As faculty gather to plan, it is always with the work of the student body in mind. “How are our students doing?” “Look at this excellence!” How can we reach this generation better?” Administrators on campus and at the state level chart student achievement rates for persistence and graduation. After all, the business of a university is student work.
One of the experiences that I value that I wish more of the public could enjoy is to walk the halls of the North Commons building where our Art Department works. (Please enjoy the article in this newsletter about the renovated space for Art.) Walking the halls of the North Commons you see student work everywhere. Each hallway is lined with work. The culture of doing and showing your work is strong on campus. It is interesting to see foundational work on color theory, light and shading, and structure alongside more advanced, gallery-ready pieces. As an aficionado of contemporary works, I enjoy the installation pieces that greet you as you approach teaching spaces.
With the return of warm temperatures, I noticed that a dance class has moved outside to the area next to the Graff Fine Arts Center facing the O.C. Tanner Fountain. What a concept: move from the sequestered studio space to the openness of the center of campus while working to master choreography and concepts.
Recently I was invited to observe the first critique of the semester in a beginning ceramics course. Students had completed a substantial project and were presenting to their peers and professor. Self-advocacy is such an important trait for an artist. The ability to comment on and receive comments on technical and aesthetic aspects will serve those students for the rest of their lives. I am fortunate to witness these life molding moments that don’t get much fanfare.
When attending a theatre performance, we admire the scenery, costuming, and lighting that mesh with script and delivery to create a performance. The performance is the product. And the student work prior to us entering the space is the process. The process is the goal of educational artistry. Students constructing costumes and sets, painting, and hanging lighting is vital to the experience. We value very highly the process that leads to a product. Why? Because this leads to careers. We see the future in our classes and on our stages. And the future is bright.
The Utah Tech Symphonic Band performed Unbroken by Randall Standridge at their recent concert. The composer wrote the piece in response to mental health challenges in his
family. My perception is that many of the students in the ensemble can relate to the themes and values that Standridge expresses in his composition. It empowers students to be proactive in response to difficulty.
“UT Symphonic Band members are enthusiastic musicians who want to connect to others through music,” said Bryant Smith, Music faculty. “In their preparation for the performance of Unbroken, the students were visibly invested in sharing the journey of a person with mental illness, rehearsing individually and as a group for weeks. I’m so impressed with the heart and soul that each student put into the music. Their dedication and work brought this message of hope through sound, and is a great reason to enjoy student artistic opportunities whenever they are available.”
Want to see what I’m talking about? Nearly every student performance in the Music Department is hosted on the department’s YouTube page. As of the writing of this, there are 506 videos of student performances posted. And there are dozens more between now and graduation in May. We have 968 subscribers. Can you help us get to 1,000?
Our social media is taking off as it showcases what we have to offer in the arts community. Recently, we have started an “Art Adventure” initiative where students of the different Arts programs “takeover” the social media for the week, showing us a peek into their lives. It is a wonderful way to highlight what students are exploring in their various artistic mediums. One student in our new Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts program, Brandon Raabe, showcased his beautiful oil paintings in his school-provided studio space. Another student, Tayloraan Dalpiaz, demonstrated the dedication and commitment for studying dance. There are many more to follow. Be sure to follow us @utahtech_arts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Faculty see the value of cross curricular networking that is done as film students work with theatre students, music students with film. And our Film and Dance programs are again traveling to Brazil. This student work helps develop organizational thinking and gives scaffolding for time management. The rigor of hands-on work has little competition for fostering career readiness.
And even up to the very end of the semester student work continues. While the rest of campus has packed and moved out of dorms, student musicians will be doing their work and learning valuable lessons that come from enhancing the celebration with the performance of Pomp and Circumstance. Right through Commencement ceremonies you’ll see our students working and learning. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
By Dr. Glenn Webb, Associate Dean of the College of the Arts