distinguished Fellow, joining Penn State art education colleagues Mary Ann Stankiewicz, B. Stephen Carpenter II, and Karen Keifer-Boyd, who were previously honored. She was one of only three art educators nationwide to receive the award for 2015.

Dr. Thompson supervises the Penn State School of Visual Arts’ Saturday art class program for children and youth in preschool through grade 12 and teaches graduate courses in children’s art and culture. Her research focuses on childhood studies and art education, and her writing appears in journals in

art education, early childhood education, and qualitative research; in handbooks; and in edited collections. She is editor of two books, The Visual Arts and Early Childhood Learning (1995) and The Arts in Childhood: Content, Context, and Curriculum (2001) with Liora Bresler.

Dr. Thompson, who joined the Penn State faculty in 2001, previously received the NAEA Lowenfeld Award, which recognizes an individual who has made significant and distinguished contributions in the field of art education. She has also received awards from the NAEA Women’s Caucus and Seminar for Research in Art Education. Dr. Thompson served on the faculty at the University of Illinois for 17 years before coming to Penn State.

The NAEA Distinguished Fellows program was established in the early 1980s, initiated in part by NAEA past president Harlan Hoffa (’59 D.Ed. Art Education), professor emeritus of art education and former associate dean in the College of Arts and Architecture.

Andy Warhol, Chudney Ross, 1981, Polacolor 2 print. Gift of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc., 2008.57.38.

Simpkins to Lead Musical Theatre ProgramJohn Simpkins, master teacher of music theatre at New York University Steinhardt, has been named the next Nagle Family Endowed Chair in Musical Theatre and head of the Penn State School of Theatre’s musical theatre program. He will join the faculty in August and take the place of Cary Libkin, longtime head of Penn State’s musical theatre program and first holder of the endowed chair, upon Libkin’s retirement in December.

“I am deeply honored to continue the tradition of excellence in musical theatre at Penn State. I look forward to working with the dynamic faculty and students to sustain and grow what has quickly become one of the elite training programs in the country,” said Simpkins, who holds a bachelor of music degree from Miami University and a master of arts degree from NYU.

Libkin said he is honored to pass the leadership of Penn State’s musical theatre program to Simpkins. “In discussions with him it is clear that he has great respect for our history and traditions, and at the same time his own vision for the amazing potential of the musical theatre program and, indeed, the art form.”

During his tenure at New York University Steinhardt, Simpkins directed productions including Sweet Smell

of Success, Floyd Collins, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Urinetown, and A New Brain. His production of Parade was preserved and is on reserve at Lincoln Center’s Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.

Simpkins, who has directed productions in New York City and across the country, is also artistic director at Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, Connecticut. His most recent directing work includes the three-time Drama Desk-nominated Off-Broadway production of Bloodsong of Love: The Rock and Roll Spaghetti Western at Ars Nova in New York City.

In March 2015, Ann Clements, associate professor of music education, was named the winner of Penn State’s first Open Innovation Challenge for her idea to create a 3D virtual reality lab that would help teachers to refine and improve their teaching and interaction skills. The Open Innovation Challenge, part of Penn State’s Teaching and Learning with Technology Symposium, is a high-profile speaking opportunity to present new and innovative ideas about anything that enhances teaching and learning in higher education. Dr. Clements was one of six finalists, selected from nearly 40 submissions. Attendees at the symposium voted Clements’ idea the winner and she will now have the opportunity to work with a team of educational technology experts to develop her idea further. Photo: Carl Schaad

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Pint-Sized Patrons Learn about Andy Warhol at the PalmerWhat do Andy Warhol, Diana Ross, and kindergarten students possibly have in common? Well, they all came together at the Palmer Museum of Art this spring, when students from Penn State’s Bennett Family Center visited the museum to learn more about the pop artist and view some of his Polaroid photographs. They were particularly interested in his photographs of children and viewed several young subjects, including Chudney Ross, the daughter of singer and actress Diana Ross.

“The kids knew so much about Andy Warhol—that he lived in Pittsburgh, what his artistic motivations were, that at one point he got very interested in using a Polaroid camera,” said Dr. Dana Carlisle Kletchka, curator of education at the Palmer. “We definitely had a rich discussion about Warhol’s work—they told me just as much about him as I told them!”

According to Dr. Kletchka, the museum hosts many pint-sized visitors, especially students from the Bennett Family Center and the Child Care Center at Hort Woods, also located on campus. While some of the visits are informal, with students simply viewing works of art in the galleries, others are planned in advance to provide a specific educational experience.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

NOON

TO 5 P.M. in the Arts D

istrict

is an opportunity to discover and celebrate the arts

and design at Penn State. Appropriate for all ages, the event will feature performances, demonstrations, tours, and hands-on activities, focused in the Walters Courtyard (in front of the Theatre Building), Palmer Museum plaza, and Eisenhower Auditorium patio. Catch an acting scene, listen to a jazz ensemble, watch a printmaker at work—it’s your chance to discover the arts and design at Penn State. For more information, visit facebook.com/PennStateArtsUp and artsup.psu.edu.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Dana Carlisle Kletchka shows a Bennett Center kindergarten student a vintage Polaroid “Big Shot” camera like the one Andy Warhol used. continued on page 34