UNews - New York

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.

Lasting Images - Mary Shannon Will

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:38:15 +0000

Mary Shannon Will was born in Ithaca, New York, and studied at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of New Mexico in Albuquerque and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Iowa. Upon moving to Canada, Will taught at the Emily Carr College of Art & Design in Vancouver.

Will is known for her diverse artistic practice, working in a variety of media including printmaking, painting and ceramics. Today, the artist divides her life and work between Calgary and New Mexico.

Mary Shannon Will, Untitled, 1971. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 1999.

In 1999, Will donated 45 artworks to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection, spanning the breadth of her career from 1968 through 1993. This gift included ceramic pieces, paintings, drawings and archival materials associated with her practice.

These works demonstrate Will's vibrant use of colour based in Pop Art sensibilities, her sense of play within the funk ceramics movement on the Canadian prairies during the 1970s, her extension from traditional woman's forms such as jars and utilitarian objects and her complex grasp of the interests in form and composition developed within abstract artistic movements.

Mary Shannon Will, Unfinished Sculpture, 1980. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 1999.

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

Casson earns Privy Council appointment

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:32:10 +0000

Former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge employee and current Member of Parliament, Rick Casson, was recently appointed to Privy Council by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Laurie Hawn, joins Casson as the two newest Privy Councillors.

"I am pleased today to announce the appointments of Laurie Hawn and Rick Casson as Privy Councillors, following their many years of dedication and hard work in the House of Commons, including on Canada's engagement in Afghanistan," says Harper. "Both Mr. Hawn and Mr. Casson continue to meet the highest standards of public service to the benefit of their constituents and all Canadians."

Long recognized as an honourable man by the constituents of his southern Alberta riding, Casson now carries the official designation of "Honourable" to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada following a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

Prior to his election as a Member of Parliament, Casson served for many years as a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge employee (manager of the printing services department), and as a community volunteer and elected county representative in his hometown of Picture Butte, Alta.

"This is an unexpected and very special honour," says Casson.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, only hours after being sworn-in as the 28th Governor General of Canada, presided over Casson's swearing in ceremony.

Privy Councillors are members of The Queen's Privy Council for Canada, established under the Constitution Act, 1867 to advise the Crown. The Privy Council includes all past and present ministers, as well as a number of select persons. The Governor General, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, appoints members to Privy Council.

"I am very grateful to Prime Minister Harper for considering me for this appointment, which is given to very few Canadians outside the ranks of government ministers, governor generals and chief justices," says Casson.

"It was an honour to have Canada's new governor general preside over my swearing in as Privy Council member among his inaugural duties, as I had attended Mr. Johnston's own swearing-in ceremony earlier today."

Casson is a five-term Member of Parliament, who has been named Chair of the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan and Chair of the Alberta Caucus. He was also named the Canadian Chair of the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, a Canadian-American advisory body established at Ogdensburg, NY in 1940 by Prime Minister Mackenzie King and United States President F.D. Roosevelt.

"On behalf of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge we would like to congratulate Rick on being appointed as a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada," says U of L Board of Governors Chair Bob Turner.

"The fact that very few Canadians are appointed as Privy Councillor makes this appointment all the more exceptional. Canada, and more specifically southern Alberta, is a better place because of his service."

U of L President Mike Mahon adds that, considering the contributions Casson has made to the university, as both an employee and elected Member of Parliament, the U of L could not be more proud of his appointment.

"The U of L has benefited enormously from Rick's hard work over the years, and we cannot think of a more worthy person to receive this prestigious appointment."

Centre for Indigenous Theatre presentation

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:41:17 +0000

Three weeks of intensive preparation culminates with two highly anticipated shows at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge this weekend.

The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, in partnership with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Departments of Native American Studies and Theatre and Dramatic Arts proudly present: IITAKOHTSSAPAAOPA – the Centre's newest collectively created presentation directed by esteemed director and full-time instructor, Muriel Miguel (Spiderwoman Theater, New York).

A total of 14 students, most from the Lethbridge area, are currently participating in a three-week intensive program delivered by the Centre for Indigenous Theatre in partnership with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. They have been working six days per week, 11 hours per day to get an introduction to performing arts techniques from a uniquely Aboriginal perspective. IITAKOHTSSAPAAOPA is the culmination of their efforts.

IITAKOHTSSAPAAOPA features an ensemble cast that includes students, graduates and senior artists. The play runs Friday, Aug. 20 and Saturday, Aug. 21 at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre. Shows begin nightly at 8 p.m. Admission is by donation (with a suggested donation of $5 for general audiences). Friday's performance will be followed by a question and answer session with members of the cast and production crew.

To reserve tickets, call 403-329-2721.

The only school of its kind in Canada, Centre for Indigenous Theatre offers contemporary theatre training from a uniquely Indigenous perspective. The learning environment is intimate, supportive, student-focused and delivers training that is rooted in Indigenous cultures and traditions.

Renowned actor, director, writer and choreographer Muriel Miguel leads the program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Respected knowledge keepers Dr. Leroy Little Bear, Amethyst First Rider and Raymond and Greta Many Bears deliver cultural teachings.

Dean Emeritus Robert Cook passes away

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:27:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge extends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Robert M. Cook, Dean Emeritus (Faculty of Fine Arts), who recently passed away.

Cook came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 1981 to assume the position of director of the newly-formed School of Fine Arts, comprising the departments of art, drama and music and their ancillary units, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Art Gallery, theatre and music conservatory. He was promoted to the rank of professor during his first year as director.

A graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., Cook also held an MMEd degree from Boston ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. American born, he came to Canada in May 1971 as the supervisor of music in Alberta's Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation. Two years later he became director of Alberta College's Conservatory of Music. He returned to Alberta Culture in 1974 as director of performing arts, a position he held for seven years.

During this time period, Cook became a Canadian citizen and earned Canada's Jubilee Medal for his contribution to the arts. He also served as a director and honorary life member of the Canadian Choral Federation and the Alberta Band Association.

Before coming to Canada, Cook was an associate professor of music and Chair of the music department at Gonzaga ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Spokane, Was.

Since his retirement in 1989, Cook has been active in several provincial and community arts organizations. He was a founding member and Chair of Music Alberta. He was conductor and artistic director of the Lethbridge Community Band, which he founded in 1987. He was named conductor emeritus for the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra Association, served as a director of the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and received a Distinguished Band Director's Award from the Canadian Band Association in 1995.

Former Horn coach heads to Wisconsin

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:47:41 +0000

Former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's hockey coach, Rob Morgan, has been chosen to build a new women's hockey program at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.

Morgan, the 2000-01 Canada West coach of the year following his one season behind the Pronghorns bench, heads to St. Norbert after a six-year stint as associate head coach at Dartmouth College. While there, he helped lead the Big Green to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons as they compiled a 128-53-18 record.

A graduate of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta in 1992, Morgan earned his master's degree from the U of L and coached the Pronghorns to a fourth-place finish in the Canada West standings in 2000-01. The Horns compiled a 4-5-3 regular season record before finishing second in a three-team West semifinal playoff series with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia. Overall, the Horns were 16-11-3 on the season.

Morgan left the U of L to take over head coaching duties at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake, N.Y. before assuming the position at Dartmouth.

Featured artist: Carl Beam (1943-2005)

trevor.kenney — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:22:11 +0000

Carl Beam was an internationally acclaimed contemporary Canadian artist of Ojibway descent, whose work will survive as a milestone in the development of the Canadian Aboriginal voice on the international art scene.

Beam was born in 1943 at M'Chigeeng (West Bay) on Manitoulin Island. As a child he was sent to the Garnier Residential School in Spanish, an awful experience that would influence some of the powerful imagery used in his later work.

Beam studied at the Kootenay School of Art, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria (where he earned a BFA in 1974) and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. In 1986, the National Gallery of Canada was the first of the major Canadian galleries to recognize Beam's work with the purchase of The North American Iceberg. From 1983–1992 his work was included in all the landmark exhibitions that altered the segregation of aboriginal art in Canada.

Beam's works can be read as juxtapositions between long held perceptions and challenging alternatives. Early influences during his formal studies included Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. His well known, appropriated images (a pieta, an embryo, Abraham Lincoln, Sitting Bull, a crow, the Pinta and Maria, and Einstein, among others) were cross-cultural symbols that he utilized to convey a universal message about the environment and the relationship between man, nature and the passage of time.

With a linear pattern or formal grid, he tried to visually create the fourth dimension in his work, a spiritual space inhabited by a quiet intellect. That he was an artist of native and white heritage added to the scope of the complex subjects he chose.

Beam's work, executed in diverse media such as drawing, watercolour, etching, non-silver photography, photo transfer, collage, installation and ceramics, has been exhibited throughout North America as well as in Italy, Denmark, Germany and China. It is found in major Canadian and international collections including
the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Gallery and the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, N.Y.

In 2000, Beam was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts, and in 2005 he received the Governor General's Award in Visual Art and Media. He died July 30, 2005, of complications arising from diabetes.

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