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Co-Editors
Amy Karagiannakis
Mariana Seda (MA ’21 Theatre)
Designer
Natalie Fiol (BA ’10 LAS)
Copy Editor
Anne Jackson
Director of Communications
Andy Blacker
Associate Dean for Advancement
Jon Salvani (MS ’21 GIES)
Dean Jake Pinholster
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ON
THE
COVER: The Art of Rest
BY MARIANA SEDA
Can a museum be a place of rest? More specifically, can an art museum be a space for exploring and experimenting with individual ideas about rest in response to community needs?
Krannert Art Museum education coordinators Ishita Dharap and Kamila Glowacki have proven the answer is a resounding “yes!” with their multiyear, ever-evolving project: Rest Lab.
Rest Lab is a pop-up space that invites you to explore rest with intention while in a gallery that is “resting” between exhibitions. Rest Lab offers a variety of comfortable seating and creative interactions that frame the act of resting. Whether participants make collages, take a nap to the sounds of lapping water, or curl up with a book, the purpose is to encourage visitors to take up space, pause, reflect, and play. It’s one of the many ways that KAM, a public yet carefully curated place of art, is creating space for more community voices.
Architecture
Art & Design
Dance
Japan House
Krannert Art Museum
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Landscape Architecture
Music
Sustainable Design
Theatre
Urban & Regional Planning
Each iteration of Rest Lab is different. One manifested in a display on the windows of Green Street, reflecting graduate students’ desires for rest through written requests and creative response collages. Another existed in the depths of the museum’s lower level, using the tools of reflective writing and paper shredders as a means of cathartic release. During a Rest Lab program in spring 2023, KAM invited the community to an immersive show led by local artists Matt Harsh and Twoleggedzoo with live dancers from the Urbana Dance Company, a curated soundscape, and projected light designs you could almost touch, in hopes of inspiring introspection and relaxation (cover image). The fall 2024 Rest Lab features curated artwork from KAM’s collection and restful interactions, including a bed in the galleries on the museum’s main floor. The installation opened November 1. In the following pages of Dimension, we offer more examples of how our students, faculty, and alumni are reshaping our world by carving out their place – both literally and speculatively – through artistic practice, research, community placemaking and engagement, giving, and more.
Cover Image: Installation by Matt Harsh for Rest Lab at Krannert Art Museum, spring 2023. Photo by Fred Zwicky.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FAA alumni have collectively won the coveted ‘EGOT’ 4
Remembering Rick Jarrard – a music industry icon 8
A music alum who found a second calling in entrepreneurship 9
New Storefront Studio connects Illinois dancers with the community 11
(Re)Imagining graduate education in the spirit of radical inclusion 12
A new theatre program prepares students for emerging roles in entertainment technology 14
Alumni and donors play a critical role in FAA’s growth and success 18
Congratulations to our 2024 Legacy Award recipients 19
Q&A with School of Art and Design’s new Director Brooke White 22
Undergrads forge a path through local hunger using sustainable design 23
Can art bridge the partisan divide this election season? 27
Playfully designed sukkah huts inspire cultural dialogue in Chicago
Meet FAA’s
Krannert Center’s Top 10 favorite performances
Japan House gardens serve as an ever-evolving living classroom
A traveling Chilean memorial that transcends time and borders
is transforming underutilized urban spaces into thriving ecosystems
KAM reimagines its use of gallery space to amplify the voices of Andean artists
Alum Chris Carl
Alumna Jeanne Gang delivers inspiring commencement address to Class of ’24
new Dean Jake Pinholster
FAA SWEEPS the EGOT!
BY MARIANA SEDA
To win an ‘EGOT’ is widely considered the pinnacle of achievement in the entertainment industry. An EGOT – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award – demands talents that go beyond a single creative field and into multiple realms of entertainment. Winners run the likes of television, film, and theatre legends like Richard Rogers, Rita Moreno, and Viola Davis, as well as newer stars like Jennifer Hudson.
The College of Fine and Applied Arts is an ‘EGOT’ winner too. Several times over, in fact. Well, maybe we didn’t win these awards, but we have fabulous alumni who have, and collectively, they bring the prestigious ‘EGOT’ to FAA!
We’d like to take a moment to spotlight some of our award-winning alumni who have recently returned to campus to inspire the next generation of talent. A more comprehensive list of FAA awardees can be found at go.illinois.edu/EGOT
EMMY
Nick Offerman (BFA ’93 Acting)
Nick Offerman won an Emmy Award in 2023 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in the HBO series The Last of Us. The actor, author, and woodworker, best known for his role as Ron Swanson in NBC’s Parks and Recreation, studied acting in the Department of Theatre. Upon graduation, he moved to Chicago and worked as an actor and set carpenter before moving to Los Angeles. He has continued to support and advocate for the U of I Japan House through personal contributions and fundraising efforts and has continued his longtime friendship with teacher and mentor Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato. Offerman served as the 2017 Illinois Commencement speaker and most recently returned in 2023 on his comedy tour to help raise money for the Ogura/Sato Japan House annex. Image: Japan House Director Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud joins Offerman at the Japan House in 2023. Photo by Fred Zwicky.
GRAMMY
Donald Nally (DMA ’95 Choral Music)
Donald Nally has won three Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance as conductor of the choral ensemble
The Crossing. Out of nine consecutive nominations from 2017–2024, their wins include Born (2023), Zealot Canticles (2019), and The Fifth Century (2018). As conductor, Nally not only selects the group’s repertoire but also collaborates with artists, orchestras, and art museums to create new works that address social and environmental issues, continuously challenging the notions of how a choir should sound. Together, Nally and The Crossing have commissioned over 180 works, produced 34 recordings, and traveled to stages all over the world from National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk to Carnegie Hall. Rising w/ The Crossing, a series they created as a response to the 2020 pandemic, has been archived by The Library of Congress as a cultural artifact. In 2021, Nally joined the School of Music on their sonorities podcast to discuss his process when approaching new work and the feats they overcame to make collective music during a pandemic. Image: Nally conducts his ensemble The Crossing in 2017. Photo by Jill Steinberg.
OSCAR
Ang Lee (BFA ’80 Acting)
Ang Lee has won several Academy Awards including Best Director for Brokeback Mountain (2005); Best Director for Life of Pi (2012); and Best Foreign Language Film for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). Born and raised in Taiwan, Lee traveled to the United States to study acting with the Department of Theatre. After graduation, Lee pivoted to filmmaking and directing and pursued a master’s in film production at New York University. He spent years writing and submitting screenplays before finally getting his first break with several foreign-language films that landed him Oscar recognition and opened a pathway for him to begin directing English-language films. Lee graced the university with his (onscreen) presence at the 2020 Illinois Virtual Commencement Celebration, and just the year before, sent a birthday message to Krannert Center for its 50th anniversary, stating “those years [at Krannert Center] gave me the foundation for what I know and what I do.” Image: Lee speaks to students and guests in a room at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts during his visit to campus in 1997. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer.
TONY
Kevin Stites (BMUS ’78, MMUS ’82)
Also related…
The School of Music has three faculty who are active members of the Recording Academy, voting to select Grammy Award nominees and recipients. Professors Rochelle Sennet , Casey Robards, and Lamont Holden all have an impact on who wins Grammy Awards!
EGOT + B(ESSIE)
Kevin Stites’ career as a music director and conductor spans 13 Broadway productions including Nine, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 2003; Sunset Boulevard (Best Musical, 1995); and Titanic (Best Musical, 1997); along with many regional credits and tours of iconic shows like Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. He has musically directed concerts for headliners like Kristin Chenoweth, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Lea Salonga, and served as the conductor for The Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular for six years. Remarkably, he has also conducted the orchestra for several TV broadcasts of The Tony Awards, as well as the orchestra tracks for the film REEFER MADNESS . Stites most recently conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia and has guest conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Grant Park Symphony Orchestras. Stites earned two degrees from the School of Music and has returned to campus to give workshops and masterclasses – most recently leading a workshop for Take Flight with Lyric Theatre in 2018. Image: Stites serves as music director and leads a workshop of Take Flight with Lyric Theatre in 2018. Photo by Darrell Hoemann.
In the world of dance, the Bessie Awards are known as a top honor. The New York Dance and Performance Awards recognize pioneering work in choreography, performance, music composition, visual design, legacy, and service to the field of dance. Established in 1984, the awards are known as “The Bessie” in honor of esteemed dance teacher Bessie Schönberg. The Department of Dance boasts many Bessie winners including alumni Oluwadamilare Ayorinde (MFA ’24), Michelle Boule (BFA ’99), Leslie Cuyjet (BFA ’03), and Angie Pittman (MFA ’15), as well as 2020 Bessie honoree Tess Dworman (BFA ’07). Photos in order listed from left to right.
In the heart of Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, a unique event unfolds each year, drawing on ancient traditions to foster contemporary community engagement. The Chicago Sukkah Design Festival, now entering its third edition, has become a vibrant celebration of art, architecture, and cultural exchange, rooted in the Jewish tradition of building sukkahs during the holiday of Sukkot.
A sukkah is a temporary hut constructed to commemorate the fall harvest and the Jewish story of liberation from slavery in Egypt. Traditionally, it is a three-sided outdoor room built in backyards. This practice symbolizes the temporary dwellings used by the Israelites during their 40-year journey through the desert out of Egypt.
Joseph Altshuler, a Jewish architectural designer and assistant professor in the Illinois School of Architecture, has found a personal and professional intersection in the sukkah tradition. “The sukkah, as an architectural custom and cultural tradition, represents an intersectional confluence of my personal, professional, and academic identities. I’ve always been interested in how that custom can be amplified into a broader platform for community building,” said Altshuler.
Sukkah
The festival pairs architectural designers with local organizations to reinterpret sukkahs in ways that serve community needs. These collaborations result in public celebrations and permanent installations at the organizations’ facilities. The festival enhances intergenerational, interracial, and cross-cultural dialogue and counters negative media narratives about Chicago’s West Side.
Key partners include the Stone Temple Baptist Church, originally a synagogue, highlighting historical ties between Jewish and Black communities, and the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, a community museum in a shipping container. The 2023 festival was a special contributor to the Chicago Architecture Biennial, bringing international audiences to North Lawndale and allowing Could Be Design, led by Altshuler, to contribute a sukkah to their exhibition. Their 2023 collaboration with the Chicago Tool Library created a sukkah that serves as a tool demonstration kiosk and instructional video backdrop, now a permanent feature at the library’s headquarters.
The festival collaborates with University of Illinois faculty and students. Assistant professors Nekita Thomas and Akima Brackeen contribute to the festival’s exhibition identity, landscape design, and architectural dialogue. The 2024 edition featured work from students and alumni, cocreating a sukkah to serve as a community hub for street vendors on 16th Street in North Lawndale.
Altshuler’s practice, Could Be Design, cofounded with Zack Morrison, focuses on creating “seriously playful” spaces that foster community interaction. Their work spans conventional architecture, exhibition design, and public art installations, challenging traditional distinctions between art and architecture.
The 2024 festival, which took place October 6–26, reimagined 16th street, improving community development along the corridor. Altshuler hopes to connect the festival’s activities with broader community development efforts in North Lawndale.
The Chicago Sukkah Design Festival exemplifies how cultural traditions can inspire contemporary community engagement and cultural dialogue. By reimagining the sukkah as a platform for art, design, and social interaction, the festival not only honors Jewish heritage but also builds bridges across diverse communities in North Lawndale and beyond. James Stone Freedom Square, the outdoor venue for the festival, was established in 2023 as a new public plaza that can now be enjoyed by community members year-round. As the festival continues to evolve, it stands as a testament to the power of architecture and design in fostering inclusive, participatory, and vibrant urban spaces.
Gang began by acknowledging the unique struggles our 2024 graduates faced, especially those who started their academic journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. She recognized the resilience and adaptability they demonstrated in the face of unprecedented social isolation and global upheaval. “Undergrads, you dealt with the worst of a pandemic in your very first year... Nevertheless, you found ways to build relationships and grow your knowledge even in such an uncertain time,” she said. Drawing from her experience in architecture, Gang emphasized the importance of passion and alignment between one’s work and personal interests. She highlighted the dedication of Architecture students, who are known for their tireless work ethic. “Anyone who knows Architecture majors, knows that the lights at the Architecture Building are always on... We are working in studio, creating projects, and envisioning future cities,” she shared, underscoring the idea that true engagement with one’s work makes the effort feel less like labor and more like a fulfilling pursuit
Jeanne Gang
BY AMY KARAGIANNAKIS
Internationally renowned architect and College of Fine and Applied Arts alumna Jeanne Gang (BSAS ’86) delivered an inspiring commencement address to over 7,000 graduates at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium on May 11, 2024. Addressing the challenges faced by the class of 2024, Gang’s speech resonated deeply, reflecting her own journey and philosophy in architecture and beyond.
A key theme of Gang’s speech was the power of imagination. She cited the influential thinker bell hooks, stating, “Imagination is essential to my job as an architect... It is about seeing a possible future that doesn’t yet exist.” Gang encouraged graduates to harness their imagination to envision and create a better world. She referred to this concept as “actionable idealism” which combines visionary thinking with practical steps to effect change. “We have to imagine the future we want before we can make it a reality,” she asserted, highlighting the role of empathy and understanding in this process.
change. “[Imagination] is about taking the time to visualize something that you want to see in the world... and through this visualization, you have taken the first steps to actually making it happen,” she said. This vision aligns with her professional work, where she integrates environmental sustainability and community connection into her architectural designs.
The architect’s speech concluded with a powerful reminder of the graduates’ potential to impact the world positively. “It may seem like imagination is no match for the system and the problems that we seem trapped in... But I want to guarantee you that in life you will need your imagination... Our collective future flourishing will come from you knowing what you love to do and boldly following that path,” she encouraged.
Jeanne Gang’s commencement address was not only a celebration of the graduates’ achievements but also a call to action. She urged them to embrace their creativity, pursue their passions, and contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable world. Her words were a fitting tribute to the resilience and potential of the class of 2024, inspiring them to envision and realize their own futures with courage and imagination.
In addition to being the founding partner of Studio Gang and her many architectural achievements, Gang is a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a recipient of numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship and TIME magazine’s recognition as one of the most influential people in the world. Architecture Alumna
Gang’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility was evident throughout her address. She spoke about the need to imagine and strive for sustainable futures and social
Jeanne Gang was awarded with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts before giving her commencement address to graduates and their families. The following day, on May 12, she received the Illinois Medal in Architecture from the School of Architecture. This medal is awarded to distinguished alumni of the School of Architecture to recognize a lifetime of professional dedication and excellence in the practice of architecture.
Photo by Michelle Hassel.
Rick Jarrard: A Music Industry Icon
BY AMY KARAGIANNAKIS
In the realm of music production, few names resonate with as much depth and diversity as Rick Jarrard. With a career spanning several decades, Jarrard has left an indelible mark on the industry, showcasing his versatility, innovation, and an unyielding passion for creating timeless melodies.
Jarrard’s journey into the world of music began in Illinois. His early exposure to a wide range of genres laid the foundation for his eclectic taste, a trait that would later become a hallmark of his production style. Jarrard formed a vocal group in college called The Lincolns that covered artists like Harry Belafonte and The Kingston Trio. They played gigs locally and worked summers at a resort in Estes Park, Colorado. While at Illinois, Jarrard was a drum major in the Marching Illini and a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Men’s Glee Club, and the First Regimental Band. Jarrard graduated from the School of Music in 1961 with a Bachelor of Music Education. The Lincolns moved to the West Coast, landed a recording contract with Kapp Records, and sang on a soundtrack for Walt Disney Presents. After parting ways with the group, Jarrard embarked on a career trajectory that would see him collaborate with some of the most iconic names in the business.
Rick Jarrard played backup in a band for Robert Goulet and joined a folk group in LA called The Greenwood County Singers, which included renowned singer-songwriter Van Dyke Parks. Jarrard’s foray into the industry gained momentum in the mid-1960s when he joined RCA Records as a staff producer. It was here that he started making a name for himself, working on projects ranging from rock and pop to folk. His keen ear for emerging sounds and trends quickly positioned him as a sought-after producer.
His collaboration with Jefferson Airplane catapulted Jarrard into the limelight. As the producer for their groundbreaking album Surrealistic Pillow, he captured the essence of the counterculture movement. The album’s popular singles “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love,” as well as the critical acclaim that followed its release in 1967, solidified Jarrard’s reputation as a producer capable of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of musical expression. Later that same year, Jarrard produced Harry Nilsson’s Aerial Ballet, which included a cover of Fred Neil’s “Everybody’s Talkin’.” The song was featured in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy and reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, later being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 1970, while recording a holiday album with Feliciano, Jarrard encouraged the artist to write a new Christmas song, leading to the creation of “Feliz Navidad.” This song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010 and recognized by ASCAP as one of the top 25 most played Christmas songs worldwide, consistently appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 in recent years.
Jarrard helped to assemble the TCB band for Elvis Presley’s 1969 comeback tour in Las Vegas and remained close friends with Elvis until his death in 1977. He is also noted for discovering Michael McDonald in 1970, signing him with RCA, and facilitating his path to becoming a member of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers.
Jarrard eventually left RCA and launched his own production company. The subsequent decades saw his career take on international dimensions, working with artists in Europe and Asia. His global influence contributed to the evolution of music production techniques, and his dedication to nurturing emerging talent solidified his legacy as a producer and mentor. Over his career, songs produced by Jarrard have been featured in over 230 movies, television shows, and commercials, earning him over 40 gold and platinum albums.
Rick Jarrard served on the Board of Governors for the Recording Academy, was a charter member of The Latin Grammys, and owned several music companies. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Ovation School for the Performing Arts, reflecting his commitment to music education and nurturing emerging talent.
Carrying on Rick Jarrard’s legacy, his brother Roger Armstrong established the Rick Jarrard Memorial Music Fund to support commercial music projects at the University of Illinois School of Music. Armstrong spoke fondly of his late brother, “Rick knew how to adapt and respond to an artist’s strengths and abilities.” Roger Armstrong and his partner Arna Leavitt hope that the Rick Jarrard Memorial Music Fund will provide the support necessary to propel future music industry leaders to notoriety.
Reflecting on Rick Jarrard’s life and career, it is evident that his journey has been one of constant reinvention and artistic exploration. His ability to traverse genres and pursue excellence has left an indelible mark on music production, showcasing the transformative power of music and the enduring legacy of a true master of production in the industry.
A young up-and-coming Puerto Rican artist José Feliciano signed with RCA in 1967, allowing Rick Jarrard to further diversify his portfolio. His collaboration with Feliciano on the album Feliciano! earned the two a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year. That same year, Feliciano won Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Performance for “Light My Fire” and Best New Artist of The Year (1968).
Rick Jarrard and Jose Feliciano in the recording studio.
Photo credit: Helen Murphy and Frank Licari.
Thanks to a generous donation from ACES alumna Joan Clement (BS ’77 Home Economics), all School of Music students received a tube of ChopSaver lip balm in the fall of 2023 (pictured on top right of page).
From Symphonic Notes to Entrepreneurial Success
BY AMY KARAGIANNAKIS
In a world where melodies and entrepreneurship rarely compose the same score, Illinois School of Music alumnus Dan Gosling’s story stands out, harmo nizing his music career with the innovative creation of ChopSaver, a lip care product that has resonated with musicians and non-musicians alike.
Gosling’s musical journey began with extensive training and participation in various ensembles at the University of Illinois. “One of the great things about Illinois was that there were so many opportunities to play. I was playing in just about everything that was available to me: the Orchestra, the Symphonic Wind ensemble, the Jazz Band, Brass Quintet, the British Brass Band,” recalled Gosling (BM ’84).
Following graduation, Gosling played with the Indianapolis Symphony and helped found the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He also taught at Ball State and Butler University. After nearly two decades with the Indianapolis Symphony, Gosling lost his position to Thomas Hooten, now Principal Trumpet for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He didn’t realize at the time that what seemed like a setback would lead to a new opportunity. The inception of ChopSaver came about two weeks later when Gosling was hanging out with a musician and former student of his who mentioned that arnica, a natural anti-inflammatory, had healed his bruised lip within a couple days. This story and Dan’s discovery of arnica sparked an idea that would address a common issue among brass and woodwind players: lip fatigue and swelling. Motivated by both a personal and widespread need, Gosling embarked on a quest to create a lip balm that would soothe, heal, and support musicians’ performance needs.
ChopSaver was born from Gosling’s kitchen experiments and relentless pursuit of the perfect formula. Despite initial skepticism, his dedication led to early successes and endorsements from renowned musicians like Sir James Galway, Thomas Hooten, and David Hickman. Dan Gosling’s story is a testament to the transformative potential of what an education in the arts can lead to – paving the way for diverse and innovative professional journeys.
“ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT ILLINOIS WAS THAT THERE WERE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY.”
Photo by Michelle Hassel.
This fall, the College of Fine and Applied Arts welcomed a new dean, Jake Pinholster, to campus. Pinholster comes from Arizona State University where he served as executive dean for enterprise design in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and founding director of the ASU Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in downtown Mesa. He was also previously the director of the ASU School of Film, Dance and Theatre. As an educator and administrator, Pinholster has engaged in several long-term initiatives that fuse technology, interdisciplinarity, and curricular innovation. As a designer, his efforts have centered on projection and media design and technology for performance. His professional media/projection design credits include the Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway and HBO, Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking on HBO, Current Nobody, Hoover, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Heddatron, and many other productions at off-Broadway, regional, and academic venues.
BY ANDY BLACKER
As you start your term as dean of FAA, what most excites you about leading the college?
There is such a rich selection of things to be excited about! I think the element of FAA that excites me the most is the vibrant community. Everyone I’ve met, talked to, and even heard about has been welcoming, warm, and deeply invested in the wellbeing of each and every member of the college.
While you are learning more about FAA, do you see a specific opportunity or challenge that you are looking forward to exploring?
There are two primary areas that I believe FAA is well-primed to explore more deeply in the immediate future: greater interdisciplinary connection both within and outside the college and deeper integration with the communities of Champaign and Urbana. Our world today calls for an end to the perception that artists and designers are somehow apart from the world. We must be deeply embedded and radically engaged in the world as it is in order to help the future be what we need it to be. And to do that, we have to be less of a black box and more of a front porch.
You have a background in theatre production and design so you have a deep knowledge of the performing arts. Is there a discipline in FAA that you are most interested in learning more about?
My background is primarily in theatre, but my career has led me down all sorts of roads in dance, architecture, graphic design, and a variety of visual arts forms. I have a deep curiosity about all the disciplines FAA represents, but, perhaps weirdly, the one I am least fluent in is music. I have no musical ability whatsoever, and frankly, I’ve always been amazed by the masters of its forms.
You were the founding director of an arts facility in downtown Mesa. How do you hope to bring more of FAA into our communities?
Yes, absolutely. ChampaignUrbana’s microurban context is, I believe, a source of rich opportunity for engagement between a community and a university. I would like to see more presence of architecture, design, and the arts out in the twin cities, particularly in the form of deeper, longer-term relationships. More broadly, I believe FAA can have an important presence throughout Central Illinois, especially given
some of the great work being done in our units currently around small and rural communities.
As a designer working in media and projection for theatre, is there a project that you are most proud of and why?
There are several projects in my portfolio that instill pride in me, usually due to the social issues they address. The most recent of these is The Most Beautiful Home… Maybe, which is an immersive, interactive cabaret performance about the U.S. housing crisis that I both coproduced and designed. But, perhaps for me, the project I am most proud of is the one I am currently working on: Upstream, an immersive work about climate change that is being cocreated with youth ages 11 to 18 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It premieres next spring and will then be followed by a national tour.
Moving to Central Illinois from Arizona, is there something in the area that you are particularly enjoying, and/or is there something that you are missing from Arizona?
I’m enjoying having more than two seasons! Deeply looking forward to the fall – festivals, brisk mornings, and a Halloween where it isn’t likely to be 100 degrees. I’m
also really enjoying ChampaignUrbana’s unique combination of the benefits of a bigger city (great restaurants, arts, and culture options) with the feeling of a small town. Thus far, I only know about twenty people in town, but I swear I’ve already run into half of them in the wild at either Friday Night Live or Harvest Market. As to things I will miss about Arizona, ask me again in February.
Serving as dean is a demanding role, but work-life balance is important. What hobbies, interests, and/or activities do you enjoy pursuing in your free time?
When I can force myself to truly relax, I enjoy reading great science fiction and fantasy books, spending time with our dogs, and learning to cook new cuisines. When I can’t force myself out of “go mode,” I also really enjoy getting engaged in local activism/social causes and working on collaborative projects that combine the arts with permaculture, conservation, and environmental awareness.
