Electronic
Newsletter
Volume 1 Issue 11
June 2003
Welcome to PSFA E-Connect, an electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA). We hope you enjoy this summary of SDSU and PSFA news. For detailed information, please click on the links provided or copy and paste into your web browser.
EVENTS CALENDAR
| Ribbon cutting ceremony 25th Street Corridor Song Rail project: "Crab Carillon" 25th and F Street, Golden Hill |
June 14th between 11:30 a.m. - noon |
| The Community Art Gallery The Art of Design: Habitat and Structure 232 Fifth Avenue |
May 8 - June 15th |
| The Community Art Gallery Digital State: New Work by SDSU Students and Faculty 232 Fifth Avenue |
July 9 - July 31st |
PSFA CELEBRATES 104th COMMENCEMENT
On Saturday, May 17th, the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Class of 2003 received their degrees and joined the ranks of the thousands of proud PSFA alums in the U.S. and abroad. Praising their accomplishments and offering inspiration for the next chapter in their lives were PSFA Outstanding Student Recipient Alyssa Jaynelle St. Jean and PSFA Distinguished Faculty Recipient Dr. Nan McDonald:
I may be the outstanding graduate, but we're all in the same shoes.
The safety net of college is gone. We are asking ourselves, 'Will I be
able to make it on my own?' 'Will I get that dream job?' 'Am I even ready
to work full time?' 'What's life going to be like when I move away from
all my college friends?' But the answers to these questions are within
you. Be proud of your accomplishments thus far; this is the fruit of your
sacrifices. You need noone to hold your hand. Walk forward; you can do
it. I know because I'm not just still standing, I'm standing here. Class
of 2003, you can do it.
Alyssa Jaynelle St. Jean, PSFA Outstanding Student
Today we are full of potential and optimism, a youthful energy that
can be transformed into powerful actions. There can be greater purpose
in our lives beyond our own material gain and comfort. We can indeed
make choices to change the world through our own constructive actions
designed to assist others to help themselves. I am reminded of an ancient
Sanskrit saying, 'All that is not given is lost.' This is the message
of service. In your bright faces, we see the future; in your lives we
pin our hopes for a better community, country, and world. On this, your
special day, we wish you the fulfillment of your dreams, the courage
to serve others,and the integrity to live a productive and responsible
life.
Dr. Nan McDonald, PSFA Distinguished Faculty Recipient
PSFA FACULTY/ARTISTS COLLABORATE ON MAJOR PUBLIC ART PROJECT
School of Art, Design and Art History faculty member and sculptor Roman de Salvo and School of Music and Dance Professor and composer Joe Waters are getting ready to "cut the ribbon" on their 25th Street Corridor Song Rail project, "Crab Carillon". Conceived and designed by de Salvo, the sculpture is a musical handrail spanning I-94 via the 25th Street overpass between the Sherman Heights and Golden Hill neighborhoods in San Diego. Consisting of 488 brass chimes, the handrail is tuned to play the notes of a melody. Individuals can play the song by dragging a pencil or stick across the chimes. Waters' original composition is a musical palindrome, so it plays the same melody in either direction.
The project was made for the City of San Diego through the City's Planning Department and the Commission for Arts and Culture. The ribbon cutting ceremony, at the northwest corner of 25th and F Street, is scheduled for Saturday, June 14th between 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM during the Golden Hill Street Fair. The "Crab Carillon" will be demonstrated and the public will be invited to play it.
OSCAR WINNING CINEMATOGRAPHER SHARES EXPERIENCES WITH TFM STUDENTS
PSFA's Television, Film and New Media (TFM) students had the special opportunity last spring to meet with award winning Cinematographer and SDSU alumnus Russell Carpenter. Carpenter shared his lifetime experiences and career challenges as TFM students and faculty viewed clips of his movies, including Titanic for which he won an Academy Award in 1997 for Best Cinematographer. At SDSU, Mr. Carpenter (BA '74) majored in English with a minor in Film. He credits his early success to KPBS, where he worked after graduating. KPBS provided "a nurturing environment," hands on experience and access to former KPBS employees working in Hollywood. His narrative credits include Charlie's Angels, The Indian in the Cupboard, True Lies, The Lady in White, Money Talks and The Negotiator.
MUSICAL MOSAICS SHOWCASES PSFA STUDENTS & FACULTY
Harpist Leah Meadows, one of
the student performers at
the Kiwanis concert
Over 180 friends and supporters of the PSFA School of Music and Dance gathered on May 4th, at the new Kroc Center Performing Arts Theatre for the "Musical Mosaics" concert showcasing the SDSU Student Ensemble Residency Program (STER), as well as School of Music & Dance faculty performers. The Kiwanis Clubs of San Diego and La Jolla have been sponsoring this annual event for over 19 years and have raised more than $100,000 to support PSFA's School of Music and Dance. This year's concert raised over $10,000. The (STER) Program is part of the SDSU Adam's Project, a unique professional training program that provides service to the San Diego community by performing in public schools, senior facilities and other outreach venues. Part of the Program's mission is to give student participants the necessary skills and experience to launch them into the professional world of music. The Adam's Project has been so successful that several performers have received invitations to perform internationally. This summer, the following artists are touring abroad: Jazz Express: Bolivia; The Brador Brass Quintet: Costa Rica, and Marian Liebowitz and Richard Thompson: Guatemala.
FORMER SPEECH COM MAJOR TAKES ON THE BIG APPLE
SDSU
Alumna, Heather Feldbaum, (1997 Speech Communication major) is taking on
the Big Apple and using her communication background in her current job
with "E! News Live." Heather interviews celebrities at movie
premieres, events and junkets. Some of the celebs include: Steven Spielberg,
Sly Stallone, Jackie Chan, Glenn Close, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Rock,
and Regis and Kelly. Heather began her career the summer before her senior
year as an intern for "E! News Daily". Within a year she progressed
to full time production assistant and was eventually promoted to producer
for E!'s travel shows "Wild On" and "Search Party." She
traveled the world and attended such events as The Kentucky Derby, Ford
World Model Search, and the Triple Crown surf competition. We'll "stay
tuned" for continued reports of Heather's success.
SDSU ALUMNA FINALIST IN STATE COIN CONTEST
Congratulations
to SDSU alumna and San Diego resident, Sarah Bailey who has been selected
as one of the five finalists in the California statewide coin contest.
Over 8,000 designs were submitted, each artist hoping that his/her design
would be chosen to represent California's commemorative quarter. Bailey,
a former art major, heard about the contest from her father, a Bay Area
resident who urged his daughter to enter. Together they came up with a
design that honored and represented both Northern and Southern California:
The Golden Gate Bridge and redwood trees for Northern California; the Hollywood
sign and palm trees for Southern. Governor Gray Davis will ultimately select
the winning commemorative quarter which is expected to debut in January
2005. Other finalists include artists from San Francisco, Los Angeles,
and another San Diego resident, Jonathan Louie.
MASTER'S CANDIDATE WINS NATIONAL AWARD
Brian
Eisenberg, a Master's student in composition from PSFA's School of Music
and Dance is the recipient of Downbeat Magazine's 26th Annual Student Music
Award for "Best Song". Downbeat Magazine is the leading
jazz magazine for jazz musicians, educators and aficionados. The title
of his winning song for jazz orchestra is "Sense in Gratitude".
Eisenberg discovered the competition on the Downbeat website while researching
articles on the history of the jazz orchestra for a research class last
fall. His jazz orchestra was formed last September and includes SDSU students
Gabriel Sundy, Brandon Jagow and Alex Panos, as well as alum Tim McMahon.
For information on future performances go to www.sibeliumusic.com.
SDSU ART GALLERY OPENS IN GASLAMP QUARTER
A
new exhibition space featuring the art and design work of SDSU faculty,
students and alumni opened May 8th in the heart of downtown San Diego.
The SDSU Community Gallery, located at 232 Fifth Avenue, gives artists
associated with San Diego State an off-campus showcase for their work,
while helping to revitalize one of the city's prime locations. There will
be two separate exhibitions at the gallery. The first is The Art of
Design: Habitat and Structure which runs from May 8 to June 15th.
The exhibit showcases original furniture, interior design and graphic design.
The second exhibition, entitled Digital State: New Work by SDSU Students
and Faculty is devoted to the art of computer graphics and interactive
techniques.
The SDSU Art Gallery was made possible through the generosity of S.D. Malkin Properties and The Hilton Gaslamp Quarter, who own the 3,700 square foot storefront and have agreed to lease it to SDSU without charge at least through July 31st. The SDSU Art Council has provided programming support for these initial exhibitions and the SDSU Foundation was instrumental in negotiating the lease. For detailed information on Gallery Schedule and Exhibitions, please contact 594-6511.
SDSU AWARD WINNING PRODUCTION CENTER EXPANDS
PROJECTS TO INCLUDE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY
The 13-year-old Production Center for Documentary and Drama at San Diego State
University has expanded its academic and outreach program to include "Community
Video", a service learning initiative that involves intermediate film and
television students in the creation of funded documentaries benefiting local
non-profit organizations. This prolific program was created by SDSU Assistant
Professor Mark Freeman to help ensure students continue to gain field experience
at a local level. There have been more than 20 funded community video projects
to date. Most recently, the Production Center has completed, Shadow Children:
Five Stories From the Street; a documentary about San Diego homeless youth.
For specific information about the Production Center's projects, please go to www.Theshortlist.com.
SDSU JAZZ ENSEMBLE RELEASES NEW CD
Under the direction of Bill Yeager, the SDSU Jazz Ensemble #1 has recently released their fourth CD/cassette Where's My Hasenpfeffer? (Blues for Bugs). This compilation includes five outstanding original compositions, as well as cover songs by John Coltrane, Thad Jones and Jerome Kerns. This is the first album to be produced in SDSU's new 32-track digital recording studio. The album has had worldwide distribution and is receiving significant radio play.
The SDSU Jazz Ensemble #1 has recorded three other CDs/cassettes that have received rave reviews, Don't Make Noise which received a Grammy nomination, Live at Montreux and Three Steps Ahead. In addition, the group has received international and national recognition as winners of the National Collegiate Jazz Competition and has had the honor of performing throughout Taiwan. In addition, the group has performed with legendary jazz musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, George Shearing, Diane Schuur and many more.
The band will be featured this summer at the Hawaii International Jazz Festival from July 24 - 27. Guest artist will be Japanese trumpet great, Tiger Okoshi.
CLASS NOTES
Did you get a promotion? Recently relocated? Personal news to
share? Send us your news and/or updated contact information to Class
Notes at econnect@mail.sdsu.edu.
GIVING BACK
Thank you to all our wonderful donors who are giving back to SDSU. Your gifts to PSFA and its Fund for Excellence greatly benefit our College and its programs. For those who prefer the convenience of on-line giving, the University's Web page is www.sdsu.edu/giving. Each gift will be recognized by on-line confirmation, plus a follow-up email message that can be retained for tax purposes. Also, if you are interested in estate planned giving, please visit our website at www.sdsugift.org. These sites are secured to protect personal information, including credit card numbers.