UNews - Ed Jurkowski

Crossing Boundaries Symposium returns to discuss art, technology and identity

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 21:28:02 +0000

With technological advances running at an incredible pace, and the current political and social climate in a perpetual state of flux, artists, innovators, scholars and activists alike continue researching and working on ways to address the questions and issues that arise from our ever-changing world. Join the Faculty of Fine Arts October 27-28 as they host the second annual Crossing Boundaries Symposium to discuss ideas on art, technology and identity.

Crossing Boundaries: Art, Technology, and Identity hopes to activate cultural discourse on the relevance of current artistic practices in relation to the directions of this overarching theme. This two-day event brings together established and emerging innovators from the creative fields to Southern Alberta for engaging discussions, activities and displays.

The Crossing Boundaries Symposium kicks off October 27 with a reception and presentations by Fine Arts students in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Main Gallery and Level 6 Atrium. On October 28, look forward to speaker presentations, demonstrations, displays, activities and workshops in the Centre for the Arts. The day culminates with a panel discussion involving all three visiting speakers, moderated by Dr. Edward Jurkowski, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

“Crossing Boundaries aims to showcase the diversity and cross-disciplinary nature of the professional creative world,” explains Jurkowski. “Our first symposium in 2016 proved to be an engaging and thought provoking endeavour and we look forward to hosting our second annual event, bringing new guest speakers to ignite fresh ideas and discourse on art, technology and identity.”

For the second annual symposium, the Faculty of Fine Arts welcomes David Rokeby, Dr. Micha Cárdenas and Dr. Thecla Schiphorst. David Rokeby practices interactive art, translating physical gestures into real-time interactive sound environments. His works address issues of digital surveillance and engage in critical examination of the differences between human and artificial intelligence. He currently teaches in the New Media department at Ryerson ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and is Adjunct Professor at OCAD ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, both in Toronto.

Dr. Micha Cárdenas, assistant professor of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and Interactive Media Design at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Washington’s Bothell campus, is described as one of “seven bio-artists who are transforming the fabric of life itself” by io9.com. Cárdenas is an artist and theorist who creates media art to reduce violence and increase health. In addition to Cárdenas presentation, she will also host a workshop where participants will learn to create art and design that responds to community needs and address real problems. By considering human centered design, community-based design, hacktivism and media art, participants will identify their own communities, discuss how to learn about their concerns and how to turn those issues into art and design.

Dr. Thecla Schiphorst leads the whisper[s] research group, an acronym for wearable, handheld, intimate, sensory, personal, expressive, responsive systems. Her research in embodied interaction focuses on movement knowledge and representation, tangible and wearable technologies, media and digital art and the aesthetics of interaction. She is Associate Director and Associate Professor in the School of Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Vancouver.

Tickets are $10 for students, $20 regular until October 23, when the price raises to $30 for regular ticket holders. Register today to save at ulethbridge.ca/tickets.

Arts Festival Takes Over Coutts Centre July 23

trevor.kenney — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 21:03:49 +0000

Live music, family art activities, artists in action, and a beautiful garden setting set the tone for another summer arts festival at the Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage near Nanton. The annual Coutts Centre Arts Festival, hosted by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts and Art Gallery, returns on Sunday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Live music, family art activities, artists in action, and a beautiful garden setting are all part of the day.

“We look forward to hosting this event each summer,” says Dr. Edward Jurkowski, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. “If you haven’t yet had a chance to see this stunning property that Jim Coutts donated to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ then I encourage you to take this opportunity. Stroll the grounds, take in live music by Faculty of Fine Arts alumni and faculty, take part in art activities, and cap the day off with a performance by Lethbridge’s Shakespeare performance society. It’s a great day for families and art enthusiasts of all ages.”

The U of L Art Gallery hosts monthly En Plein Air events over the summer, this month pairing up with the arts festival. En plein air is an opportunity for artists to be inspired by the immaculate gardens as they change throughout the summer. Artists are encouraged to submit their work for an exhibition at the Foster James Penny Building in Lethbridge in December. En plein air kicks off at 10 am, along with Brown’s Enterprises decadent menu of brunch, lunch, lattes and more, served until 4 p.m.

Entertainment for the day includes an exciting line up of Fine Arts students, alumni and faculty. Beginning at 11 a.m. is the Southern Alberta Trombone Collective (SATbC) performing a mix of popular film music and classics for trombone quartet. SATbC features the talents of Nick Sullivan (BMus ’04; Music faculty), Kevin Jackson (BMus ’15; B.Ed. ‘17), Brittany Collins (BMus ‘13), and Andrea Norman (BMus ‘17).

At noon, the Groove Apostles return for their fourth performance at the Coutts Centre, with a fusion of jazz and funk. The Groove Apostles are Mathew Hellawell (BMus – DAA ’13) on drums, Daniel Best (New Media student) on bass, Vaughan Henning (BMus ’14; B.Ed. 16) on saxophone, Daniel Yaretz (BMus/B.Ed. student) on keys and Shelby Wilson (BFA – Dramatic Arts ’17). Closing out the live music for the day is percussion and classical guitar duo Joe Porter (BMus ’11, MMus ’13) and Dale Ketcheson (guitar instructor) at 1 p.m.

As the musicians pack up, the actors prepare to take the stage. The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society return for their fourth performance at the Coutts Centre. This year they present Comedy of Errors directed by Drama faculty member Ron Chambers.

“We are now in our sixth season of Shakespeare in the Park,” says producer, and drama alumna Kate Connolly. “And as usual, our cast and production team are drawn from current U of L theatre students, alumni and community theatre members.”

The Comedy of Errors is Shakespeare’s shortest and fastest-paced play with physical and slapstick humour and a severe case of mistaken identities. Adding to the hilarity, this version is set in an 1880s frontier cowboy town.

“We are lucky to have the Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society bring their Shakespeare in the Park experience all the way to the Coutts Centre each summer,” says Jurkowski. “They put on a great show all summer long in Lethbridge, so it’s a great opportunity to let more of southern Alberta enjoy the show.”

Admission to the Coutts Centre Arts Festival is by donation. For directions to the Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage, near Nanton, visit ulethbridge.ca/finearts/events.

Dr. Ed Jurkowski reappointed as Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts

trevor.kenney — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 21:04:46 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has approved the reappointment of Dr. Ed Jurkowski as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Jurkowski will begin his second term as dean starting July 1, 2018.

Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Andy Hakin says Jurkowski’s experience as dean (and associate dean from 2011 to 2013), coupled with his commitment to the institution and broader community, makes him ideally suited for the role.

“The Faculty of Fine Arts at the U of L not only undertakes leading teaching, creativity and research activities for the benefit of students, but the initiatives stewarded by our students, faculty and staff make an undeniable mark on the culture and quality-of-life for the communities we serve,” says Hakin. “This is an important appointment for our university and city, and I am pleased that Dr. Jurkowski will continue in his leadership role.”

Jurkowski joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 1996 as member of the Department of Music. In addition to having significant experience as a university dean, Jurkowski has served the university as Chair of the Department of New Media (2009-2011), and Chair of the Department of Music.

Jurkowski holds a PhD in Music Theory from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Rochester as well as a Masters in Music Theory from the same institution. He received his undergraduate degree in music from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba. Throughout his academic career, Jurkowski has maintained a comprehensive research program.

External to the U of L, Jurkowski has served in many capacities that have strengthened fine arts programs across Canada including president of the Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Music Club, treasurer of the Canadian Association of Fine Arts Deans and has chaired two processes to review music programs at other universities (and a member of a third review).

“In his first term, Ed has distinguished himself locally and with his colleagues across Canada and has been an excellent ambassador for his Faculty and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ,” says Hakin.

Bente Hansen and Jesse Plessis collaborate to present Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band arrangement

trevor.kenney — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 17:57:48 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is ready to have a little fun in celebration of is 50th anniversary, with two accomplished music graduates taking centre stage.

On Thursday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre, the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Office of Alumni Relations, presents Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a special night of history and music – Beatles’-style – featuring alumna and music instructor Bente Hansen (BMus ’86) and alumnus Jesse Plessis (BMus ’10).

While 1967 is well known as the birth of the U of L, it is also the year the Beatles released their iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Their eighth studio album, it is widely considered the first concept album in music history and changed the sound and face of popular music forever. Hansen and Plessis will present a two-piano arrangement of the complete album that Plessis crafted in 2011.

“We’re both classically trained pianists and we also love rock and roll music, so to have a chance to collaborate on something as classic as this is a real treat,” says Hansen, who has been teaching at the U of L since 1997. She currently teaches first-year music theory and was behind the establishment of a History of Rock ‘n’ Roll course that remains one of the most popular classes the U of L offers.

Plessis studied piano at the U of L with Dr. Deanna Oye and composition with Drs. Rolf Boon and Arlan Schultz. He has appeared on stages across Canada, England and continental Europe, received numerous awards both in piano and composition and regularly performs as a guest artist with several ensembles in Canada. He currently resides in Montréal where he studies with Paul Stewart of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Montréal.

“It’s exciting for us to be able to pair Bente and Jesse on stage again because they have such an incredible chemistry,” says Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Dr. Edward Jurkowski. “They are both wonderful pianists and have been performing together for eight years. I expect the audience will be swept up in their energy.”

The arrangement crafted by Plessis closely follows the format of the album. The track listing is the same and he and Hansen move from song to song seamlessly. Plessis has expertly explored ways to express the meaning and feeling of the Beatles’ lyrics through the piano, capturing the essence of the songs and complementing the album.

“We’re very proud to feature two of our exceptional alumni,” says Lyndsay Montina (BMgt ’09), manager of Alumni Relations. “The classical training they received as students here at the U of L set them off on different but complementary career paths and I know they are thrilled to continue to showcase their talents to the southern Alberta community.”

Tickets for the event are $30 each and include a reception and optional backstage tours. Tickets are available at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office (Monday to Friday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.), by calling 403-329-2616 or online at ulethbridge.ca/tickets.

Crossing Boundaries symposium to explore the future of technology in the arts

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 22:15:43 +0000

From the computers in our pockets, to the augmented reality introduced by Pokemon Go!, to the use of projections in marketing, fibre optics in costume design, electroacoustic sounds and beyond, technology is a major element of our daily lives. Scholars, scientists and artists alike are searching for ways to capitalize on this. In October, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts will host the inaugural Crossing Boundaries Symposium to discuss just that: what is the future of art and technology?

Nora Young of CBC Radio’s Spark and the author of The Virtual Self is one of the featured speakers for Crossing Boundaries.

Crossing Boundaries: Technology in the Arts takes place October 28-29 in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Centre for the Arts. This two-day event will bring established and emerging innovators from the creative fields to southern Alberta for presentations, demonstrations, displays and performances. Guest speakers include digital media poet, artist and software designer Jason E. Lewis; writer and curator Barbara Maria Stafford; and journalist Nora Young of CBC Radio’s Spark and author of The Virtual Self.

“Our goal hosting this symposium is to activate cultural discourse, educate and enable open dialogue and collaboration across different disciplines,” says Dr. Edward Jurkowski, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and host of the event. “Crossing Boundaries will showcase the diversity and cross-disciplinary nature of the professional creative world. I look forward to moderating the panel discussion where the guest speakers will address the future of technology in the arts, from what possibilities excite them to the challenges and concerns.”

Guest speakers will share their own experience and areas of study while focusing on new innovations, evolving trends, and their own aspirations for the future of technology in the arts. In addition, the symposium offers ongoing demonstrations, activities and displays that will engage and inspire. The Crossing Boundaries Symposium kicks off October 28 with a meet and greet reception in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Gallery where artist Donald Lawrence will be in attendance to discuss his work on display in the gallery.

“We invite the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, as well as members of the arts community and general public, to register for Crossing Boundaries. The more diverse the audience becomes, the more we will be able to explore the interdisciplinary nature of the professional and creative worlds,” invites Jurkowski.

Early-bird registration opened Wednesday, Sept. 7, with tickets available for $20 ($10 for students). Register online at ulethbridge.ca/tickets.

Arts festival returning to Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage

trevor.kenney — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:39:00 +0000

All of Southern Alberta is invited to enjoy a summer afternoon of music, drama and art at the Coutts Centre Arts Festival on Sunday, July 24. Returning for a second summer, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts in partnership with the U of L Art Gallery, look forward to hosting another festival of fine arts fun.

“Following in the footsteps of a successful festival in 2015, we are excited to see returning guests and show off our talents to a new group of attendees on July 24,” says Dr. Edward Jurkowski, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. “I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to enjoy the stunning garden property that Jim Coutts donated to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. His priceless gift allows us to broaden our reach into southern Alberta while highlighting the breadth of talent the Faculty of Fine Arts has to offer.”

The gates open at 11 a.m. with a performance by jamani music with Jodi Groenheide (BMus ‘11) on steel pan followed by the jazz stylings of the Groove Apostles, made up of alumni and current music students. Up next is music faculty member Dale Ketcheson playing classical guitar. Finally, the afternoon is topped off with a performance of Romeo and Juliet, presented by Lethbridge’s Shakespeare Performance Society at 2 p.m.

“We are delighted to have the Shakespeare Performance Society return to the Coutts Centre Arts Festival,” says Jurkowski. “The majority of the cast and crew have strong ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge connections. The actors, director, stage manager, and so on are all our students, graduates and even some current faculty.”

The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society is excited to launch its fifth season of Shakespeare in the Park, and its third performance at the Coutts Centre. With the goal of bringing high-quality performances of Shakespeare’s plays to audiences in the Lethbridge region, Romeo and Juliet is sure to delight at the Coutts Centre Arts Festival, and during their 12 free evening performances at Galt Gardens in July and August.

Southern Alberta artists are also invited to utilize the beauty of the gardens to create their own masterpiece on site. Artists will be able to paint or draw in the gardens throughout the day; and family art activities will be available for aspiring artists to get creative.

“As one in a series of En Plein Air events taking place over the summer, the festival provides a unique opportunity for the public to watch artists in action,” says Jurkowski. “In December, an exhibition highlighting the works created by artists visiting the Coutts Centre will be installed at the Penny Gallery in the Dr. James Foster Penny Building.”

Admission to the Coutts Centre Arts Festival is by donation. Refreshments, provided by Lynnwood Ranch BBQ Truck, are on sale throughout the day. For directions to the Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage, near Nanton, visit: ulethbridge.ca/finearts/events

New combined degrees program brings new media and education together to further engage students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:20:58 +0000

With career and technology studies (CTS) in schools evolving to a more creative media design and communication focus, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has recognized a defined need for teachers with new media skill sets by creating a new combined degrees program.

The new combined degrees program will give educators a greater skill set to meet the needs of today's young learners.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media/Bachelor of Education combines the best of two worlds, bringing the latest new media technology, tools and techniques to today’s young learners.

“We are very excited about this new curricular partnership with the Faculty of Education. This new option creates another pathway for fine arts students with an interest in new media and fills an important need in the K to 12 system,” says Dr. Ed Jurkowski, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

“The CTS program is absolutely essential in today’s schools,” says Dr. Craig Loewen, dean of the Faculty of Education. “The range of curricula addressed enhances schools’ abilities to meet the needs and varied learning styles of their students, provide tangible and applied learning opportunities and build real connections with people and businesses in the surrounding community.”

Students who attend the U of L on a full-time basis need five years to complete the combined degrees and graduate with two degrees, a Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media and a Bachelor of Education.

New Media courses introduce diverse materials, technical skills and a range of new media areas including graphic design, web design and development, interaction design, 3D modelling, animation, gaming, photography, narrative screenwriting, digital audio and video production, and historical and contemporary new media theory.

The U of L’s Faculty of Education is renowned for consistently producing excellent teachers. At the heart of the Bachelor of Education are three professional semesters, providing practical experience through supervised placements in schools. The U of L’s 27 weeks of practicum offers some of the most extensive classroom experience in the country.

This new Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media/Bachelor of Education option may be of interest to a variety of audiences including new students who begin in the Faculty of Fine Arts and then apply to the Faculty of Education after meeting Education’s admission requirements; current students already enrolled in Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media; and alumni with a Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media, who can now apply to the Bachelor of Education program as a second degree.

Local businesses partner to support unique music initiative

trevor.kenney — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:43:21 +0000

The love of music has led a pair of local businesses to come together in support of an exciting music initiative in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Local music will benefit from the support of the Geomatic Attic and Lucky Star Guitars.

Lucky Star Guitars and The Geomatic Attic, both prominent supporters of local and visiting musical acts, have collaborated to fund the new Lucky Star Guitars/Geomatic Attic Digital Audio Arts Award. Mike Christou, Tom Anderson and Fred Greene of Lucky Star Guitars and Mike Spencer of The Geomatic Attic see it as a harmonious relationship.

“Five years ago, when Lucky Star brought forward the idea of donating guitars, getting them signed by the performers that came through The Geomatic Attic and holding a raffle, we loved the idea,” says Spencer. “Many scenarios for using the money to assist fine arts students were discussed and we feel the creation of this award will benefit not only the Digital Audio Arts (DAA) program but the local music community as a whole – and for many years to come. This sort of initiative is one of the reasons The Geomatic Attic was created in the first place.”

The new award creates a unique opportunity for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students, the end result being student-recording projects with student art elicited for album covers. Each year, 500 CD units highlighting a DAA musician will be produced and sold, with proceeds adding to the continuation of the award.

The initiative began with a guitar, generously donated by Lucky Star Guitars, which was raffled off in support of the award. The Geomatic Attic had visiting artists sign the guitar in advance of a raffle. To date, four guitars have been raffled in support of the award.

“We at Lucky Star Guitars enthusiastically partnered with Mike and The Geomatic Attic and we are presently auctioning our fifth guitar,” says Christou. “We’re pleased that the U of L Faculty of Fine Arts has partnered with the two of us for this recording project, and thank the initiative of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the generosity of the Sakamoto family for creating this spectacular recording studio.
“Our objective with the recording and CD production is to promote local musicians, student production specialists and artists, and ultimately contribute more money to the funds that will be raised by future guitar raffles and through the sales of our CDs. Our vision is that this project will promote local talent and the U of L’s commitment to the community.”

In addition, The Geomatic Attic and the U of L have partnered to present The Geomatic Attic U of L Concert series. Beginning February 23 with the Acoustical Sounds of Big Sugar, this series will feature outstanding live musical acts from throughout the Canadian Prairies performing in the U of L Theatre. Again, a portion of the proceeds from each concert will fund the Lucky Star Guitars/Geomatic Attic Digital Audio Arts Award.

“This is such a unique concept and it’s only made possible because of the commitment of both Lucky Star Guitars and The Geomatic Attic supporting aspiring local musicians and artists,” says Dr. Ed Jurkowski, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. “Our students will now have an incredible opportunity to make their mark in the music business while still studying their craft. I’m very grateful for their generous support of our program.

Drama professor Braem up for Governor General's Award

trevor.kenney — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 21:50:31 +0000

Meg Braem, a Calgary-based playwright who teaches in the Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, has been shortlisted for the 2013 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama.

While busy preparing a new play for its premiere on the U of L stage, Braem will find out on Nov. 13 if she is selected for her play Blood: A Scientific Romance.

Theatre and Dramatic Arts professor Meg Braem is ready to premiere her newest work, Exia, Nov. 19-23.

Braem’s nomination serves as an inspiration to current drama students and aspiring playwrights at the U of L.

“Having Meg as a teacher is a great opportunity for our students to work with an active playwright who is willing to share her knowledge and passion for new Canadian plays,” says Faculty of Fine Arts Dean,
Dr. Ed Jurkowski. “This nomination further reinforces Meg’s ability to produce high-calibre work that is nationally recognized. We congratulate Meg on her nomination, and look forward to seeing her newest play, Exia, on our stage beginning Nov. 19.”

Braem says being notified of the nomination, a first for the U of L and for a Faculty of Fine Arts (drama) faculty member, was a nice surprise.

“This is so validating for my work and remarkable to have my play among the amazing plays nominated," she says.

Blood is about twin sisters who are bonded in both biology and shared tragedy after a car accident leaves them orphaned. After their remarkable recovery, they are brought home only to be subjected to endless experiments to study their undeniable bond.

“In this play, I’m really exploring human connection,” says Braem, a twin herself. “During the writing process I did extensive research about emotional intelligence and the experiments on twins by
Dr. Josef Mengele, as well as the Dionne Quintuplets.”

This is not the first honour for Blood, which also won the 2009 Alberta Playwriting Competition, 2009 Playwrights Guild of Canada Post-Secondary Playwriting Competition, and 2011 Alberta Literary Prize. Her other plays, The Josephine Knot, Potentilla and The Year of Falling Downhave also garnered awards.

Braem completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria , where a desire to have more control led her to start writing and acting in her own plays at Fringe Festivals.

“I always wanted to write,” she says. “It just feels right.”

She then completed her master's degree in playwriting at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary.

“Blood was my master’s thesis project. My supervisor Clem Martini was great, and a wonderful support as I figured out this story and how to write it.”

Braem’s newest work, Exia, will be premiered at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Nov. 19-23.

“While Blood was written in a more traditional way, with lots of drafts and then working with a dramaturge, Exia was a more collaborative process with U of L students that I taught in the New Plays Development course,” she says. “The process was amazing and the students’ creative input really added to the final product.”

Active on the professional theatre scene, Braem has had productions/readings at Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP), Theatre Calgary, Sage Theatre, The Gateway Theatre, Urban Curvz, Atomic Vaudeville and the Belfry. She participated in the 2013 Banff Playwrights Colony and is a current member of the Citadel Theatre’s Playwriting Forum.

In addition to Braem, the Governor General Award nominees include: Fault Lines: Three Plays by Nicolas Billon (Toronto); The Swearing Jar by Kate Hewlett (Stratford, Ont.); Frenchtown by Lawrence Jeffery (Niagara-on-the-lake, Ont.); and Shakespeare’s Nigga by Joseph Jomo (Toronto).

The winner will be announced on Nov. 13. An award presentation will take place in Ottawa at Rideau Hall on Nov. 28.

Jurkowski named Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:37:48 +0000

The Faculty of Fine Arts will be under the stewardship of a new Dean after the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge appointed Dr. Ed Jurkowski to the role, succeeding Dr. Desmond Rochfort.

"It is always exciting to announce the appointment of a new Dean, and it is especially gratifying to be able to promote someone from within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community," says Dr. Andrew Hakin, provost and vice-president (academic). "Dr. Jurkowski has been with the U of L for 17 years now and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, experience and a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities that face the Faculty of Fine Arts."

Jurkowski has been at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 1996 when he began a term appointment as an assistant professor of music in the Faculty of Fine Arts. During his tenure here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, he has continually progressed, earning tenure as an associate professor of music in 2001 and then full professor of music in 2007.

He most recently served as the Chair of the Department of Music (2003-2009) and has been in the role of Associate Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts since 2011.Jurkowski earned his bachelor's degree in music (composition) from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba before completing his master's and PhD designations at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Rochester in Rochester, NY, where he was also a teaching assistant and instructor from 1989 through 1996.

A visiting exchange professor at Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Sapporo, Japan in 2006, Jurkowski has published four books, including his latest, The Collected Works of Eduard Tubin: Double Bass and Balalaika Concertos (Series II, Volume 3) in 2013.

"I want to thank Dr. Rochfort for his fine work within the Faculty of Fine Arts over the previous five years," adds Hakin.

Jurkowski's appointment is effective July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2018.

UNews - Ed Jurkowski

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