UNews - Taras Polataiko

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ recognizes faculty excellence

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:21:16 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge honoured faculty and postdoctoral fellows across campus who received academic research awards of distinction, secured research funding or published their research findings in the last year at Thursday's Celebrating Research Reception in Markin Hall.

The U of L also recognized those who had books published within the last calendar year.

Below is a list of the awards presented.

Research Awards: External

Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Foundation (ASTech) Award: Excellence in Science and Technology Public Awareness
Kristy Burke | Conference & Event Services

American Oil Chemists' Society Timothy L. Mounts Award
Roman Przybylski | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Campus Alberta Innovates Program (CAIP) Chairs
Chris Hopkinson | Geography, Terrestrial Ecosystems Remote Sensing
Greg Pyle | Biological Sciences, Aquatic Health

Canada Research Chairs
Louise Barrett | Psychology, Cognition, Evolution and Behaviour, Tier 1
Stacey Wetmore | Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computational Chemistry, Tier 2

Canadian Insolvency Foundation Lloyd Houlden Research Fellowship
Gordon Hunter | Management

Confederation of Alberta Faculty Association (CAFA) Distinguished Academic Award
Trudy Govier | Philosophy

Pat Clifford Award for Early Career Research in Education
Michelle Hogue | First Nations' Transition Program

Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal
Reginald Bibby | Sociology
Peter McCormick | Political Science
Richard Mrazek | Education

World Council for Curriculum & Instruction Distinguished Leadership Award
Peter Heffernan | Education

Research Awards: Internal

Ingrid Speaker Medal for Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Performance
Joseph Rasmussen | Biological Sciences

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair

Igor Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy
Sergio Pellis | Neuroscience

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Scholars
Janice Rahn | Education
Peter Visentin | Music
Judith Whitehead | Anthropology

Research Grants: External

Alberta Advisory Committee for Educational Studies Grant
Noella Piquette | Education
Jennifer Thannhauser | Education

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Wei Xu | Geography

Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research Grant
(2) Claudia Malacrida | Sociology

Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Mary Kavanagh | Art
Taras Polataiko | Art
Janice Rahn/Michael Campbell | Education/Art Co-Principal Investigators

Alberta Gaming Research Institute Grant
Yale Belanger | Native American Studies
Cheryl Currie | Public Health
Gabriela Novotna | Addictions Counselling
Claudia Steinke | Nursing

Alberta Inflammatory Bowel Disease Grant
Sameer Despande | Management

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Grant
Gerlinde Metz | Neuroscience, Co-Director

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Sustainability Funds
Roy Golsteyn | Biological Sciences
Aaron Gruber | Neuroscience
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy
Paul Vasey | Psychology
Ute Wieden-Kothe | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) Grant
Shawn Bubel | Geography
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies
Jon Doan | Kinesiology & Physical Education
Leanne Elias | New Media
Carmen Mombourquette | Education
Monique Sedgwick | Nursing
David Slomp | Education
(2) Carol Williams | Women & Gender Studies

Alzheimer Society of Canada Grant
Shannon Spenceley | Nursing

American Cancer Society Grant
Raphael Lencucha | Public Health

ATB Financial
Gordon Hunter/Dan Kazakoff | Management

Canada Council for the Arts Grant
Mary Kavanagh | Art
Maria Ng | English

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Grant
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences, Co-applicant

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Nadia Rochdi/Karl Staenz | Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre/Geography

Canada Foundation for Innovation Leaders Opportunity Fund Grant
Aaron Gruber | Neuroscience
Paul Hazendonk | Chemistry & Biochemistry
Andrew Iwaniuk | Neuroscience
Hans-Joachim Wieden | Chemistry & Biochemistry

CIHR Emerging Team Grant
Gabriela Novotna | Health Sciences

CIHR Café Scientifique Grant
Penny D'Agnone | Office of Research & Innovation Services

CIHR Operating Grant
Sameer Deshpande | Management, Co-applicant
Judith Kulig | Nursing

CIHR Research Planning Grant
Sameer Desphande | Management, Co-applicant

Canadian Space Agency Contract
Karl Staenz | Geography
(2) David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy

Canadian Wildlife Federation
Richard Mrazek | Education

Department of Defense Contract
Albert Cross | Neuroscience

European Union FP7 Grant
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy, Co-applicant

Grand Challenges in Global Health Grant
Gerlinde Metz | Neuroscience, Co-applicant

Health Canada Grant
Judith Kulig | Health Sciences, Co-applicant

Heritage Canada Grant for Aid to Scholarly Publication
Peter Heffernan | Education

Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Grant
Judith Kulig | Health Sciences

Max Bell Foundation Award
Noella Piquette | Education, Co-applicant

Monieson Centre, Queen's Business School
Gordon Hunter | Management

National Science Foundation
Jennifer Mather | Psychology, Collaborating Consultant

NSERC Collaborative Research & Training Experience (CREATE) Grant
Robert Sutherland | Neuroscience

NSERC Discovery Grant
Louise Barrett | Psychology
Sarah Boon | Geography
Howard Cheng | Mathematics & Computer Science
Saurya Das | Physics & Astronomy
Jon Doan | Kinesiology & Physical Education
Cam Goater | Biological Sciences
Bruce McNaughton | Neuroscience
Jackie Rice | Mathematics & Computer Science
Elizabeth Schultz | Biological Sciences
Robert Sutherland | Neuroscience
Soroosh Yazdani | Mathematics & Computer Science

NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grant
Amir Akbary | Mathematics & Computer Science
Paul Hazendonk | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
Shahadat Hossain | Mathematics & Computer Science

SSHRC Aid to Scholarly Journals Grant
Peter Heffernan | Education
Edward Jurkowski | Music

SSHRC Insight Development Grant
Abdie Kazemipur | Sociology, Co-applicant

SSHRC Insight Grant
Harold Jansen | Political Science
Heidi MacDonald | History
Noella Piquette | Education, Co-applicant
Paul Vasey | Psychology

SSHRC Partnership Grant
Yale Belanger | Native American Studies, Co-applicant
Henning Bjornlund | Economics, Co-applicant
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies, Co-applicant
Abdie Kazemipur | Sociology, Co-applicant
Richard Mueller | Economics, Co-applicant
Ivan Townshend | Geography, Co-applicant
Wei Xu | Geography, Co-applicant

SSHRC Public Outreach Grant
Debra Basil | Management

TECTERRA
Wei Xu/Karl Staenz | Geography

Research Grants: Internal

Emmy Droog Research Awards in Health Sciences Grant
Cheryl Currie | Public Health
Ruth Grant Kalischuk | Nursing

Interdisciplinary Research Development Fund Grant
Leanne Elias | New Media
Team: John Usher (Management), Janice Rahn (Education), Michael Campbell (Art) and Cheryl Meheden (Management)
Roy Golsteyn | Biological Sciences
Team: Olga Kovalchuk (Biological Sciences) and David Naylor (Physics & Astronomy)
Josephine Mills | Art
Team: Louise Barrett (Psychology), Lisa Doolittle (Theatre & Drama), Emily Luce (New Media), Bruce MacKay (Liberal Education Program) and Tiffany Muller Myrdahl (Women & Gender Studies)
Nicole Rosen | Modern Languages
Team: Inge Genee (Modern Languages), Robbin Gibb (Neuroscience), Claudia Gonzalez (Kinesiology & Physical Education), Fangfang Li (Psychology) and Noella Piquette (Education)
Carol Williams | Women & Gender Studies
Team: Glenda Bonifacio (Women & Gender Studies), Bonnie Lee (Health Sciences), Linda ManyGuns (Native American Studies) and Patrick Wilson (Anthropology)

Parkland Institute Faculty Research Grant
Claudia Malacrida | Sociology

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community of Research Excellence Development Opportunities (CREDO) Grant
Jerimy Cunningham | Anthropology
Claudia Malacrida | Sociology
Janay Nugent | History
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Internal
Artistic/Creative Grant
Michael Campbell | Art
Dagmar Dahl | Art
Mary Kavanagh | Art

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Internal SSHRC Grant
Michelle Hogue | First Nations' Transition Program
Janay Nugent | History
Kent Peacock | Philosophy
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Research Dissemination Grant
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies
Inge Genee | Modern Languages
Catherine Kingfisher | Anthropology
Janice Newberry | Anthropology
Hillary Rodrigues/John Harding | Religious Studies
Arlan Schultz | Music
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Research Fund Grant
Vishaal Baulkaran/Ebenezer Asem | Finance
Sarah Boon | Geography
Shawn Bubel | Geography
Michael Campbell | Art
Arundhati Dasgupta | Physics & Astronomy
Larry Flanagan | Biological Sciences
Claudia Gonzales/Fangfang Li | Kinesiology & Physical Education/Psychology
Ute Wieden-Kothe | Chemistry & Biochemistry
Jason Laurendeau | Sociology
Raphael Lencucha | Public Health
Hua Li | Mathematics & Computer Science
Heidi MacDonald | History
Kimberly Mair | Sociology
Steve Patitsas/Saurya Das | Physics & Astronomy
Adriana Predoi-Cross | Physics & Astronomy
Drew Rendall | Psychology
Shelley Scott | Theatre & Drama
David Siminovitch/Tony Montina | Physics & Astronomy
D. Andrew Stewart | Music
Mark Walton | Physics & Astronomy
John Zhang | Mathematics & Computer Science

Post-Doctoral Fellow Awards Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Postgraduate Fellowship
Ben Clark | Neuroscience
Corinne Montes-Rodriquez | Neuroscience
Jake Ormond | Neuroscience
Ivan Skelin | Neuroscience
Aaron Wilber | Neuroscience

Canadian Space Agency Space Science Enhancement Award Postdoctoral Fellowship
Matthijs Van Der Wiel | Physics & Astronomy

CIHR Fellowship
Hendrik Steenland | Neuroscience

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (Short-Term) for North American and European Researchers
Noelle Gunst | Psychology

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Research Support Allowance (Short-Term) for North American and European Researchers
Noelle Gunst | Psychology

Book Awards 2013 recipients

M. Gordon Hunter & Dan Kazakoff (authors): Small Business: Journey to Success

Shawn Bubel, James McMurchy & Duncan Lloyd (authors): Record In Stone: Familiar Projectile Points From Alberta

Jean-Baptiste Leca, Michael A. Huffman & Paul Vasey (editors): The Monkeys of Smokey Mountain

Sarah Glassford & Amy Shaw (editors): A Sisterhood of Suffering and Service: Women and Girls of Canada and Newfoundland during the First World War

Geoffrey Hale (author): So Near Yet So Far: The Public and Hidden Worlds of Canada-U.S. Relations

Aaron Taylor (editor): Theorizing Film Acting

Marc R. Roussel (author): A Life Scientist's Guide to Physical Chemistry

Glena Tibe Bonifacio (editor): Feminism and Migration: Cross-cultural Engagements

Robert J. Williams, Robert T. Wood & Jonathan Parke (editors): The Routledge International Handbook of Internet Gambling

Arundhati Dasgupta (editor): Recent Research in Quantum Gravity

John S. Harding (editor): Studying Buddhism in Practice

Yale D. Belanger (editor): First Nations Gaming in Canada

Yongjian Bao & Wenlong Yuan (authors): The Contrarian Way of Crisis Management

Keith Roscoe & Rick Mrazek (authors): Developing Scientific Literacy: Ideas and Strategies for Planning, Assessment, and Instruction

Blythe Shepard & Lorna Martin (authors): Supervision of Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Handbook for Canadian Certified Supervisors and Applicants

Margaret A. Winzer & Kas Mazurek (editors): International Practices in Special Education: Debates and Challenges

Judith C. Kulig & Allison M. Williams (editors): Health in Rural Canada

Olga Kovalchuk & Igor Kovalchuk (authors) Epigenetics in Health and Disease

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to strengthen research, partnerships in Ukraine

trevor.kenney — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:44:53 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Vice-President (Research) Dan Weeks is participating in a mission that includes Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Deans that will formalize linkages between Canada and Ukraine, and their post-secondary sectors.

The mission, which takes place from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14, includes universities in all regions of Canada and aims to increase higher education co-operation, increase student recruitment and two-way student exchanges, position higher education collaboration for possible funding and sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ukrainian Rectors and the CBIE.

Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine, His Excellency Troy Lulashnyk, will launch the mission during a seminar hosted by the Union of Rectors of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine.

During a series of workshops at the Taras Shevchenko National ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Kyiv, Weeks will moderate a discussion between members of the Canadian delegation and Ukrainian universities to determine future areas of academic and research collaboration.

"The international relevance of the research conducted at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge increases every day," says Weeks. "This is due to individual efforts and interests of our researchers, but also as a result of the increasing importance the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is placing on creating and nurturing international partnerships. Ukraine provides key opportunities for Canadian universities."

Current linkages the U of L has with Ukraine include the work of Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, who has been involved in the detailed analysis of the genetic consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Also, last year Fine Arts Faculty member Taras Polataiko's exhibition, Sleeping Beauty, at the National Art Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, generated worldwide media interest. The U of L attracts students from about 90 different countries worldwide and is currently home to both undergraduate and graduate students from Ukraine.

Several Memoranda of Understanding will be signed during the mission, including an overarching agreement between CBIE and the Union of Rectors of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine.

Expanding the internationalization of the U of L is a key strategic direction identified in the 2009-13 strategic plan. U of L President Mike Mahon reiterated that message in an open letter to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community released last year, entitled the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – Alberta's Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

CBIE's news release regarding the Ukraine mission can be found athttp://www.cbie-bcei.ca/?p=11515.

To sleep perchance to dream

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:33:45 +0000

Once upon a time in a land far away, a beautiful maiden lay asleep on a bed of white satin, waiting to be awoken by true love's first kiss. People came from all over and gazed in wonder as the beauty stirred, turned and dreamed – her face relaxed yet somehow filled with hope – waiting day after day for Prince Charming to appear and free her from cursed inertia. Many suitors tried to awaken her. Many failed. Would the moment ever come? Would Sleeping Beauty awake to a life of full awareness and joy? Or would she be doomed to stay asleep forever, frozen in time for the lack of something that perhaps doesn't exist?

We've all heard the fairy tale, and we all know how it ends – in children's books at least. But when the story is real and happening before our very eyes, who's to say how things will actually unfold? Especially when Prince Charming has to sign a legally binding contract stipulating that he will marry the sleeping woman should she open her eyes to his kiss.

Polataiko says the space was very intense, but at the same time tender.

Such was the scenario that ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge art professor Taras Polataiko brought to life in his appropriately entitled exhibit, Sleeping Beauty, held at the National Art Museum in Kiev, Ukraine (Aug. 22 to Sept. 9, 2012). A gorgeous girl lying in wait, dozens of hopeful suitors ready for their chance, and both parties willing to commit their lives to each other based on the feeling of a single kiss. It's a provocative scenario, but even Polataiko didn't expect the media frenzy that ensued – a daily maelstrom of international attention from news groups around the globe, including the likes of the Associated Press, Reuters and the BBC.

"It was really very strange. I can't quite wrap my mind around it," says Polataiko of all the interest. "It was supposed to be very gentle – a tender, magical, quiet show. Instead, I had television crews in the gallery every day."

The response to Polataiko's exhibit might be surprising, but the way Sleeping Beauty captured the imagination of millions around the world and in all languages is easy to understand. Consider it: a fairy tale made real. The opportunity to kiss a beautiful girl who is willing to spend her life with you if your touch ignites her soul. The idea that true love might actually exist and is waiting for you to come claim it. It's hypnotic and gender-charged and manages to raise questions while remaining enchanting.

Taking place in Ukraine's capital city of Kiev, it also functions as an allegory of political unrest in Ukrainian society that, like all allegories, often reveals psychological truths deeply imbedded in the human psyche.

"Initially the thinking was to create something meaningful for Ukraine," says Polataiko. "The social and political history of the country is very traumatic. I wanted to create a show that reflected the sense of apathy Ukrainian people feel because of all they've endured. The concept for the show was based on the idea of being endlessly patient and waiting for something powerful to happen."

The exhibit garnered significant media attention, as shown here, Polataiko conducting an interview with a television crew.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Polataiko knows the social and political climate of the country very well. He was pursuing a career in North America when the Orange Revolution took place in Ukraine in 2004, but he flew back specifically to take part in the uprising. Knowing that the exhibit could tread on touchy ground, Polataiko kept the political aspect of his concept quiet over several months of preparation, all the while interviewing dozens of potential candidates to fill the role of Sleeping Beauty.

"That was when the work started to get really interesting – when I was talking to the girls and listening to their motivations for getting involved," says Polataiko. "The stakes were very high. We were talking marriage – the possibility of committing yourself to a stranger. Most of the girls I spoke to were hoping to find true love."

Polataiko eventually selected five "beauties" to sleep in shifts over the course of his three-week exhibit. Their only requirement: to respond to a kiss that compelled them to open their eyes. Princes, on the other hand, had to meet more rigorous conditions. They could be either male or female but had to be more than 18 years of age, single and serious enough about marrying the beauty to sign a contract to that effect if they awakened her. Only one kiss per prince was permitted, and it had to be given respectfully.

Polataiko, and hundreds of thousands of viewers who watched the fairy tale unfold via live streaming video, were blown away by the sincerity of the suitors who took a shot with fate. One potential groom broke down in tears when his kiss failed to break the spell.

"The space was very intense, super charged, but at the same time extremely tender, kind and hopeful," says Polataiko. "The beauties and princes were vulnerable and brave all at once. There was a lot on the line for both of them."

Polataiko began teaching at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2010. He'd been previously working in New York as a full-time artist for several years, but opportunities to create dried up with the market crash. It was a stroke of good luck, all the same.

"I like it here," says Polataiko from his campus office. "The artistic community is friendly and very supportive. My work is happening here. I'm able to use Lethbridge as a successful base, and I would like to stay and continue teaching at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, if a permanent position were to present itself."

Sleeping Beauty received so much international coverage that viewers of the exhibition labelled Lady Gaga as a copycat artist after she staged a strikingly similar production in New York City. Gaga slept in a large stage set shaped like a bottle at the launch party for her new perfume several weeks after Polataiko's show was all over the news. Although Polataiko isn't impressed with the singer's commercial take on his concept, he's gracious enough to respond by saying, "Imitation is the highest form of flattery."

After days of kisses without an awakening, it looked as though Polataiko's Sleeping Beauty might never open her eyes. But one suitor did eventually draw her from slumber. Ironically, the kiss that did the trick wasn't a passionate lip lock with a virile Adonis. It was a gentle peck on the forehead – administered by a woman. Polataiko isn't sure if the women will abide by the contract and marry. It's a complicated scenario given that same-sex marriage is illegal in Ukraine. A fairy-tale ending is therefore probably not in the cards for the newfound couple, but Polataiko believes the importance of his exhibit is bigger than this result.

"Sleeping Beauty is the very essence of human existence. It's about that magical feeling that binds two people together, produces children and continues life," says Polataiko. "It's about the most fundamental thing we have – love. What's bigger than that?"

Sleeping Beauty closed on Sept. 9, 2012. Polataiko hopes to reopen the show in other global cities in the future.

This story first appeared in the Fall 2012 issue of SAM. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Polataiko exhibition garners worldwide attention

trevor.kenney — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:45:18 +0000

Taras Polataiko's exhibition, Sleeping Beauty, at the National Art Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, has generated considerable media interest worldwide. What initially started out as an interactive performance art exhibit with live streaming video has stirred up a firestorm of international commentary that includes critical praise, some apprehension, a possible copycat, and at least one newfound romantic relationship.

The three-week-long show, which ran until Sept. 9, 2012, featured five women in white gowns sleeping on a raised podium bed in the gallery, to Eric Satie's mystical Gnossiennes piano pieces. Each Beauty had her own melody. Men and women who came to view the show had the opportunity to participate in it by 'awakening' one of the women with the power of a single kiss…and an important accompanying commitment. Before attempting the kiss, both men and women were required to sign a contract stating that they were single, at least 18 years of age, and seriously intended to marry the Beauty if their kiss caused her to open her eyes. The 'Sleeping Beauties' participating in the exhibit signed a similar agreement: that they would only open their eyes if they felt a true, intuitive connection in the kiss, and they agree to marry the 'Prince' whose kiss awakens them.

Instead of a quiet exhibit, international TV and radio networks like BBC, EURONEWS, FOX, ABC, CBS, RAI, ANSA, American Public Radio and GloboTV all of the major international news companies – including Associated Press, Reuters, France Presse and The Telegraph – online news and major international newspapers from Le Figaro and The Guardian to the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, and social sites from Hyperallergic to Huffington Post have pounced on the story, some repeatedly.

The responses have ranged widely from the romantic to the political. The exhibition was almost shut down by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture a day before it was scheduled to open. There is cultural commentary embedded in Polataiko's take on the fairy tale regarding the enduring patience of the Ukrainian people awaiting a "catalyst" for successful revolution (see the Guardian's article for more).

The gender roles of the 'beauty' and the 'prince' ignited online discussion about old-fashioned gender tropes, positive and negative notions of 'true love', even voyeurism. In a media world where courting has been turned into successive generations of reality television programming, the idea of love found through hopeful intuition is perhaps not so far-fetched; at least one hopeful suitor moved viewers to tears when his kiss was not successful.

Only one 'awakening' was reported, with a twist - instead of a 'Prince' waking the sleeping beauty, it was a 'Princess'. Same-sex marriage is currently not allowed in Ukraine, but the attention the exhibit received might stir new consideration of that issue. Further information regarding this development was examined by the Huffington Post.

Five days after Polataiko's project ended, a notably similar event took place at the Guggenheim Museum in New York: a one-night-only launch on Sept. 14, by American pop singer/writer Lady Gaga, where she 'slept' inside a large set construction of her perfume's custom bottle. While sleeping performances have been seen previously in art, Gaga's exhibit may have been less about contributing any kind of artistic statement and more about simply promoting her fragrance. Polataiko's response to the similarities was posted on the New York art website Hyperallergic.com.

While this inaugural exhibition has ended, Polataiko may recreate Sleeping Beauty in North America, South America, Europe or other parts of the world. He is indeed interested in other possible readings its restaging in other countries may engender.

Taras Polataiko has been teaching at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 2010.

Campus Kudos - June

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:54:51 +0000

Dr. Heidi MacDonald (History) received an award for the best English-language academic article deemed to make an original and scholarly contribution to the field of women's and gender history by the Canadian Committee on Women's History. Her article, Who Counts? Nuns, Work and the Census of Canada, was published in a recent issue of Histoire Sociale/Social History. Reviewers indicated that MacDonald produced "…an impressive and insightful piece of work on the various ways in which women religious (nuns) have been excluded or significantly undercounted in the Canadian census."

Taras Polataiko's (Art) painting was on view at the National Museum of Ukraine in Kyiv. The work was part of an international exhibition curated by Kateryna Botanova.

Annie Martin's (Art) installation Untitled (horizon) was exhibited in the PAVED Arts main gallery in Saskatoon. A critical text was also commissioned to accompany this exhibition.

Dana Cooley (New Media) has a video work in the group show, A Century of Artists' Films, at the Theatr Mwldan in Wales. Curated by Mike Cousin in partnership with Oriel Mwldan, the show runs until July 2.

Three ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge teams recently walked to raise money to End MS, totalling an impressive $6,762.05 that was donated to the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. The team from the Faculty of Education, captained by
Dr. Cathy Campbell, and consisting of Dr. Robin Bright, Dr. Noella Piquette-Tomei and Dr. Cynthia Chambers raised $2,935. The team from Administration, captained by Dr. Mike Mahon, and consisting of Maureen Mahon, Laurel Corbiere, Trish Jackson, Virginia Wishart and Robin Hopkins raised $2,725. The team from the Faculty of Management, captained by Dr. Lori Kopp, and consisting of Dr. Robert Ellis, Dr. Sameer Deshpande, Dr. Brian Dobing, Dr. Pam Loewen, Joan Kendall, Diane Boyle and Steve Craig raised $1,102.05.

Pictured left to right are iGEM team members Harland Brandon, (fourth-year Biochemistry), Justin Vigar, ( fifth-year Biochemistry) and MSc candidate Lisza Bruder, BSc ’11.

Clark Ferguson, the U of L's chief information officer, presented the keynote address at the Futures in it – Collaboration Western Canada Academy Conference in Calgary recently. Ferguson's address was titled Business Experience – Applied to Post Secondary at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Dr. Austin Mardon (BA'85) received an honorary doctor of laws from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta at its Spring Convocation ceremonies. Mardon, an inspiring advocate for the mentally ill, is a member of the Order of Canada and a past recipient of the CM Hincks Award, the highest award given by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Three members of the U of L iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines) team are travelling to Stanford ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in California to attend the 5th International Meeting on Synthetic biology. The sold-out conference attracts researchers from around the world who are working in the growing field of synthetic biology.

Dr. David Clearwater's (New Media) essay, What Defines Video Game Genre? Thinking about Genre Study after the Great Divide, was published in the Spring 2011 issue of Loading... (a Canadian journal covering videogames and interactive entertainment).

Dr. Josephine Mills (director/curator U of L Art Gallery) has recently been named president of the Canadian Art Museum Directors' Organization.

Dagmar Dahle's (Art) work was included in the exhibition ANIMAL, appearing at Museum London in Ontario.

Loralee Sand Edwards' (BFA '05) exhibition iGallery: curated auto-paparazzi (Self-Portraiture in a Digital Age) is in the Main Gallery of the Bowman Arts Centre until July 10.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Campus Kudos - April

trevor.kenney — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:00:35 +0000

Alumna Chelsea Matisz (BSc '06, MSc '09) was recently named the winner of the Ashton Cuckler New Investigator Award. This award is handed out by the American Society of Parasitologists and is given to the top graduate student in the field, based upon the quality of research accomplished during a candidate's graduate studies. In the past, this award has gone to a recently-graduated PhD student, while Matisz is currently in a PhD program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary. She will be honoured at the Society's annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, in June.

Soprano Acacia Doktorchik (MMus) presents her final Graduate Recital on Apr. 14 at 8 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall.

Mart Blicharz (MFA New Media) has an exhibition entitled, Breaking The Spell: Work in Progress, showing at the U of L Penny Building until Apr. 15.

Tasha Diamant (MEd student) was invited to present a Human Body Project event at the Union Theological Seminary, a graduate degree-granting seminary associated with New York's Columbia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Her presentation included a live Human Body Project performance followed by a discussion with faculty and students. The Human Body Project is the subject of Diamant's MEd research project, which mostly consists of a 53-minute documentary film, and is under the supervision of Dr. Erika Hasebe-Ludt and Dr. Leah Fowler.

Nicholas Louma (BFA '08) had artwork in the exhibition, Mind the Gap, at the Art Gallery of Swift Current in March.

Anna VanderHeide (BMus/BEd) sang in a Tribute to Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin organized by the newly formed Lethbridge Jazz Society in April.

Mike Pinder (Operations Co-ordinator, Sport and Recreation Services, BSc '04) was given a Lethbridge Sport Council Achievement Award for coaching excellence. Pinder is an assistant swim coach with the LA Swim Club, and in addition to coaching Youth Olympic medalist Rachel Nicol, is highly respected by athletes and parents for his dedication and commitment to the sport of swimming.

Ken Allan's (Art) article, Barnett Newman's The Wild: Painting as Spatial Intervention, has been accepted for publication by the American journal October, published by MIT Press.

Taras Polataiko (Art) had work displayed in the group exhibition, Delinear, at the Barbara Edwards Contemporary in Toronto.

Knud Petersen, a longtime supporter of Pronghorns Athletics through the Horns Booster Club, Operation Red Nose, Pronghorn Dinner & Auction, Casino Chair and Adopt-A-Horn programs, was given a Lethbridge Sport Council Achievement Award for Spirit in Sport.

Collin Zipp (MFA Art) is participating in a residency, culminating in an exhibition, at Daimon Video in Gatineau, Que.

Soprano Rachel Sinnott (MMus) presented a Masters Recital on Apr. 7 in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall.

Pronghorns thrower Heather Steacy was given a Lethbridge Sport Council Achievement Award as Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2010. Steacy, who took a year off of Canada West competition, devoted her time to the Canadian National Track and Field team, winning a gold medal at the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Championships (NACAC) where she threw a personal best of 67.20 m in the hammer throw.

Billy McCarroll (Professor Emeritus), on bass, and Dale Ketcheson (Music), on guitar, perform at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) at a Happy Hour performance sponsored by the Lethbridge Jazz Society on Apr. 15 from 5-8 p.m. McCarroll's artwork is presently on display at SAAG.

Jazlyn Dow (BFA '10) has just been accepted into the Master of Arts in Visual Culture: Costume Studies program at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

International Management students Kayley Fulton and Aamna Zia have each been awarded a $3,000 Export Development Canada (EDC) International Business Scholarship. Fulton completed a work exchange in Spain in 2010 while Zia, an Edmonton Campus student, is currently on work exchange in France.

Darcy Best (Mathematics and Computer Science) bettered his score from last year to set a new school record for his performance in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition. Best joined nearly 4,296 North American students in a six-hour, 12-problem contest, earning an overall ranking score of 527.5, leaving him one point out of the top 500.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Campus Kudos - December

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:56:32 +0000

Dr. David Renter (music) Trio performed at Southern Alberta Art Gallery on Dec. 3 as part of the second event organized by the brand new Lethbridge Jazz Society.

Dr. Goldie Morgentaler (English) was featured in the Fall 2010 issue of Pakn Treger magazine, the magazine of the Yiddish Book Center. Published in Amherst, Mass., the Pakn Treger story details Morgentaler's teaching of Yiddish literature in what is referred to as the "Canadian Bible Belt".

Lisa Doolittle (Theatre & Dramatic Arts) was a plenary speaker with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary professor Anne Flynn and U of L alumnus Troy Emery Twigg (BFA '03) at the American Society for Theatre Research and Congress on Research in Dance international joint conference in Seattle in November. They presented the paper, Performing Negotiations: Blackfoot Dance in Colonial and Multicultural Canada. Doolittle also presented, Dance Research on the Move: Connecting across the academy and engaging with community, to graduate and PhD students at York ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate member, Paul Gale Pharo, was appointed to the Alberta Provincial Court Bench. Pharo is also the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge and has three children attending the U of L.

Taras Polataiko (Art) recently exhibited his new work at the 5th International Biennale of Video Art in Israel.

Leanne Elias (New Media) recently had a chapter published in the book, Mobile Learning: Pilot Projects and Initiatives. The chapter is, Using Smartphone Technology to Extend the Educational Experience.

Nick Wade (Art) spoke at the Alberta Public Planners Institute in Lethbridge on the subject of art in the public realm.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge home page, www.uleth.ca, was selected as one of the Top-30 Outstanding Websites of Higher Education by Vandelay Design (http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/galleries/higher-education/). It was mentioned along websites from Johns Hopkins ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Virginia Tech ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Southern California.

Emily Luce's (New Media) exhibition, Parallel Park (Lab Space), is showing in the Helen Christou Gallery until Jan. 14, 2011.

Catherine Ross's (Art staff) exhibition, Field Sightings, is currently showing in Lethbridge's Mueller Art Gallery.

Dr. Josie Mills (U of L Art Gallery director/curator) presented, Deaccessioning: The Root of All Scandal, as part of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery's, Articulations: Art Appreciation Lecture Series, in November.

Matthew Blackburn (BMus '09), winner of the 2009 Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, performed with Musaeus String Quartet as part of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra's Chamber Series.

For a look at the full issue of the December Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Campus Kudos - November

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:20:57 +0000

Congratulations to the group of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni who was successful in earning Lethbridge City Council seats in the recent municipal election. The group includes Lethbridge mayor Rajko Dodic (BASc '78), and aldermanic members Jeff Carlson (BFA '92), Liz Iwaskiw (BASc '77), Joe Mauro (BASc '83) and Bridget (Pastoor) Mearns (BA '95).

Dr. Josephine Mills (U of L Art Gallery director/curator) presented, Deaccessioning: The Root of All Scandal, as part of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery's Art Appreciation series Articulations III: Scandals, Scoundrels, Capers, and Cons.

Dr. David Renter's (Music) quartet performed in Southminster United Church's Jazz Vespers series.

Annie Martin's (Art) sound installation, Listening Space, opened Nov. 5 at Contrary Projects Gallery in Regina. The installation is a version of the Listening Room Series Martin has developed since 2006 and uses lo-fi audio technology deployed to "open" the architecture of the space, creating an unfiltered audio environment.

Emily Luce's (New Media) exhibition Parallel Park (Lab Space) is in the Helen Christou Gallery until January 14.

A distinguished group of alumni from the Faculty of Education recently received nomination for the Edwin Parr Award in Zone 6. Awarded by the Alberta School Board Association (ASBA), the Edwin Parr Awards single out professionals in their first year of teaching for their talent, commitment to students and contribution to education. Shelley Kirkvold (BA/BEd '09, Catholic Central High School, Lethbridge), Qian Zhang (BSc '04, BEd '09, DA Ferguson Middle School, Taber), Grant Bertamini (BEd '09, Fleetwood Bawden Elementary, Lethbridge), Alli Martin (BA/BEd '09, Stavely Elementary), Travis Curliss (BA/BEd '09, Crescent Heights High School, Medicine Hat) and Donna Jean Wilde (BA/BEd '09, Magrath High School) all earned nominations.

Rumi Graham (librarian) defended her PhD thesis, A Multiple Case Study Exploration of Undergraduate Subject Searching, at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto. Her thesis looks into subject searching and information literacy in the undergraduate context.

Taras Polataiko (Art) had new work displayed in the exhibition, Video Lounge, at the Toronto International Art Fair, Oct. 28 – Nov. 1.

Janet Youngdahl (Music) directed and sang in a staged production of the Ordo Virtutum, a 12th Century Music Drama by Hildegard von Bingen, at the Cleveland Institute/Case Western Collegium. She also presented a paper entitled, Identifying Musical Gestures in Bach Choruses: An approach for Singers and Conductors, at the Alberta Choral Federation Symposium in Red Deer.

Lisa Doolittle (Theatre & Dramatic Arts) presented, Negotiating First Nations rights in Canada – What does dancing have to do with it?, at a Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs special session.

Gail Hanrahan (Theatre & Dramatic Arts) directed the world premiere of, In Flanders Fields, at Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary.

Dr. Arlan Schultz (Music) just returned from Drepung Gomang Institute in Louisville, Ky., where he met with eight Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in southwest India. Schultz has been conducting research into the spectral content of Tibetan ritual music and was able to record 12 different ritual chants in a special recording session set up by the monastery. The chants will be used in a new electro-acoustic work for 8-channel computer processed audio.

Dr. Ken Allan (Art) presented his paper, Marshall McLuhan, N.E. Thing Co. Ltd., and the Counter-Environment, at a Nov. 25-27 conference at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto. His talk was associated with the exhibition, Traffic: Conceptual Art in Canada, 1965-1980, currently on view in Toronto. He also spoke at the regular session of the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs.

Katie Klingvall (BFA '04) is off to Macau, China to work in the Wardrobe Department for Dragone Theater Company.

For a look at the full issue of the November Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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