UNews - Writer

Oral History Project brings the past to life

trevor.kenney — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 22:38:48 +0000

The late English writer Rudyard Kipling once reflected, “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students Karissa Patton (BA ’13) and Maria Livingston would likely agree with that observation.

Karissa Patton, left, and Maria Livingston are helping to bring the past to life through the Oral History Project.

Last summer, Patton, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in history, and Livingston, a third-year Native American Studies student, worked together on the Oral History Project, a story-gathering initiative supported by the U of L Art Gallery, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Archives and Centre for Oral History and Tradition.

Today, Livingston continues to be involved in the project, which is aimed at helping people to enhance their understanding of artist Nicholas de Grandmaison (1892-1978) and his unique connections to First Nations communities. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has a vast collection of de Grandmaison artwork and artifacts, including 67 original pastel portraits that were donated to the art gallery by BMO Financial Group earlier this year along with funding to support research related to the art gift.

A cultural icon of southern Alberta and one of the most important portraitists of First Nations people, de Grandmaison was a nomadic painter who often stayed with ranchers, farmers and Aboriginal families for several days at a time while he painted their portraits. His work not only documented the history of First Nations people in Canada, but was also unmatched in its ability to capture the unique personalities of those who sat for portraits.

With guidance from U of L archivist Mike Perry and Lisa Doolittle of the Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts, Patton and Livingston contacted members of the Kainai, Siksika and Piikani First Nations, searching for – and interviewing – people who may have had contact either with de Grandmaison or any of the subjects featured in his paintings.

“Collecting individual narratives is important because people aren’t writing things down as much as they once did. Also, the stories that have been included in historical archives in the past have often just been those of famous people and politicians,” says Patton.

To ensure the full range of stories compiled in the oral history project are shared for years to come, Livingston is now working on an educational program and online resource for high school students and middle school students, respectively. The initiatives are a way of giving back to First Nations communities and youth, says Livingston, who is of Cree heritage.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to work on this project,” she says. “Along with hearing great storytelling, I’ve learned more about First Nations culture and history, and that complements what I’ve been learning in school.”

Searing drama examines indifference to HIV crisis in early 1980s

trevor.kenney — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 20:21:15 +0000

How far does someone need to be pushed to make a change?

The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer takes on this challenging topic, and many others. A searing drama around the public and private indifference to the AIDS epidemic in New York City in the early 1980s and one man’s impassioned fight to inspire meaningful change, The Normal Heart plays on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre stage Oct. 15-19 at 8 p.m. nightly.

From left, actors Mike Rolfe, Cameron Lomon, Jay Whitehead and Colin Dingwall perform a scene from The Normal Heart.

“Larry Kramer, an important gay activist who led the fight to bring attention to the AIDS epidemic in the gay community, wrote this play in 1985,” says Roger Schultz, director. “The work is largely an autobiographical, thinly-veiled account of that movement.”

Hailed by the Royal National Theatre as one of the 100 greatest plays of the 20th century, The Normal Heart tells the story of writer and gay activist, Ned Weeks, who forms an organization to raise awareness and take on an apathetic government and indifferent society as an unknown disease kills hundreds of gay men in New York City.

“The topics of the play are much bigger than just the HIV crisis,” adds Schultz. “It takes on the indifference and apathy in society in general. It asks, what does it take for someone on the street to be impassioned enough to stand up for a cause and make meaningful change?”

Challenging and relentless, the topics explored in The Normal Heart still resonate today.

“I’ve never worked on a piece of theatre so politically charged like this before. The Normal Heart is so full of heart and passion, and its impact is great because it is also true. Although it was a fascinating time in history, the fight still carries on today,” says Schultz.

Tickets for The Normal Heart, priced at $18 regular, $13 senior/alumni, $12 students, are available at the U of L Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or by calling 403-329-2616). Join the cast and crew for a talkback following the Oct. 17 performance. This performance features mature content.

Estuary features big set, big issues

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:05:20 +0000

An estuary is a body of water where a river's current meets and mixes with the sea. For acclaimed playwright and drama professor, Ron Chambers, his latest work, Estuary, features a troupe of colourful characters' lives that mixes, turns upside down and ultimately joins beneath the roof of a fantastic frat house. Playing Mar. 19-23 at 8 p.m. nightly on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre stage, Estuary bends the rules of reality and captures the imaginations of its audiences.

Within the walls of an old Victorian house, a series of individual stories stretch the boundaries between reality and the dream world.

"This play is about defining reality," says Chambers. "The characters interact in a setting where there is no fixed reality, where there are questions about what is real or what is imaginary."

Set designer and U of L alumnus Roger Schultz (BFA '89) created an immense set to capture the essence of the play's themes.

"Estuary deals with a big idea, and the size of the set supports that," says Schultz.

Estuary plays Mar. 19-23 in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre.

A fully-fashioned two-story Victorian house has been constructed for the production where the complex relationships of the characters play out.

"I took my cues from the premise of the script, blending reality and dreams, containing elements that are fragmented or odd," he says.

For 20 years, Chambers has taught playwriting in the Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts. Seven of his plays have been professionally produced across Canada, the United States and in Hong Kong. He has won the Alberta Culture Playwriting Award, the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award (Writer's Guild of Alberta) and has been nominated for both the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award and Betty Mitchell Award for best new play.

As both playwright and director for Estuary, Chambers has appreciated the flexibilities of bringing the script to life onstage.

"I wrote Estuary as a big play, with a big cast and a big set," explains Chambers. "Often, the plays I write must be restricted to a limited cast size and to accommodate small sets, but this play is an exception. I also wrote this for students, to allow them to be themselves and play characters that are their ages, dealing with subject matter relevant to their own lives."

Tickets for this final production of the Mainstage Theatre season are available at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office (Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or by calling 403-329-2616). Individual tickets are priced at $15 regular, $10 seniors and students. Regular tickets are also available online, www.uleth.ca/tickets.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ loses distinguished faculty member

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 04:58:17 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community offers its most sincere condolences to the family, friends, students and many colleagues of the late Dr. Don Birchfield, a professor of Native American Studies, award-winning author and champion of, and mentor to, numerous students.

Don served the Department of Native American Studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 2001. He passed into the spirit world in the early hours of Friday, September 7, 2012. He will be greatly missed.

At this time, a memorial service is yet to be finalized. This notice will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

Don Birchfield was a graduate of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Oklahoma College of Law and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Prior to teaching at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Don taught American Indian studies at Cornell ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of New Mexico, and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

He served as book review editor for Studies In American Indian Literatures (SAIL), Native Americas, and News From Indian Country, and is a former editor of Camp Crier at the Oklahoma City Native American Center.

His Oklahoma Basic Intelligence Test (Greenfield Review Center, 1998) won the First Book Award For Prose from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas, and his Field of Honor (U of OK P, 2004) won the Writer of the Year award from Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers & Storytellers and the Spur Award for Best First Novel from Western Writers of America.

His other books include Black Silk Handkerchief: A Hom-Astubby Mystery (U of OK P, 2006) and nineteen textbooks for children from educational publishers.

Don was a founding member of the National Advisory Caucus of Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers & Storytellers. He was General Editor of the eleven-volume Encyclopedia of North American Indians (Marshall Cavendish, 1997).

In 2007, he was the Distinguished Lecturer at the 84th annual convention of the Central States Anthropological Society. His most recent book, How Choctaws Invented Civilization and Why Choctaws Will Conquer The World (U of NM P, 2007), treats American history, American Indian law and policy, Choctaw history, and academe as objects of satire.

Student Services Fair a first for campus

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:34:38 +0000

By CHANTELLE FROC, Student Writer

By November, most students have settled into campus life, finished their midterms, and some may even be already counting down the days until Christmas. However, despite the fact that classes have been in session for two months, many students still do not know the full extent of the services and groups available to them.

For this reason, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to announce the first-ever On-Campus Student Services Fair, taking place Wednesday, Nov. 9 in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium.

"The goal of the fair is to raise awareness regarding all the services that are here for students to support them as they make their way through the process of earning their degree," says Eric Hawthorne, co-ordinator of Student Life Programs for Recruitment and Student Life. "The On-Campus Student Services Fair aims to assist students in being successful."

So, what exactly will be available at the fair?

Students will be able to learn about Academic Advising and how to plan out their academic path; Counselling Services will be present to answer questions about stress-management, study skills and the many workshops offered by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ; and several other important groups and departments that provide support to students will be represented.

The event is intended for all U of L students, not just those in their first year.

"This will be new for returning students as well," says Hawthorne. "We want returning students to know that we care just as much about how they are doing. Just because a student has been at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for a year or two does not mean that they know the answer to everything.

"We hope that all students will come out and ask the questions that they have been looking to have answered, regardless of their year of study."

The On-Campus Student Services Fair runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Lewis a perfect fit for Alumni post

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:02:36 +0000

Joking that some might call her career path "checkered" – she prefers eclectic – retired nurse, Kathy Lewis (BN '83, MEd '99) is both nervous and excited to take on the role of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) president this year.

Lewis began her nursing career in the early 1970s after receiving her RN certificate from the Holy Cross School of Nursing, but a phone call from a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ recruiting officer would lead Lewis to explore a whole new world of possibilities.

"I was married, had two young children and was working as a nursing sessional instructor at the Lethbridge Community College. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was just starting the nursing program and I was asked to enrol. I remember thinking, 'Gee, why are you contacting me?' I really didn't feel that I had what it took academically, but you know the old saying: success breeds success. I found myself completing courses and did very well. I surprised myself," says Lewis, who completed her BN (with distinction) in 1983.

With an undergraduate degree in hand, Lewis says doors opened to her that had formerly been closed. She landed a job as a discharge planning co-ordinator for St. Mike's Hospital and eventually began working as a home care co-ordinator for the Lethbridge Health Unit. Working as a sexuality educator and counsellor in the 1990s, Lewis decided to pursue her master's degree.

Kathy Lewis sees the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a positive force in the community.

"I had always liked the teaching part of my job so I opted for a master's in education at the U of L. My supervising professor was Dr. Cynthia Chambers. She was such an inspiration; she had a lot of life experience as a wife, mother, educator and writer and she brought that experience to the classroom," says Lewis. "By coincidence, Ron Chambers taught me my last class, which was a drama elective. It was one of the most rewarding classes I had in all my ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ time. Here I was, almost 50, and I found myself in class pretending to be a cow.

"That is what the university does; it gives you that opportunity to open up to a broad range of ideas, people, experiences and possibilities."

Despite her busy schedule with family, work and schooling, Lewis has always made community service a priority in her life. She has served on various boards, including the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the Lethbridge Community Band Society and the Allied Arts Council, and has been a canvasser for a variety of different organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Association. In 2002 she was nominated to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Senate to which she dedicated six years of service. In 2008, while attending a Senate meeting, Lewis volunteered to join the ULAA.

"It was not in my life plan to be on the Alumni Council, but the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is such a positive force, certainly in my life and in the community. It is a major employer in the region, we have excellent research going on, wonderful fine arts and contribute to educating our population. I often say that Lethbridge is a different place because people in the 1960s had a vision. We can be proud of that and proud of the people who made all this happen," says Lewis. "Being a part of the ULAA is a valuable opportunity. I am very much a believer in working together; where we may have shortcomings in experience or knowledge, others fill in. Together we all contribute to the betterment of our society."

During the past two years the ULAA has revised its constitution and by-laws to ensure that the association continues moving in the right direction, maintaining its focus on building relationships with the community, students and alumni.

"In Spring 2012, thanks to the hard work of Cheryl Meheden and her committee, we will be launching a Fiat Lux ring as part of our 45th Anniversary celebration at the U of L. We hope every alumnus will want to have one and wear it with pride," says Lewis. "Our alumni chapters are essential. Together we are over 32,000 strong. We are represented on the Board of Governors, the Senate and many ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ committees. Our voice is at the table of decision-making and our participation is vital to the success of this institution. I would encourage each alum that when the timing is right and the opportunity to get involved knocks – open the door."

GET THE FACTS

· Lewis is a proud mother and grandmother.

· A member of ULAA since 2008, she served as ULAA vice-president from 2009 to 2011.

· Lewis plays clarinet with the Lethbridge Community Band Society, and is also a former concert planner.

· Lewis is a former ESL tutor with the Lethbridge Public Library.

· In 2009 she completed her RN re-certification through Grant MacEwan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

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

Dotimas proud to spread the U of L message

trevor.kenney — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:47:15 +0000

Once upon a time, a young man left the warmth of the Philippines in search of a better life. He travelled to Canada, where he met a beautiful young girl, who had also emigrated from the Philippines. Eventually, the young man and young woman fell in love, married and lived happily ever after.

But, don't you wonder what happens after "happily ever after"? In this case, a new story emerges; a story filled with hard work, success and continued happiness. A story of their daughter, Jeanette Dotimas (BMgt '01), president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association's Edmonton chapter (ULAA), and communications advisor for Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Alumna Jeanette Dotimas, the new president of the Edmonton chapter of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association.

"As the oldest in my family, I was always taught to strive to be the best and to be a good role model for my sister and brother," explains Dotimas. "I am a first generation Canadian. My parents did what they could, they worked very hard, but they did not have a lot to give me and my siblings; motivating me to do well in school and supporting me in obtaining my degree was their gift."

Dotimas earned a business administration diploma, specializing in marketing, from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), before enrolling in the post-diploma bachelor of management program offered at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Edmonton campus. For the next two years, she worked full days at General Electric and attended full-time classes in the evenings and on weekends to complete her degree.

"It was such an intense, focused program," says Dotimas. "For the most part, we were all in the same boat, working during the day then coming to school at night and on the weekends. It was like an 80-hour work week, but it was great preparation for the professional world."

The personal nature of her educational experience helped establish long-lasting bonds with the U of L.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ felt like a family. I met some of my best friends there; our experiences studying and graduating together were life changing," she says. "Now that I am serving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in an alumni capacity, I hope that the U of L remains a big part of my life."

Since her graduation, Dotimas has been an active alumna and was thrilled to participate in the organization of a brand new ULAA Edmonton chapter. She served for one year on the board, becoming president of the chapter this fall.

"I had such a positive experience with the Edmonton campus, and I went to alumni events because I wanted to somehow stay connected," she says. "I strongly believe that being a part of the ULAA is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, to expand your horizons and your networks and to give back."

With close to 2000 alumni residing in the Edmonton area, the chapter looks to offer support, whether it's in the form of providing work opportunities through networking or connecting alumni with other professional organizations.

"Personally, I am a huge advocate for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Dotimas. "Whenever I have the chance, I promote the U of L to whoever will listen. Through word-of-mouth advertising from former students, my hope is that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ gets the recognition it deserves both in the community and in industry. The U of L is such a unique and wonderful institution and we want to ensure that we are on people's minds."

Dotimas brings a host of professional expertise to the ULAA. As a communications advisor for the federal government, she has experience in everything from event planning to product development and media relations. In addition, she organizes workplace diversity events and facilitates workshops on anti-discrimination.

"When we come to work, we each bring our personal experiences and our beliefs through the door. When I facilitate a session on anti-discrimination, the focus is on understanding one another and learning about what makes us unique – respecting the differences between us," Dotimas explains. "There is a great commonality between the federal public service and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ prides itself on reaching out to different cultures (e.g. through its international studies programs) and providing a positive and inclusive environment for students, staff and their families. I see my employer in a similar vein; both institutions strive to provide a challenging workplace that is diverse, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary."

GET THE FACTS

· Married and a mother of two, Dotimas strives to be a positive role model for her children. "When they see me volunteering my time and being involved with things like the ULAA, what I really hope to teach them is the importance of giving back to the community and how to be good global citizens."

· Among the boards and committees she is a part of are: Edmonton Centre for Race and Culture; Alberta Federal Council Visible Minority Employees Network; Alberta Federal Communicators Community; Edmonton Public Library Multicultural Advisory Group.

· Dotimas is a writer/contributor to the Philippine Hiyas Community Newspaper.

· Dotimas is an accredited language interpreter for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

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

Events - November

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:18:53 +0000

Pronghorns Athletics

Nov. 19-20 | Canada West Men's Hockey | ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina vs. Horns | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena

Nov. 26-27 | Canada West Women's Hockey | ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan vs. Horns | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena

Dec. 3-4 | Canada West Men's Hockey | UBC vs. Horns | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena

Lectures

Nov. 17 | Art Now: Conceptual artist, Gareth Long | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 17 | Student Seminar
ACM Rocky Mountain Regional Contest | Noon, C674

Nov. 17 | Creating and Managing Effective Discussion Forums
12:15 p.m., TH 373

Nov. 17 | WestGrid Seminar: Virtual Reality Systems | Pierre Boulanger, Department of Computing Science, presents his research on virtualized reality systems | 12:30 p.m., CRDC L1126

Nov. 17 | Faculty of Management Lunch and Learn | Careers in Finance
12:05 p.m., TH 277

Nov. 18 | Women Scholars Speaker Series | Isa Milman presents, Jewish Women Pioneers on the Canadian Prairies | Noon, Andy's Place (AH100)

Nov. 19 | Art Now: Conceptual artist, Micah Lexier | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 19 | Department of Economics Lecture series | Migration as a Catastrophe: Geometric Analyses of Two Models Using Novel Mathematics by Jermiah Allen | 2:30 p.m., B543

Nov. 22 | Art Now: Writer, Nancy Tousley | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 22 | Architecture & Design Now: Michelangelo Sabatino
6 p.m., C610

Nov. 24 | Art Now: Multidisciplinary artist, Sonny Assu | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 26 | Art Now: Painters, John Brown and Dagmar Dahle | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 29 | Architecture & Design Now: Vancouver designer, Michelle Biggar | 6 p.m., C610

Dec. 1 | Faculty of Management Lunch and Learn | Networking
12:05 p.m., TH 277

Dec. 2 | Pre-recorded Public Lecture Series | Anticipating a New Golden Age by F. Wilczek, Nobel Laureate
Department of Physics and Astronomy | 6:30 p.m., PE 264

Dec. 9 | Women Scholars Speaker Series | Shifts in the Production/Reproduction Nexus in Aging Societies
Dr. Susan McDaniel | 3 p.m., Andy's Place (AH100)

Performances

Nov. 19 | Romantic Reflection
Musaeus String Quartet with pianist & U of L alumnus Matthew Blackburn | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church

Nov. 20 | Faculty Artists & Friends
Glen Montgomery in Recital: Romantic composers | 8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall

Nov. 22 | Ode to Joy – Beethoven's Symphony #9 | Lethbridge Symphony and Vox Musica with soloists Janet Youngdahl (soprano); Sandra Stringer (mezzo-soprano); Blaine Hendsbee (tenor); and George Evelyn (bass-baritone) | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church

Nov. 23 | Music at Noon: Gwen Klassen (flute), Elinor Lawson (piano) | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 23-27 | Spring Awakening
Mature content; A "children's tragedy" | 8 p.m. nightly, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre

Nov. 26 | U of L Wind Orchestra Concert | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church

Nov. 30 | Music at Noon: Greg Brookes and Deanna Oye | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Dec. 4-5 | Magnificat & Messiah
The LSO with the U of L Singers perform Bach's Magnificat and the Christmas part of Handel's Messiah
8 p.m. (Dec. 4), 3 p.m. (Dec. 5), Southminster United Church

Dec. 7 | Music at Noon: Studio Showcase | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Miscellaneous

Plays and Prose Writing Competition
Submission deadline, 4 p.m., Dec. 13
Rebecca Gray, W850

Nov. 17 | Annual Women's Health Fair | Presented by the Health Centre
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre

Nov. 17 | Christmas in the Park 2010
Hot dogs and hot chocolate available in exchange for non-perishable food items or $2 donation | 6 to 8 p.m., Paterson Centre

Nov. 18 | Master of Social Work Information Session | Deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2011 | kathi.burnett@uleth.ca | 6 to 7:30 p.m., AH116

Nov. 19 | Tribute to the Beast: All Ages Iron Maiden Tribute Show and Fundraiser! | Presented by the U of L Headbanger's Society | 8 p.m., Students' Union Ballroom

Nov. 20 | Culture Vulture Saturday
Button Making with Trap/door
Proceeds go to Trap/door Artist Run Centre | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., U of L Art Gallery

Global Justice Student Speaker Challenge | Application forms available at www.ulsu.ca | Submit electronically to pirg@uleth.ca with Global Justice in the subject line | Deadline for applications is Dec. 3

Nov. 5 to Jan. 7 | Promising Objects | Works by Alison MacTaggart
U of L Main Gallery

Dec. 8 | Hollywood and Beyond: Great American Filmmakers
Screening of, It's a Wonderful Life
6:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library

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

Honorary degree nominations sought

trevor.kenney — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:30:27 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate is seeking nominees for its 2011 and 2012 honorary degree awards, and is appealing to southern Alberta community groups to nominate individuals who have made a local, regional or worldwide impact on society.

"Our Honorary Degree recipients reflect not only excellent service to our community, but are also people who inspire others to make a difference," says U of L Senate member Elisha Rasmussen, a member the committee that co-ordinates the selection process. "The people we choose become part of the U of L family and participate actively in the life of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

What does receiving an honorary degree mean to the recipients, whose life experiences have varied from surviving the Holocaust during World War II to entertaining and affecting thousands of people as an award-winning musician and humanitarian?

"Receiving my honorary degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2006 meant a great deal to me," says Holocaust survivor and award-winning author Dr. Chava Rosenfarb.

"Not only was this the first university degree that I ever received, but it also represented a recognition of my lifelong work as a writer in Canada. I also considered the degree as a tribute to the language in which I have written all my works - Yiddish, a language that was as much a victim of the Holocaust as its speakers."

Passionate Albertan Paul Brandt, a former nurse and now a high-profile Canadian country music artist, says his honorary degree has helped to validate his work as an artist.

"Receiving an honorary degree from an institution as reputable and relevant as the U of L came as a real feeling of validation to me," says Brandt.

"I'm currently working on new music to be released mid 2011, and it has put me in a bit of a reflective mood. I've spent a great deal of my life honing my craft, working to influence and entertain people through art, and being recognized with an honorary degree in Fine Arts made me feel like some of that work has been recognized in a context even larger than the world stage. It's nice to see your name in lights, but to know that it's leaving a legacy is a wonderful feeling."

To be eligible for the 2011 and 2012 Convocations, nominations must be received by Nov. 30 at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Senate Office, 4401 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Drive, Lethbridge, Alta. T1K 3M4. To obtain a nomination form, please call the Senate Office at 403-329-2482.

Recipients are selected by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate from nominees provided by members of the general public and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. The Senate is empowered to confer honorary degrees by the Universities Act of Alberta. Additional information is available at the Senate website: http://www.uleth.ca/sen

Muse Control

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:00:41 +0000

Rushmore, starring Bill Murray, didn't attract large crowds of moviegoers when it debuted in 1998, but the cult classic made an impression on U of L Fine Arts student James Wade. The 23-year-old, who was only 11 when the movie premiered, remembers watching it for the first time years after it was released.

"I don't know if I knew it at the time, but that movie inspired my interest in narratives," says Wade. "There's a scene in Rushmore where Bill Murray's character is so vividly portrayed that I relate to him on a personal level. That sense of shared experience is extraordinary because in that moment it doesn't matter that the person I'm connecting with is a character in a movie."

"He's fictional, but you can't have everything," jokes Wade, quoting a line from Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo.

Wade's playful attitude belies the seriousness of his endeavour. He is a self-professed movie buff whose top picks include the classic Casablanca, fan-favourite Annie Hall and box-office hit Jurassic Park. He is able to drop quotes from these and other movies into everyday conversations because for him they have developed a personal relevance.

Playwright, James Wade, draws a great deal of inspiration from Woody Allen.

"I remember every detail. The Germans wore grey, you wore blue," says Wade, illustrating his point using a line from Casablanca.

For Wade, narrative is an art form that transcends geographic, cultural and social boundaries, offering a connection between people who have never met.

"Narrative is ideological," explains Wade. "Stories take shape in response to experiences and in relation to values and beliefs. Regardless of the story being told, narrative is always part of a larger conversation."

Eager to be part of the discussion, Wade started writing his own scripts. Inspired by a summer lecture he attended two years ago, he began investigating the idea of the muse and its role in contemporary society.

"The figure of the muse played an important role in Greek culture; they believed in spirits that would visit them and inspire their artistic creations," explains Wade. "The figure of the muse has lost that significance in today's culture, and we now believe in an artistry that comes from within the individual."

Having found a subject that interested him, Wade began work on what was to become Muse Control. Treating the muse as a literal character, the play plunges audiences into the fantastic life of a struggling author, desperate to break his writer's block. Reality is suspended and twisted as his muse encourages and exposes his creative and personal truths.

"Muse Control is quirky and eccentric but that's what makes it real," explains Wade. "While writing it, I worked with some of my own neuroses as an artist, and I hope that comes across in the characters when people read the script or see the play."

Top Row (L-R), Camille Pavlenko and James Wade. Bottom Row (L-R), Brett Gartley and Devon Brayne.

Wade's self-reflection paid off as Muse Control won the 2010 U of L Play Right Prize, earning Wade a $1,500 cash award and a public reading of his play.

"Winning the Play Right Prize was obviously an honour and went a long way toward validating my work," says Wade, who is hoping for a future in writing.

The U of L Play Right Prize is one of two awards geared at young writers made possible by the generous support of U of L alumnus Terry Whitehead (BA '94).

"My time at the U of L was a very formative period in my life," says Whitehead. "My education and campus involvements helped shape my world view. I am happy to support the Play Right Prize as a way to ensure that both current and future students are given the same opportunities to explore their creativity."

In addition to winning the Play Right Prize, Muse Control is the first play from the competition to be produced at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The play opened the 2010/11 TheatreXtra season.

"TheatreXtra provides great opportunities and experience to students with a passion for theatre," says Wade, describing the primarily student-run productions. "I've envisioned Muse Control in my head for so long, it's great to see it brought to life on stage by a group of my peers."

Wade accepts the accolades humbly and enjoys the process of producing, but he remains true to the writing process believing it to be cathartic.

"You are what you love and not what loves you," says Wade, quoting Charlie Kaufman in Adaptation.

Maybe one day someone will be quoting lines from a James Wade movie.

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

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