Page 17 | Peck School of the Arts

Lecturer and alum Rich Ashworth reflects on choreographing piece for Springdances

May 2, 2024

Rich Ashworth leads a room of dancers during a summer intensive for young artists.

The PSOA Department of Dance is set to present Springdances: Surfacing, an evening of original choreography by Dance faculty members and guest artist Vershawn Sanders-Ward. Among the choreographers is Dance MFA alum Rich Ashworth ’21 (Lecturer, Dance).?

Ashworth will present a piece that incorporates tap and body percussion to celebrate the working class, conveying themes of craftsmanship and connection. Ashworth recently took the time to reflect on Surfacing and his time as a PSOA graduate student.

Tell us about the piece you choreographed for Springdances 2024.

My piece is entitled Form and FUNKtion. It uses tap dance and body percussion to highlight and celebrate the working-class upbringing I had in rural New England. I grew up with a lot of folks who worked with their hands and took a great deal of pride in the craftsmanship of what they produced. This piece celebrates the rhythm of the workday, shifting from the getting ready routine, to the hum and pulse of production, and the celebration after a hard day’s work. It’s a multi-sensory piece that requires dancers to listen and lock into each other’s groove.

Did any memorable moments surface while working with PSOA students??

This is one of the largest and most ambitious works I’ve done in years, given the use of risers and floors. There are a lot of moving parts compared to what I am used to. One of the most memorable moments for me was seeing and hearing how the different surfaces added to the industrial, factory aesthetic. The back ledge of the theatre, the risers we are using, and the dance floor itself all react to the impact of the dancer’s body percussion differently. The ledge has a rattle due to the heating duct underneath. The risers squeak and rumble given the feet stomping on them. When the dancers move from one surface to the other, the sounds of the surfaces create depth and authenticity. I was hopeful this would happen but it’s even better than I anticipated.

You graduated from the MFA Dance program. What sticks out about your time at the Peck School?

I hadn’t experienced higher education for about a decade. It was jarring to get back into the swing of academic reading, writing, and the physical demands of the classes. Ultimately, it allowed me to develop a language that was not only informed by the technical side of my practice but the historical and cultural side as well. I’m humbled to be a part of this department after having gone through the MFA program. It has allowed me to connect with the students on a level beyond what I expected by making connections as peers, not simply teacher-student.

What highlights of your education at PSOA came to mind when working with PSOA students??

I enjoyed the process of pulling people out of their comfort zone. With this piece, we’re not only dancing the choreography, but we’re dancing the musical composition of the work. This can be overwhelming for folks who have not experienced that type of coordination before. It’s like learning a new language or memorizing an area in a language that’s not originally yours. It was the Peck School of the Arts that allowed me to create a safe space for people to work past their comfort zone in a way that was challenging but constructive.

**Have you seen all the pieces in Springdances? If so, what can audiences expect?**

I think the show really highlights the diversity of our program and the well-roundedness of each performer. There is something for everyone in the show, but more importantly, each piece allows the audience to deepen their perspective beyond their idea of what a dance concert can be. Some pieces have built-in excitement through feats that defy gravity. Other pieces give into the gravity of movement that is deeply human and connected to the ground. There are multi-sensory experiences where the music IS movement and vice versa. It’s a deeply moving and enlightening experience for everyone to enjoy.

Springdances: Surfacing runs through May 5 in Jan Serr Studio at Kenilworth Square East. It features original works inspired by Lake Superior, the ways we connect with one another, craftmanship, and how one might be their own superhero.?Additional choreographers include faculty members Daniel Burkholder and Mair Culbreth.

More info and tickets are available on the PSOA events calendar.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

51猎奇 Symphony Orchestra concludes season with Beethoven Triple Concerto

May 1, 2024

The 51猎奇 Symphony Orchestra will conclude its 2023-24 season with a finale concert at Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts.

The performance is centered on Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, a musical work that combines solo instruments with a full orchestra. The piece will feature solos from pianist Jean-Louis Haguenauer (Professor, Indiana University), cellist Adrien Zitoun (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra), and violinist Bernard Zinck (Associate Professor, UW-Milwaukee). The orchestra is conducted by Dr. Jun Kim (Associate Professor, Instrumental Conducting, and Director, Orchestral Activities).?

“Composers often face issues of sonic balance and ambiguity of musical roles when working with the piano trio,” said Dr. Kim. “However, Beethoven avoids complicating the matter further by allowing his trio ample breathing room, often playing alone or with only minimal accompaniment from the orchestra.”

The concert will also feature Symphony No. 5 by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

51猎奇’s orchestra is comprised of graduate and undergraduate music majors and brings in professors and outside professionals to perform alongside students.

“It is a pleasure to play with our students and share this musical experience,” said Professor Bernard Zinck. “Some of them are graduating, so it is a little bit like a musical farewell from us to them, and also from them to their peers and friends.”

In 2024, the 51猎奇 Symphony delivered seven performances, many of which featured highly esteemed guests.

“The orchestra also featured a guest violin soloist, Julian Rhee, the Silver Medalist of the 2022 Indianapolis International Violin Competition,” said Dr. Kim. “Additionally, the orchestra had a concert titled ‘An Evening of Opera Arias’ with the new voice faculty member, Aaron Agulay.”

Through the years, the 51猎奇 Symphony has collaborated with 51猎奇 Choirs and hosted an annual Concerto Competition Concert. They have performed nationally, including at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Chicago Symphony Center. They have also been selected to perform at the National Conference by the College Orchestra Directors Association in Los Angeles.

More information and tickets are available on the PSOA Calendar.

PSOA students earn three competitive Distinguished Graduate School Fellowships

April 24, 2024

Three people photographed from the shoulders up, each wearing different clothing and earrings, shown side?by?side against various backgrounds.

Three Peck School of the Arts students were selected for Distinguished Graduate School Fellowships for the 2024-25 academic year. The fellowships are awarded through one of the most competitive selection processes at the graduate level.

The PSOA Department of Dance, Department of Music, and Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres each had one student selected to receive the support, which covers graduate tuition and provides an academic year stipend. Recipients are also eligible for health insurance through the Universities of Wisconsin and a travel award.??

Ari Christopher

Ari Christopher is the founding Director of Tulsa Modern Movement. She makes dances for the stage, film, and public spaces and teaches Contemporary dance at the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education and K-12 art infusion teacher workshops.?

Ari was engaged in all arts disciplines from theatre to jazz violin until she found her place in the Modern Dance studio. She attended the BFA program in Modern Dance and Choreography at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Her favorite dance practices are Humphrey/Limón technique, CounterTechnique and Contact Improvisation.?

Ari’s work generally centers around questions of identity and belonging – asking questions about race, gender, and privilege in the United State – and themes related to our humanness and connection to one another and the earth. Her choreography has been commissioned by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Tulsa Ballet CDE, ahha Tulsa, the Greenwood Art Project, among others; and has been honored by regional and international festival awards.??

Her film “This Car UP” (2021), a commission for the Greenwood Art Project with funding from the Bloomberg Foundation, has been screened at film festivals around the country. The dance film explores the alleged interaction between a white woman and a Black man which became the catalyzing event of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Reflecting on the power of perception in constructing beliefs, “This Car Up” calls attention to the political meanings entangled in our perceptions. “This Car Up” was shown at American Dance Festival in 2022, won a Screen Dance International award and was featured by Dance Magazine.??

Ari’s creative research investigates the body’s significance in personal identity and its complex interplay with societal narratives. She is currently pursuing an MFA in dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the advisement of Daniel Burkholder and Maria Gillespie.

Tristen Ives

Tristen Ives (they/them) is a filmmaker from Iowa who works in diaristic and experimental modes. Their 16mm films are dedicated to camera-less techniques and the handmade form. They are an MFA student in the Film, Video, Animation & New Genres Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. They received their BA in Cinema from the University of Iowa in 2019.

Their films have screened globally at Exploding Cinema at the Cineam Museum in London, the Saigon Experimental Film Festival, Winnipeg Underground Film Festival, CURRENTS New Media, Montreal Underground Film Festival, Light Matter Film Festival, ICDOCS, Film Diary NYC, and more. Alongside their screening history, an article documenting their work and artistic practice was published in Analog Cookbook in 2022.

Tristen has worked as the Head Projectionist at Block Cinema in Evanston, Illinois, as an Assistant Head Projectionist at FilmScene Cinema, and as a projectionist at SIFF and Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, Washington. They are currently the Head Projectionist at the Union Cinema in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.?

Their graduate advisor is Mike Gibisser.?

Colton Townsend

Colton Townsend is a composer, performer, and educator based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Colton’s compositions and arrangements have been premiered by the UW-Milwaukee Percussion Ensemble, UW-Milwaukee New Music Ensemble, University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble, University of Arkansas Percussion Ensemble, Bentonville High School Jazz Ensemble, and Fayetteville High School Percussion Ensemble. ?

Colton’s performing experience includes multiple years of Winter Guard International and Drum Corps International experience at both the Open and World Class levels, over a dozen premiers of new percussion compositions, and a guest solo appearance with the University of Arkansas Latin American Ensemble. His teaching experience includes a Teaching Assistantship at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Bentonville High School, Fayetteville High School, and Cooper Elementary School. This past summer, he participated and had works performed and premiered in festivals and conferences such as New Music on the Point and Vu Symposium. This upcoming summer, he will be participating in the Du Vert ? l’Infini PluComp Summer Festival and the SPLICE Summer Institute. He enjoys exploring all the different facets of music and strives to create fun and entertaining experiences for the artists, audiences, and students he interacts with.

Colton is pursuing a Master’s in Music with a dual concentration in Composition and Theory and Percussion Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he studies with Dr. Phillip Sink, Nathaniel Haering, and Dr. Alex Wier. He received a Bachelor’s in Music in Music Education from the University of Arkansas, located in his hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he studied with Chalon Ragsdale and Fernando Valencia.

Research and collaboration set the stage for Once Upon A Mattress?

April 24, 2024

Performers in colorful period-style costumes act on a stage with a castle?like backdrop and patterned floor

The Peck School of the Arts Department of Theatre is putting the finishing touches on their next production Once Upon A Mattress, a comedic and musical retelling of “The Princess and the Pea.” Through creative collaboration and dramaturgical research, students are achieving great heights as they fully immerse themselves in their roles. Here’s what several actors shared about their process.?

A Tale of Two Princesses

Once Upon A Mattress follows Princess Winnifred as she fights for the hand of Prince Dauntless, who must marry a princess per the rules of his mother, Queen Aggravain.

For 51猎奇’s production, the role has been double-cast by students Jacqueline Siedenburg and Grace Ritcher. The process of double-casting can be challenging for actors, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

“The most complicated parts have been technical, such as making sure our blocking is similar enough to give our lighting designers clear cues,” said Siedenburg, when asked about the process of working alongside Ritcher. “Even with similar blocking, however, we’ve managed to create two unique Winnifreds.”

Both Siedenburg and Ritcher have taken their own life experiences to flourish as Princess Winnifred, harnessing unique and individual interpretations of the character.

“I found that I felt best about my performances when I stopped trying to act and was most true to myself, which I think is exactly the premise of Fred’s character: being unapologetically yourself,” said Siedenburg.

The Community of Wizarding

Eugene Strei plays the Wizard, the Queen’s assistant who serves to help her maintain her power. Strei has also fostered his character based on personal experience, as Strei has been heavily involved in the community of wizarding, running his own wizard blog

To Strei, wizard blogs act as “an online renaissance festival,” a place to gather and roleplay as wizards, taking mundane activities and making them feel more mystical.

As dramaturgy was underway for Once Upon A Mattress, Strei used this part of his personal life to fill the void of available information regarding wizarding habits and behaviors.

“One of the benefits of being in the wizard blog community is that I got a lot of examples of what different wizards looked like, either people posting about wizard characters in media or characters they made themselves,” said Strei. “[The blog] helped me understand more of the physicality I wanted my character to have. I found pictures of wizards to observe how they carried themselves and how dynamic their movement can be.”

A Silent King

The dynamism of movement on stage is especially important when a character has minimal, or no dialogue. Such is the case for Mason Shefchik, who portrays King Sextimus the Silent.

King Sextimus was cursed with silence by the Queen, leaving him unable to verbally assert his authority. He has had to find new ways of exhibiting emotions and feelings to others.

For Shefchik, this limitation did not drastically change his preparations as he still had to complete his research and do a rich analysis of the objectives of his character. Shefchik’s time as a theatre student provided him with useful courses and topics that made this an easier fit.

“I’m fortunate to have taken the full BFA Acting track at 51猎奇 in addition to my declared Musical Theatre degree,” said Shefchik. “Through this, I was able to take courses that specialized in clowning and contemporary comedy. I’m able to draw upon what I learned in those classes to create moments of extended character.”?

Shefchik, like the rest of his castmates, understands that this is by no means a solo effort: collaboration among the cast and director Sheri Williams Pannell (Assistant Professor, Theatre; Area Head, Musical Theatre) is what makes King Sextimus a vibrant character and Once Upon A Mattress an enjoyable show.?

“Creating a dialogue between Sextimus and the other characters also comes down to the incredible work of my cast mates and our director, Sheri Williams Pannell,” said Shefchik. “Throughout the rehearsal process, all of us have committed to making sure that the characters feel and react to Sextimus’ presence. It’s the reaction of other characters that gives meaning to Sextimus’ actions after all.”

Once Upon A Mattress opens Wednesday, April 24 at the Theatre Building’s Mainstage Theatre and will run through Sunday, April 28. More information and tickets are available on the .

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

Faculty duo, both alums, creates community in the costume shop at 51猎奇 and beyond

April 20, 2024

Two faculty members work in the costume shop

As active professionals, Peck School of the Arts faculty thrive in taking their talents off-campus, creating bridges into the community. Among them are theatre faculty members Jason Orlenko (Assistant Professor, Costume Design) and Dana Rochester (Teaching Faculty II, Costumes & Stage Makeup).?

Collaborators for nearly two decades, Orlenko and Rochester graduated from 51猎奇 in 2008 and have stayed involved in the performing arts ever since. They have found great success in Milwaukee throughout their professional careers, crediting the city’s incredible arts community.

“Milwaukee is a great place to be for a performing arts career,” said Orlenko. “We have such a robust performing arts community, there’s a lot to do when you graduate.”

Orlenko and Rochester keep themselves as busy as possible. In addition to teaching, they oversee costumes for all 51猎奇 theater productions while also finding the time to freelance around Milwaukee. Their broad experience has taken them to productions such as West Side Story and You on the Moors Now at 51猎奇 and Xanadu at Skylight Theater.

Orlenko and Rochester bring industry experience into their classrooms to teach the importance of collaboration. They also create a strong example of this by creating costumes for campus productions outside of the theater department.

“We have a lot of crossovers with other departments at Peck,” said Rochester. “We have students run wardrobe with dance and music departments often.”

To further foster community, they open their classes to all arts students.

“Not only do we have our designated costume students, but we have a lot of actors who take our courses,” said Orlenko. “It fosters a collaborative effort, which they take into the professional world. They treat everyone backstage as equals, which is great!”

Orlenko and Rochester encourage their students to find connections throughout Milwaukee and beyond, which results in incredible job opportunities.

Recently, their alums have worked at professional theatre companies, including Skylight Theater, Next Act Theater and American Players Theater.

“There is a direct connection to the professional world for our students,” said Orlenko. “Growing that community is important as it ensures there will always be people carrying the torch in the performing arts.”

Up next, Orlenko and Rochester are teaming up for Once Upon A Mattress, which closes the 2023-2024 theatre season at 51猎奇.

Milwaukee Film Festival Roundup: Alumni and Student Edition

April 17, 2024

Pink pencil?top erasers scattered across a wooden surface among small round paper scraps.

The 2024 Milwaukee Film Festival is underway, and Peck School of the Arts has a lot to be proud of. Nineteen alumni and a current MFA candidate will have their work screened across 15 unique works, including shorts, features, and music videos. The PSOA community of artists is excited to highlight the incredible work.

A sculpture that appears worn with multiple circular edges.

Public Surfaces

Public Surfaces, a short film directed by Cinematic Arts MFA candidate Gillian Waldo, tackles the One Percent for Art program and the mysterious disappearance of sculptures placed in Baltimore public schools under the program.?

Waldo completed the film during her second year in graduate school at 51猎奇 and was supported by the department in the creation of her short, especially by thesis advisor and Associate Professor . The film was a solo endeavor from Waldo, as she handled all creative aspects of the filmmaking process.?

When discussing the film and its upcoming feature at Milwaukee Film Festival’s short film showcase The Milwaukee Picture Show, Waldo said her hope is for audiences to reconsider their thoughts on public art.

“I hope that audiences think more critically about what public art can be, how it can manifest in public schools, and how we steward public infrastructure, so it actually supports the communities we say it’s supposed to,” said Waldo.

Following the Milwaukee Film Festival, Public Surfaces will be screening at the in London.

A tan woman's chin. She is wearing sword earrings and has a septum piercing. Her shirt is orange with blue patterns.

ASPIRE

Cody LaPlant (BFA 2015, Film) served as co-director, cinematographer, and editor for ASPIRE. The short is described as a celebration of creative endeavors, reflecting an artist’s desire to constantly improve their craft. ASPIRE will feature in one of festival’s hottest tickets, The Milwaukee Show I.?

An older woman wearing big glasses, a white turtleneck, and big, circular glasses looks shocked.

Corridor

Directed by Johnathon Olsen and co-written by Olsen and fellow alum Martin Kaszubowski (BFA 2014, Film), Corridor promises big laughs. The feature-length film follows an incompetent security guard unraveling what he believes to be his own crime thriller.

A woman with a blonde ponytail and a black tank top looks lovingly at a white, fluffy chicken she is holding.

Healing Hens

Healing Hens is a documentary short from co-director Andrew Natvig (BFA 2018, Film), following the story of a local woman and her decision to raise baby chicks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film’s subject and co-director Jodi Wilterdink went on to touch the lives of hundreds of seniors in her community by offering “Chicken Therapy.” The film will be featured in The Milwaukee Show I.

A man on stilts is showded by a blue and pink sunset.

The Inhabitants

Brent Budsberg (BFA 2000, Art: Sculpture) co-directed and co-wrote The Inhabitants, a fictional short following ancestral immigrants exploring their shared past. Set in 19^th century America, the no-dialogue short features highly cinematic imagery, reflecting how the two main characters are so similar, yet so different. Screening during The Milwaukee Show II,? Budsberg will attend alongside their co-director and co-writer Tate Bunker (Teaching Faculty I, Film, Video, Animation & New Genres).?

eometric, colorful shapes in the style of a 2000's home film.

Last Truths from a Dying Star

An experimental essay film written and directed by Dontay Konkel (BFA 2023, Film), Last Truths uses collaged imagery and non-traditional storytelling to wrestle with the confusion of existence. Konkel utilizes the film as an opportunity to reflect on the uncertainties of the past, present, and future. The short will precede a screening of Decoupling 脱钩 by director Yinan Wang (Lecturer, Film, Video, Animation & New Genres).?

A man wearing a white shirts and grey shorts stands between a wooden counter with a large houseplant and a table where a little boy wearing a yellow shirt and blue shorts sits. He is patting the boy's head.

Letter to the Captain

Letter to the Captain is an intimate short film from Philippe Melo (BFA 2022, Film), following a child and his granduncle through a collection of memories that spawn a personal exploration. The piece will screen during The Milwaukee Show I.

A man wearing a white blazer pounds a drumset that is placed behind fireworks. He is in front of the White House.

Fuzzysurf – “Liberty” (Music Video)

Tommy Simms (BFA 2011, Film) co-directed a “fanciful history lesson” of a music video for the song “Liberty” by Fuzzysurf. Declaring “the people’s right to rock ‘n’ roll,” the work is screening during The Milwaukee Music Video Show.

A painted white shipping container with high saturation.

Night Collections #1

Another short screening in The Milwaukee Show I is Night Collections #1 by Britany Gunderson (BFA 2020, Film). One of the showcase’s more elusive works, Gunderson’s film is an intimate archive of collected images.

A man wearing a black hoodie and a gas mask looks at his hands.

ONGOSF: Derivative Bullshit

Ryan Nels Pontillo directed, co-wrote, and co-produced his short film ONGOSF: Derivative Bullshit. It will screen during The Milwaukee Picture Show.

A man dressed in a white button-up shirt and grey tie pats the back of a frusterated man wearing a black suit and red tie.

Once a Mormon

A dramedy TV series written and directed by Ryan Allsop (BFA 2012, Film), Once a Mormon follows two Mormon missionaries trying to convert a lonely country man. Throughout their summer-long adventure, it becomes less clear who is converting whom. An excerpt from the series will screen during The Milwaukee Show I.

A man wearing a green flannel holds a guitar and stands in front of a microphone. Behind him, a man in a grey hoodie and black baseball cap sits at a drumset.

Overhand – “Beneath the Flowers” (Music Video)

Jake Whalen (BFA 2021, Film) brought the crunchy guitar riffs and soaring choruses of Milwaukee-indie band Overhand to life in the music video for their song “Beneath the Flowers.” Whalen is one of several PSOA alums screening original music videos during The Milwaukee Music Video Show.

A blank canvas sits in the middle of the frame. On the left blue canvas is turned so its back faces the viewer. To the left of the blue canvas, a colorful line painting sits on top of a worn, blue milk crate. To the right of all the painting, a piece of cardboard sits on the floor.

Peter the Painter

Director Chris James Thompson (BFA 2006, Film) and producer Andrew Swant tell the story of local painter Peter Barrickman and his piece “Sleeping Dogs” in Peter the Painter. The selected work is showcased as part of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s 2024 Exhibition “50 Paintings.” Thompson and Sant’s short will be featured in The Milwaukee Picture Show: Visual Arts Near and Far.

A car speeds down a bridge in black and white.

Resurrectionist – “Blue Henry” (Music Video)

Resurrectionist’s blues song “Blue Henry” was brought to life by TW Hansen for a surrealist, black-and-white music video. A departure from typical performance-based videos, “Blue Henry” follows a narrative you must see to believe. Hansen’s video will screen during The Milwaukee Music Video Show.

A ginger woman wearing a gold sequined dress holds her left hand over her left eye. A crudely painted eye is on her palm.

Rose of the West – “Feast or Famine” (Music Video)

Aliza Baran (BFA 2008, Inter-Arts) directed a rather psychedelic and moody music video for Rose of the West’s dreamy single “Feast or Famine”. Experimenting with deep shadows and unique aspect ratios, the short is going to soar on the big screen. Screening during The Milwaukee Music Video Show.

A woman with pink hair and wearing a white T-shirt with a black spiral stands in front of blank, beige buildings.

Wherever You Are, There You Go

Carol Brandt (BFA 2014, Film), Harper Robison, and Dana Shihadah’s (BFA 2016, Film) Wherever You Are, There You Go tells the story of Baby, a recovering alcoholic who takes a cross-country journey to right the wrongs she has made. Brandt co-directed, co-produced, and edited the film, Shihadah co-directed and served as cinematographer, and Robinson was a co-writer.

Bonus: Watch a tiny mic interview with Brandt and Robison as they reflect on their time at 51猎奇 PSOA on

A faded picture of a young boy wearing a light button up shirt, a big dark colored jacket, and holding a duffle bag.

Why My Dad Loves

Why My Dad Loves by filmmaker Nkaujoua Xiong (BFA 2022, Film) tells the tale of her father coming to America at a young age in search of a better life. The short takes viewers through the experiences that have come to define how Xiong’s father expresses and understands love. Xiong’s film will be screened during The Milwaukee Show II.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

EDITOR’S NOTE: This list is accurate and as comprehensive as possible at the time of publication. If we missed a PSOA alum or current student, please accept our sincere apologies! Contact us and we’ll gladly update the article.

Milwaukee Film Festival Roundup: Faculty and Staff Edition

April 17, 2024

Person seated on an upholstered chair wearing bright orange socks, with a leafy vine plant spread across the wooden floor.

Current students and alums are not the only ones displaying their work at the 2024 Milwaukee Film Festival. Several faculty members are also currently screening films for audiences, just one of many ways PSOA faculty stay engaged in the film community in Milwaukee and beyond.

A close up of a house plant in front of a window. A sign reading "I drink a lot" is stuck in the soil.

Light Needs

Light Needs is an experimental documentary by Jesse McLean (Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres). The film centers on the complex relationships that people have with plants, specifically domesticated.

51猎奇 was well-represented in more ways than one for this film, with several other faculty members working on the film. Additionally, part of the film was shot in the 51猎奇 library. Crediting the library’s incredible selection of plants, McLean decided to feature 51猎奇 circulation assistant James Baxter in the film.

Having already screened at festivals around the world, McLean discussed how audiences have been responding to the film by re-evaluating their relationships with plants.

“Something that people have told me is that they think about their plants differently,” said McLean. “That they relate to their own houseplants in a more sympathetic way, and I find that is the ideal outcome for the film.”

McLean hopes that audiences at the Milwaukee Film Festival have a similar experience, acknowledging that plants are alive and should be treated as more than background objects in human life.

Bonus: Read an interview with McLean on and listen to an interview on .

Person holding a small child close, the child resting on the person’s shoulder in a softly lit indoor space.

Decoupling 脱钩?

WINNER: Cream City Cinema Jury Award

Directed by Yinan Wang (Lecturer, Film, Video, Animation and New Genres), Decoupling follows a Chinese father on his trip to Beijing to rescue his young daughter that has been stranded because of the “decoupling” between China and America. The film draws from Wang’s personal experience of how migrant families manage the stress that geopolitics bring. The feature will be preceded by Last Truths from a Dying Star, directed by PSOA alum Dontay Kankel ‘23.

Bonus: watch a segment with Wang on and listen to an interview on .

Two ladybugs positioned on a detailed black?and?white topographic-style illustration.

In Order for a Dune to Form?

Jordy Brazo’s (Lecturer, Film, Video, Animation and New Genres) short film In Order for a Dune to Form details the cycles of extraction, consumption, and reclamation of a ghost town formerly on the banks of Lake Michigan. The short deals with the behaviors of the past, present, and future repeating themselves. In Order for a Dune to Form will precede the feature film Impossible Town.

A wooden dollhouse sits on a patterned rug in a historic-style room with a person standing in the background.

The Inhabitants?

Tate Bunker (Teaching Faculty I, Film, Video, Animation & New Genres) co-directed and co-wrote The Inhabitants alongside Shana McCaw and Brent Budsberg (BFA 2000, Art: Sculpture). The fictional short film follows ancestral immigrants exploring their shared past. Set in 19^th century America, the no-dialogue short features highly cinematic imagery, reflecting how the two main characters are so similar, yet so different.?The Inhabitants will screen during The Milwaukee Show II.??

Close-up of two people positioned closely together, showing parts of their hair, clothing, and jewelry under soft purple-blue lighting.

The Last Week?

The Last Week, screening during the Black Lens Shorts showcase was produced by Robin Whitmore (Lecturer, Film, Video, Animation and New Genres). The intimate and emotional short details a couple’s last week together before the looming threat of a prison sentence rips them apart. Viewers will confront the difficult themes of love, sacrifice, and the effects of Black male incarceration.?

Person seated in an art studio wearing a colorful striped shirt, with paintings and supplies visible on the walls and shelves behind.

Out of the Picture

A feature length documentary, Out of the Picture highlights the work of art critics who have experienced monumental changes in art and media. Portia Cobb (Associate Professor, Film, Video, Animation & New Genres) served as humanities expert and story consultant for the film. Katie Avila Loughmiller (Lecturer, Theatre) served as coordinating producer. Additional contributors include alumni Johnathon Olson as editor and Andrew Swant as producer.

Black Lens Series

The increasingly popular Black Lens series presents genre-varying short films that reflect the relationship between Blackness, tension, and conflict. Marquise Mays (Assistant Professor, Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres) is the lead programmer for Black Lens and selected the short films that will be shown this year.

Bonus: listen to an interview with Mays on .

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

EDITOR’S NOTE: This list is as comprehensive as possible at the time of publication. If we missed a PSOA faculty or staff member, please accept our sincere apologies! Contact us and we’ll gladly update the article.

PSOA lecturer’s movie about his Chinese immigrant experience featured on CBS 58

April 16, 2024

Filmmaker Yinan Wang (Lecturer, Film, Video, Animation & New Genres) was recently reflecting on his film, “Decoupling,” in advance of screenings at the Milwaukee Film Festival. The film documents his family’s experience during the pandemic, highlighting their journey to reunite with their daughter amidst the challenges of international travel restrictions and strained U.S.-China relations.

International art and media exhibition featuring work by PSOA artists on view at 51猎奇?

April 11, 2024

A gallery room with white walls displaying multiple colorful posters arranged in rows under track lighting.

Nine Peck School of the Arts students, recent alumni, and a faculty member are currently displaying their work in the Cross Connections 2024 International Exhibition and Competition of Visual Communication Design and Emerging Media Design.

This juried exhibition is a global event that showcases top talent from higher education institutions worldwide, including the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. The artworks represent a wide variety of visual art forms that transcend borders, cultures, and disciplines.

Cross Connections features 188 juried works spanning 21 institutions, according to DVC Co-Area Head and Associate Professor Robert Grame.?

Grame spoke in greater detail about the artwork currently on display: “51猎奇 works selected by the Cross Connection jurors show a strong range of approaches and touchpoints,” he said. “From experience-centered design to illustration to app design to typeface design to packaging design, there is a dynamic array of outstanding work on view from PSOA students and faculty.”

The following students and alumni had works selected for the exhibition:

Gisselle Dominquez (DVC Senior)
Taylor Grossman (BFA 2023, DVC)?
Andrew McConville (Art & Design MFA Candidate)
Sogol Saghatchi (DVC Senior)
Li Shuyang (BA Senior)
Ashlyn Stang ( BFA 2023, DVC)?
Sophia Teubert (BFA 2023, DVC)?
Emma Wilson (DVC Senior)
Liu Zhemin (BA Senior)

Sogol Saghatchi received juror’s recognition with an Honorable Mention in Marketing Graphic Design. Gisselle Dominquez was recognized with an Honorable Mention for Design Foundation in Illustration.

In addition to the nine students and alumni, Grame also has a piece in the exhibition.

Experts meticulously evaluated artworks for the international exhibition, and selected works are touring higher education institutions around the world through fall of 2024. Participating institutions span North America, Europe, and Asia, including renowned universities such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the United States, LUCA School of Arts in Belgium, and Central Academy of Fine Arts in China, among others.

Cross Connections is on view through April 20 at UW-Milwaukee in the Theatre Building’s Arts Center Gallery. A reception takes place on the evening of April 12.

For more information, visit the PSOA Events Calendar.

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

Kim Cosier recognized by National Art Education Association

April 10, 2024

Five people standing together indoors holding red award folders, with a stage and blue curtains in the background.

The National Art Education Association has named Kim Cosier (Professor Emerita, Art Education) as the recipient of the 2024 Western Region Higher Education Art Educator. This prestigious award, determined through a peer review of nominations, recognizes the exemplary contributions, service, and achievements of an outstanding NAEA member.

NAEA President Wanda B. Knight states, “This award is being given to recognize excellence in professional accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Kim Cosier exemplifies the highly qualified art educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars, and advocates who give their best to their students and the profession.”

Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. Members include elementary, middle, and high school visual arts educators; college and university professors; university students preparing to become art educators; researchers and scholars; teaching artists; administrators and supervisors; and art museum educators—as well as more than 54,000 students who are members of the National Art Honor Society. We represent members in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, U.S. Possessions, most Canadian Provinces, U.S. military bases around the world, and many foreign countries.

The mission of the National Art Education Association (NAEA) champions creative growth and innovation by equitably advancing the tools and resources for a high-quality visual arts, design, and media arts education throughout diverse populations and communities of practice.

The award was presented during the NAEA 2024 National Convention in Minneapolis.

For more information about the association and its awards program, visit the .

Press release by The National Art Education Association

Film and animation students heavily featured at Nō Studios Filmmaker Showcase

April 9, 2024

Two students pose in front of a No Studios banner at the Filmmaker Showcase.

More than 10 film and animation students screened their work at Nō Studios’ inaugural Filmmaker Showcase in Spring 2024, highlighting the wide breadth of work being produced in Milwaukee.

Across five nights, the showcase featured a range of genres including horror, experimental, documentary, music video, anime, and more. Unsurprisingly, some of the best and most memorable shorts came from PSOA students.

An organic partnership

Nō Studios was founded by Oscar winner and Milwaukee native John Ridley following his Best Adapted Screenplay win for 12 Years a Slave. Ridley, who serves as CEO, and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Caesar sought ways to create a socially responsible co-working and event space to leverage the platform of the modern film industry.

51猎奇 and Nō Studios have been excellent partners since its inception, with the Filmmaker Showcase being the most recent connection among the two.

“The partnership in this instance was very organic,” said Caesar. “We very deliberately reached out to Peck School to find ways to work together.”

Class projects on the big screen

Many students screened films they made for class projects, giving filmgoers a glimpse into what students have been creating in the classroom throughout the school year.

A standout came from senior filmmaker Paige Streveler, who screened her short film Dream’s Death, an experimental horror short that wrestles with the fear of death.

The piece was made as a part of the course Dreams: Yours, Mine, Ours under the instruction of PSOA lecturer Neil Gravender. This course allows students to execute pieces centered on content and structures contained in dreams.?

Streveler described her experience in the class and her subsequent creation of her film as an important moment that made her feel seen as an artist.

“Peck School of the Arts is really independent artist-driven, they really see filmmakers as artists,” said Streveler. Interacting with experimental film throughout the course inspired much of Death’s Dream.

Riley Killian, a junior, also showcased a class project during the showcase. His short film, The Small Things, was shot on black and white film for one of 51猎奇’s 16mm classes, a popular offering for film students.

Killian expressed his gratitude and love for getting the opportunity to work with film.

“Shooting on film is such an intimate process,” said Killian. “You don’t even know what you are shooting half the time until you develop it.”

The PSOA community

Another student who screened an original work was sophomore film major Collin Chesak. His short experimental film, Cosmic Inertia, utilized static on a television screen to make the viewer ponder over existential questions.

Chesak highlighted the on-campus screening events and the strong communal aspect of PSOA as inspirational in his work as a filmmaker.

“Union Cinema is really unique,” said Chesak. “There are always interesting screenings, like Experimental Tuesdays. It’s cool to have screenings that you normally wouldn’t get to see in theaters while also showing old stuff.”

Another student who has felt positively impacted by PSOA’s strong film community is Dominic Sauve. After screening his autobiographical documentary, The Life of Dominic Sauve, Sauve took the time to praise all that PSOA has given him and how he feels his education thus far means big things for his future.

“The world-class professors I’ve been blessed to be taught by and the high-tech equipment I have access to use. Without all those things, I would not be the filmmaker I am today,” said Sauve. “Being at 51猎奇 has molded me to be able to be the best filmmaker I can be.”

Read more about Nō Studios and their upcoming events on .

Story by Jason McCullum ’25

PSOA alum Jeremy Novy’s urban koi fish and queer street art featured on CBS 58

April 8, 2024

Jeremy Novy paints on the sidewalk surrounded by colorful street art

51猎奇 alum Jeremy Novy (BFA 2008, Photography) was recently featured in a comprehensive piece by CBS 58. Novy is best known as the artist behind the black, white, and orange koi fish that get painted throughout city sidewalks, starting in Milwaukee but now branching all around the world.?

The idea came to Novy following a study abroad trip to China that he took while studying at Peck School of the Arts. One of the most important facets of his art is the number of fish swimming together at one time.

“In Chinese paintings, they’ve symbolized the number of koi that would be in a painting to represent different Chinese lucky numbers,” said Novy in his feature with CBS 58. “I try to incorporate what that Chinese lucky number means.”

Novy is also known for producing queer street art throughout Milwaukee, which he has credited as giving him the platform to be open about his identity while encouraging others to do the same.

Bel Canto Chorus names Jonathan Laabs as next artistic director

April 8, 2024

reports that the Bel Canto Chorus has named its next artistic director, Johnathan Laabs (MM 2017, Choral Conducting). Laabs assumes the role following the retirement of Music Director Richard Hynson and Assistant Conductor Michelle Hynson. Laabs has been an active conductor, clinician, performer, and music educator throughout the Midwest. Prior to being named artistic director at Bel Canto, Laabs served in the same capacity at Canticum Novum.

Florentine’s ‘La Bohème’ leverages extensive research and dramaturgy by Sheri Williams Pannell

April 4, 2024

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Florentine Opera’s?production of “La Bohème,”?which will be set in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood in the 1940s, has enlisted the help of Sheri Williams Pannell (Assistant Professor and Area Head of Musical Theatre). According to the , stage director Nadja Simmonds is “relying on the extensive research and dramaturgy of Milwaukee theater artist?Sheri Williams Pannell,?whose music-filled play?“Welcome to Bronzeville”?was produced by First Stage in 2017.”

Tone Madison highlights Jesse McLean’s film ‘Light Needs’ ahead of Wisconsin Film Festival

April 4, 2024

Filmmaker Nazli Din?el tending to her houseplants in Jesse McLean’s “Light Needs.”

Jesse McLean (Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres) and her feature-length documentary Light Needs were recently featured in an article by Tone Madison. McLean’s film is paired with four experimental shorts for a botanical inspired program in the 2024 Wisconsin Film.

In the article, McLean’s film is described as shining “a light on the responsibility for care towards other living beings,” which she does by prioritizing houseplants as subjects in addition to interview snippets from their owners.

McLean is one of several filmmakers with ties to PSOA to screen at 2024’s Wisconsin Film Festival.

Read the full article about Jesse McLean and Light Needs on .