Notes from the Director
Jerre Brisky and Kyle Marrero
Welcome back to the 2009-2010 Center for Fine & Performing Arts Season. As most of you already know, Kyle Marrero will be serving as the Interim Vice President for University Advancement at UWF for this academic year. The CFPA continues to be in good hands as Jerre Brisky, Assistant Director, introduces everyone to the incredible line-up we have for this upcoming season.
The Art Gallery will hold eight exhibitions this year, including its traditionally well-attended Annual Faculty Exhibition, the Annual Student Show, and the two BFA Exits Shows that cap off the fall and spring semesters. Among the four unique shows exhibited in the Gallery this year is “Altered.” The works submitted for this National Juried Experimental Photography show will explore the broadest possible definition of the photographic medium, often using many early historical processes for contemporary ends. For the remaining invitational exhibitions, former Gallery Director Raina Benoit selected three pairs of emerging artists. The curatorial concept behind “Projected Landscapes,” “Gestural Pop” and “Hers & His” is to encourage the audience to dialog about both the similarities and differences between the artistic couples.
The Departments of Music & Theatre kick off their season with the 5th Annual Concert Showcase on September 18th. It’s a great opportunity to see the talent and variety of the two departments. The Department of Music continues their season with more than 30 concerts by faculty, ensembles and students. In addition we continue to bring in both established as well as rising stars in the professional music world as part of our Music Hall Artist Series. This year’s artists include, Xun Pan, pianist, Ana Vidovic, classical guitarist, Corey McKern, baritone and the LSU Faculty Jazz Trio. The Department of Theatre will present four productions this year starting off with the Tony-Award winning musical Pippin in our Studio space, followed by the holiday classic A Christmas Carol. The spring will bring to the stage the Moliere comedy, The Learned Ladies and the original High-School Musical — Grease!
For those of you who have journeyed with us over the last four years, you have seen the incredible growth — from talent to student numbers to the size of the audience. With that growth and the ongoing national acclaim of our students and faculty, we have established ourselves as a training ground for tomorrow’s great artists as well as the artistic center of the Northwest Florida. Join us as we continue to grow and further the arts within the region.
We’ll see you at the Center!
Sincerely,
Kyle Marrero & Jerre Brisky