New Sampler Ticket Package Gives Access to the Arts

"She Stoops to Conquer," Directed by Maureen O’Reilly, Spring 2009; Photo by Eric Wainwright

New for the fall of 2009 - the College of Fine and Performing Arts is bringing you a way to get involved and support the college, all while receiving great discounts to a diverse selection of wonderful CFPA performances ... introducing the CFPA Arts Sampler!

“The CFPA Arts Sampler showcases performances by our students and visiting professional artists,” said Courtney Hiatt, Director of Marketing and Special Projects. “With the suspension of the PAC Series due to budget cuts [more], we wanted to make sure the community still had access to the arts at Western. There are an incredible amount of performance and lecture opportunities throughout the year and this sampler package provides discounted tickets to a variety of these events.”

As part of the CFPA Arts Sampler, patrons can choose to attend any three or more events; if tickets are purchased at the same time they will receive discounted entry into each. The options include theater performances, dance concerts and even the Sanford Piano Series.

WWU Wind Symphony, Directed by Christopher Bianco; Photo by David Scherrer

“Many of our patrons are not aware of all of the events offered through our academic programs. The CFPA Arts Sampler is a way for us to not only highlight our diverse arts programming, but it also presents a way for the public to interact with our students, connect with other arts advocates, and support the arts within our community.”

“It’s a more personalized program in that you can create your own series,” continued Hiatt. “We hope that the sampler encourages our audience to explore genres of art and topics that they may not have previously experienced.”

From behind the scenes, to what your eyes see, ears hear, and senses feel, much of the work presented in the sampler package is developed by students. This means each year the package offerings will change as students explore well-known productions, contemporary themes, and original student ideas.

“It is a very exciting time in the lives of our students,” elaborated Hiatt. “They are exploring their craft, discovering their strengths and sharing their passions with our community and with each other.”

“The academic realm is changing; for example, students are using a lot more technology and multimedia than they did only a few years ago. These changes in our culture and learning environment are starting to play into what students are devising, approaching and discussing.”

But with a lack of audiences, the performances can’t happen…and to that end the college has worked with a variety of campus services to make it simpler and more accessible for the Western community to come to campus. In particular, the process through which tickets can be purchased has been streamlined.

WWU Faculty Dance Concert, 2009; Photo by Mi-Rang Lim

“It’s easier than ever to get tickets to these shows,” said Jessie Phillips, Manager of the WWU Box Office. “For the past three or four years we have been selling tickets online; but at no extra charge you can call us up, and over the phone we can talk with you about your seating options. This way you can get the very best tickets available.”

“Anyone can also stop by the Box Office window (located just outside the Performing Arts Center on campus). We can go over all the ticket options in person…and we are even open on Saturdays so you can get up here without the hassles you may experience mid-week when classes are in session - you can even buy some individual tickets at the Community Food Co-op and Village Books.”

Phillips continued by noting the arts programs at Western can draw in the community from not only the greater Whatcom County area, but for bigger events especially, the audience can come from Canada, the corners of the state, and beyond.

“In future seasons we hope to offer a group event for all sampler patrons to allow our audience members to meet each other and share their passion for the arts,” concluded Hiatt when talking about what the future holds for the college. “There is a lot of potential for this program to grow over the coming years and we look forward to seeing it inspire our patrons and students while celebrating the impact of the arts on our lives.”

For more information visit the webpage for the CFPA Arts Sampler; and make sure to stop by, call, or visit the WWU Box Office online to buy your tickets.

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New CFPA Advisory Board to Connect with Community

What is a board of advisors? The dictionary tells us it is a small group of people which meets periodically to offer advice and direction to a company or organization. However, to Western’s College of Fine and Performing Arts, and their recent decision to compose just such a board, it also means a way to build a connection to the community.

“Quite simply, we want to bring the college and the community together; find a way we can support each other instead of competing for the same audiences,” explained Daniel Guyette, whose appointment as Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts this past spring has brought a new perspective. “By creating an advisory board, we hope to increase support and interaction.”

"For Handel," 1975, © Mark di Suvero; Photo by Laurie Rossman

“We’ve asked a good cross section of community members, some alumni, some not, to be part of this venture in hopes of gaining a very diverse perspective. We want to come up with new and innovative ideas on how we can do things even better. We want to educate everyone about our mission. We want to network through word of mouth … and we feel the establishment of a board of supporters is a great initial step in all these goals.”

The CFPA houses a talented and award winning selection of students and faculty, and wants to ensure that its events, outreach, and academic offerings are readily accessible to the public. In its first year the advisory board is sure to explore the topics of how to increase accessibility to campus, communicate new programs, and discover new ways to support their funding needs.

“Arts funding, like many areas, has seen dramatic cuts in support in recent years,” continued Dean Guyette when talking about the challenges he predicts in the near future. “So how do we go about redefining ourselves? How do we continue offering great opportunities for our emerging student artists? The answer is we are going to have to be more entrepreneurial in our thinking.”

Resourcefulness is trait of entrepreneurialism - and with the suspension of the popular PAC Series this past year due to funding, an opportunity for the community to come to campus and view nationally and internationally renowned artists was lost. However, the college has looked inside their operations for a solution.

This year the college is offering the CFPA Arts Sampler package which presents the chance to purchase discounted tickets to performances highlighting many of the great works by students and faculty, but also includes the popular Sanford Piano Series. While helping aspiring students gain experiences in front of audiences, these performances also offer the community insight into the talent of the college.

Another issue Dean Guyette pointed out is that at the college level, the arts don’t have the same opportunities to be awarded large national grants in the same way that other areas within the university do. In addition, while the arts face significant budget constraints in these economic times, it is important to note that there is still a large demand for cross trained artists, and statistics show the entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing segments out in the work force.

“We need the arts for our souls,” added Ann Kaiser, who recently accepted a place on the CFPA Board. “Bellingham is very fortunate because we have so many great artists, and such a wonderful art community; we’re just going to have to look in new and unexpected places to see how we will be able to share what we already do and love with everyone.”

As a supporter of the arts and longtime resident of Whatcom County, Ann’s contacts within the community are what make her an ideal member of the board which will shape the future of the CFPA. She hopes her experience working on a variety of other boards, as well as volunteering throughout the region, will provide an array of new connections.

“The university is such a resource,” added Ann. “Our goal should be to both provide students with more opportunities in the local theaters and studios, while also getting more Whatcom residents to the performances on campus.”

Dean Guyette expressed his gratitude to Ann, as well as Mike Morgan, Bob Monahan, Peter Rynders, Christopher Morrison, Anne Hildebrand, and Wilbur Kukes for their dedication to the College of Fine and Performing Arts, and their acceptance of a position on the advisory board. Through their passion for not just the arts, but also maintaining the highest level of education for artists at Western, he believes this group will help address the challenges the college will face in the coming years.

“What it all comes down to is that art doesn’t happen in private, and as we move into the future we want to bring more of the community to campus,” concluded Dean Guyette. “Artists need audiences – especially our student actors, singers and performers.”

For questions concerning the CFPA Board of Advisors, or to share ideas you may have on how you can improve the interactions between the college, its alumni, and the Western Community, please contact Dean Dan Guyette at dan.guyette@wwu.edu.

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Scholarships Help Students Thrive - What You Can Do!

What makes the College of Fine and Performing Arts special is its students; what makes the students outstanding are their talents and passions.

In today’s financial environment, the ability to thrive in college is about more than just dedication and a dream; a scholarship can be as essential to a student’s success as a textbook and the drive to learn. In the cases of Jacy Woodruff and Deborah Blakesley, two exceptional CFPA artists, their ability to flourish at Western is based off their selection as CFPA scholarship recipients. Scholarships, which can be funded through events like the upcoming Masked Ball in December, have given them the opportunity to expand their horizons and further their artistic careers.

Deborah Blakesley

Deborah Blakesley, Music

“I started performing when I was four, so I guess you could say music has always been a part of my life,” declared Deborah Blakesley, a CFPA Music major in her senior year whose ambition to become an opera singer brought her back to Bellingham where she grew up. “It’s really hard to describe why I want to be a vocal performer; it is a very competitive field, but I love it so I keep doing it.”

Admitting she isn’t your typical Western student since she is now in her 30’s, Deborah has returned to the classroom and stage to finish her degree at Western after taking some time off when she parted with the program at the University of Washington.

“There is just a big difference in performance opportunities; in a larger school you never even get the ability to be a lead. But I’ve been lucky enough to have just that chance here in the last two operas…it’s just amazing.”

With a variety of rehearsals and performances, on top of her full load of classes, Deborah explains that it’s almost impossible to find a job that can work around her busy schedule. “That’s why the chance to have a scholarship is so important. Finding ways to pay for school can be really hard at times, but having a source of support lets me take advantage of every opportunity to perform.”

Deborah believes that to keep music alive, we must assist those who make it. Contributing financially to the arts at WWU not only gives short-term returns of enjoyment, education and personal fulfillment, but also the long-term return of knowing you played your part to keep the arts an integral piece of human existence in your community and around the world.

“Today's WWU music student might be tomorrow's music success story,” added Deborah. “It has happened several times before with CFPA alumni like Heidi Grant Murphy, Aaron St. Clair Nicholson, and Erin Wall. Donating to the WWU music program, and to student scholarships, is an easy way to enrich your life and support the future of music.”

Jacy Woodruff

Jacy Woodruff, Theatre,/Spanish

“The faculty here at WWU are just very passionate - they’re so supportive and honest about the field we are in,” said Jacy Woodruff, a Western senior from Eastern Washington who came to Western partially because of the influence of her sister (a WWU grad herself). “I fund my own education, so being awarded a Dean’s Scholarship means I am able to take less out in loans. It frees up my future.”

“More than anything though, it’s about the honor; receiving a scholarship like this is a confirmation I have been doing a really good job.”

While the impacts of scholarships are so often only recognized for what they offer in the classroom, it can also reach further into a recipient’s life. In the case of Jacy, the ability to have some financial freedom has translated into her first opportunity to move into her own place. She explains that if it wasn’t for the support she receives through scholarships, she wouldn’t be able to take this next step in her life, let alone afford her education.

As a dual Spanish/Theatre major, Jacy also recognizes the unique culture that draws members of the Western theatre community together. “In the theatre department, I am on a first name basis with everyone. It’s a family, it’s home, and everyone is so wonderfully supportive. It’s very different than what I see in all my other classes.”

“We have a fabulous acting series,” Jacy continued. “But they can’t cast every single one of their students every time. Since I’ve been here, and with the troubles in the economy and getting funding, we have seen an impact in the number of shows we produce. It means that sometimes there might not be as many chances as there were a few years ago; and it can be frustrating.”

Jacy explains that one of the best ways to support the arts at Western, is to attend the arts at Western. By coming to the shows you are not only providing operating revenue for the department, but also the chance for students to perform in front of an audience to hone their craft.

“Come and see the shows! The audience is what makes a theatre a theatre, and we can’t better the program if we don’t sell out the seats.”

“Some people have said that theatre is a dying art…but as artists, it’s the reason we are going to college. We believe in it, and we are giving it our all, putting on some great performances.”

Masked Ball - How You Can Support Scholarships

One way to give back to the students of the College of Fine and Performing Arts (while having a lot of fun in the process) is by attending the upcoming Masked Ball at The Majestic in Bellingham. Set to take place on December 11th, 2009, the event will feature live music presented by the WWU Department of Music, dance performances by members of the CFPA, and the opportunity for guests to demonstrate their own dancing skills out on the floor.

“One of the really wonderful things we are incorporating is that we will have masks created by CFPA students,” said Courtney Hiatt, Director of Marketing and Special Projects. “These masks will be auctioned off at the event and all the revenue we raise will be going towards student scholarships.”

To find out more about the Masked Ball please contact Courtney Hiatt at courtney.hiatt@wwu.edu, or visit the Masked Ball webpage for the latest details."

To learn about how you can support College of Fine and Performing Arts scholarships, contact the CFPA Director of Development, Sonja Chorba, at sonja.chorba@wwu.edu or visit us online.

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Margaretha Bootsma, "Stop," mixed media on paper, Courtesy of Linda Hodges Gallery, Seattle

Western Gallery: New Grant Funds Traveling Exhibition

It’s a multi-media, multi-venue exhibition investigating how artists are responding to the natural, diverse Pacific Northwest in the context of a rapidly changing environment. This exploratory exhibition of the Western Gallery represents a unique opportunity to share reflections with galleries up and down the West Coast on a topic that strikes at WWU’s core.

“I’ve had the idea for this exhibit in my head for years; the way artists interact with their environment.” said Dr. Sarah Clark-Langager, Director of the Western Gallery, WWU’s 4,380 square foot exhibition space for the arts.

“But it always got pushed to the back of the drawer; I kept telling myself I was going to get to it, but the timing of everything never seemed right.” “But then I had a conversation with an area artist. We talked about the idea of environmental art, and how it was a uniquely relevant subject…and it brought this concept back into my mind. I discussed it with a few other galleries in the area to get their feedback, and in particular John Olbrantz, Director of the Halle Ford Museum at Willamette University who I have continued to work with on this project, and it really came down to trying to find a way to get the funding. I knew there was this NEA grant, I knew we had a great idea, so the decision was just made to do it and see where we ended up.”

In response to the proposal Dr. Clark-Langager put together, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded the Western Gallery partial funding in the amount of $15,000 to support a traveling exhibition which will feature works in the traditional media of painting, sculpture, photography, and other crafts that are easily presented in a gallery setting. The exhibit is tentatively titled Artists Speak: Environmental Issues.

Susan Robb, "Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment," 2006, mixed media, Courtesy of artist

“We consider ourselves very lucky,” elaborated Dr. Clark-Langager when talking about why she believes the Western Gallery was chosen to receive the grant. “But it really is a very good idea. The NEA looks at the bigger picture, they look at things like what the university has done as a whole; we already receive federal money for our work in the sciences, and we have Huxley College which deals with issues of environmentalism every day.”

“Because of the university’s connection to the environmental sciences through Huxley, it only seemed natural to approach that college and get their input on the top issues that should be addressed …we’ve ended up in a place where we are now very lucky to have William Dietrich participating as well.”

William Dietrich, who when working at The Seattle Times was part of a four-person team that won a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, continues his work today as an author and instructor at Western in the discipline of environmental journalism. “Artists have something significant to say,” explained William Dietrich, “but in a different way than scientists.”

“This exhibit is an attempt to bring art into the science of environmentalism,” William Dietrich continued. “Art can be intriguing, innovative and different; I will be writing an essay that will go along with the catalog which will serve as a background piece on the science behind why these topics are even coming up.”

Another unique aspect to this venture is that it represents a rare opportunity for the Western Gallery to be the driving force behind a traveling exhibit. While the amount of back-office work involved in organizing any exhibit is considerable; add the dynamic of moving that show from venue to venue, and the task becomes exponentially more complex.

In addition to the selection of the actual art that will encompass the show, a process which involves visiting numerous galleries throughout the area and corresponding with a variety of artists, the real work begins when the event leaves the boundaries of its home walls. For every piece borrowed form an artist there has to be a paper trail; there is a loan form, condition reports, shipping arrangements…and in the case of the Western Gallery, and their staff of only two, it can be a daunting task.

“As far as the traveling aspect of the show, it’s a real rarity for us,” added Dr. Clark-Langager. “We are extremely limited compared to the other galleries we compete with because we only have two staff members, myself and Paul Brower who is our Museum and Preservation Specialist. We depend on our gallery interns a great deal.”

“Our hope is the catalog of art in the exhibit will be sent by this December, and the show is scheduled to run here at Western from April 12 through May 29. As of right now, when it leaves it will go to Willamette University in Oregon, probably Boise, and hopefully even the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno as well…they have a center for arts in the environment, so it would be a perfect match of interests.”

But in order for the exhibition to tour, additional funds must be raised. While the NEA grant helps fund the exhibit, it doesn’t cover all the costs. To ensure this opportunity to share artist’s interpretations of the environment becomes a reality, the Western Gallery has to find a way to match the funds already awarded…and the best way for that to happen is through fundraising and donations. While there may be a few other avenues to explore, Dr. Clark-Langager hopes individuals interested in supporting this topic step forward before December so their efforts can be included in the catalog.

“I think everyone should be very proud of what we are accomplishing with this exhibit, from the current supporters of the College of Fine and Performing Arts, to the rest of the Bellingham community.” concluded Dr. Clark-Langager. “Not only did we receive this grant in the face of so much competition in these tough economic times, but environmentalism is a very hot topic and we are addressing it head on.”

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