News

Side by side artworks made of woven thread: on the left, a vertically rectangular patterned tapestry; on the right, threads with the same pattern enclose three wood pegs attached to a triangular wood block.
 Professor Seiko Purdue held and exhibition at Studio Kura in Fukuoka, Kyushu island, Japan, featuring a new installation piece.

the cast of the WWU production of The Anonymous Lover
 The May 2024 production of "The Anonymous Lover" by WWU Opera garnered a tie for second place in Division II in the National Opera Association's national opera production competition. "Our students continue to blow me away," says director Heather Dudenbostel. "I’m so happy for their work to be recognized in this way!"

Lainie Pennington dances with a big smile in front of a grove of tall trees
 Lainie Pennington, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance graduate from Western, tells us about her recent accomplishments with Margaret Jenkins Dance Company - and a day in the life of a dancer.

painting framed by lush grape leaves and a glass of spilled wine: the lower half of a woman's face sensually eating grapes that are hanging from the vine
 Designer Justene Merriman describes how they put together the image for the play Hurricane Diane, used in promotions for the play.

Alison Lührs leans a forearm against a metal structure, laughing joyfully with a hand on her hip. A work badge hangs from her pants side pocket
 WWU Theatre alumna worked on storytelling for Destiny 2, Magic, Baldur’s Gate 3, and others

a group of student percussionists and their teachers pose in the evening on a street in Spain
 The Western Washington University Percussion Ensemble performed at the 2024 Edeta Arts International Percussion Festival in Lliria, Spain this summer. The Percussion Ensemble is a uniquely collaborative, welcoming, and supportive group, combining music majors and non-majors from all over campus to share a space for music making.

Mehrdad Gholami from the shoulders up, with a straight face, holding a flute
 This year's Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) invested $97,500 in 65 Washington State artists. Among them is a gem at Western: Assistant Professor of Flute and Woodwinds Area Coordinator, Mehrdad Gholami.

a curtain of dark strings hangs from the ceiling and puddles onto the floor in purposeful swirling shapes and patterns in the center of a gallery, surrounded by paintings on a wall
 After winning Juror's Choice Award from the Whatcom Museum last year, BFA Studio Art alumna Renee Noelle Cheesman is a proudly featured Bellingham artist at the Cordata Gallery.

a spidery sculpture of spindly metal against a twilight sky
 Study in NYC with WWU Art faculty! Immerse yourself in the study of art, and get credit towards your degree. Come to the info session on Thursday, November 14 at noon. Open to all majors and no prerequisites.

hazy panorama of florence italy rooftops
 SOUND.OUT.RADIO is back and we’re worldwide broadcasting this week from Florence, Italy, with the first of 5 segments featuring original soundscapes and fresh tracks by Western's own artists, living and learning abroad with Professors Cara Jaye and Sasha Petrenko, part of Arts Italy Global Learning 2024.

a grid of multicolored hand printed squares
 Auditions for "L’amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover)", by Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges, will be held December 4, 2023.

Jeff Jewell smiles and points at a large landscape photo that he holds up to show students
 Two Art classes took a field trip to tour exhibitions, archives, and visit with professionals from their field of study at the Whatcom Museum. Those professionals also happen to be Western alumni and long time treasures of the city of Bellingham, making the experience even more enriching.

an old houseboat floating in calm water near a forested shore
 "The Storyteller" by Sara Jean Accuardi is a beautifully heart-breaking story set against a magical space where anything can happen at the whim of The Lady, who weaves the story to life in front of the audience quite imperfectly to create a tale of survival, resilience, and love that could (should?) have been. Sign up to audition by Friday, November 1 at 3 p.m.

a cubist painting of the monster Caliban of Shakespeare's The Tempest. The monster is very angular, its body parts largely assembled of shaded triangles.
 "Untitled Tempest" will be a devised production inspired by/responding to William Shakespeare’s "The Tempest." "Untitled Tempest" will be created by Christina Gutierrez-Dennehy alongside members of the production team and 8-10 actors. Register to audition by October 18 at 3 p.m. to join this unique production!

A young person in a suit coat and shirt with open collar
 Nehemiah Jones is the third in a succession of WWU student composers who have been selected to collaborate in the Seattle Opera's Jane Lang Davis Creation Lab, formed in 2020 to present new opera productions by local composers and librettists.

an artist with their hand on their chin smiles at you. They hold two small paint brushes.
 Fiber arts and painting fans have two opportunities to see the work of Western alum Lena Miltimore in September and October. Her work is at the Inn at Lynden through September 28, and will be featured at Altitude 15 on October 4 and 5 during Olympia Arts Walk. Miltimore graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art.

chamber musicians
 Music faculty members Pat Nelson, bassoon, and Jennifer Weeks, oboe, are starting their third year presenting professional chamber music at the beautiful Hotel Leo in downtown Bellingham. The Bellingham Chamber Music Society concert series provides regional musicians a place to demonstrate their skills and share their love of chamber music.

a young person seated at a desk in a classroom regards you
 Dancer Karen Kao graduated from Western with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in Summer of 2024. After studying and dancing on the West coast for five years, she looked for opportunities on the East coast to further her dance career. Karen describes her experience auditioning for the company Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers ("KYL/D") in Philadelphia, and what it's been like starting work with them.

3 older women in long red dresses sitting on individual benches in a front to back line. On either side, a younger woman in a knee-length red dress floats in the air above bench level.
 Kuntz and Company artists and community members - including several Western faculty, staff and alumni - collaborate to bring a new dance performance "WAITING" to the Firehouse Arts and Events Center October 3-6th.

animals peer at you from a hazy jungle painting
 Meet Diane, a permaculture gardener dripping with butch charm. She’s got supernatural abilities owing to her identity – the Greek God Dionysius – and she’s returned to the modern world to gather mortal followers and restore the earth to its natural state. Auditions for Madeline George's "Hurricane Diane" are September 28. Sign up now!

actors workshop a play
 In the summer of 2024, Western's Department of Theatre and Dance will once again partner with Seattle Children's Theatre to create a live theatre workshop they're calling "Summer Test Kitchen." Theatre professionals, students, and faculty members will work together to develop two pieces by SCT's Artistic Director Idris Goodwin.

full frame shot of rich, natural colors of dyed yarn, displayed side by side in stripes of loose thread.
 This summer, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded a project stipend to Art History Professor Jacqueline Witkowski for her research and writing on textile and fiber art in South America since 1964.

a collage style illustration of old fashioned scales weighted on either side with saintly figures and butterflies. A hummingbird perches on top.
 A who's-who of Western faculty, staff, alums, and students are all working together to create the 2024 season of Fairhaven Summer Repertory Theatre which will offer live theatre six nights a week from June 25 through July 21 at the FireHouse Arts and Events Center in Fairhaven, WA.

detail of loose yarn and the end of a yarn-wrapped knitting needle resting on a knitted background
 This summer, join artist Kate Sechrist to learn Fibers and Fabrics in Art 160. This course is open to non-majors, community members, and visiting students.

a dancer in a patterned shirt hold a pose
 WWU Dance Instructor Ethan Rome's piece "The Fell Tree Whispers Beyond the Forest" will be featured at the Seattle International Dance Festival on June 11. The piece originally premiered at the 2024 Dance in Concert performance at Western.

artwork of a young girl and adult man holding a large fish. A sign reads SuperMall: Great Outdoors Court
 Geheim Gallery featured the exhibition Green River, by Art BFA alumna Elly Minagawa. If you missed it, images from the exhibition are still viewable and for sale on the gallery website.

Angular typography covered by by blocks with text outline the summer design courses
 Check out this summer lineup! All of this summer's Design courses are open to non-majors and community members.

a group of Art History students pose for a photo betwwen to spiralling balloon arches
 Professors Jackie Witkowski and Julia Sapin took eight Art History students to Seattle on May 17 to present at the University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium. The students gave excellent papers, inspiring many questions and comments. It was a fantastic day exemplifying the intellectual rigor of our students and their research.

window glass reflects bricks, trees, buildings, and students on a campus
 Each spring, Western Washington University hosts an annual, week-long celebration of outstanding student research and creative works, called "Scholar's Week." Art History students have created works of original scholarship which they will present as displays, individual presentations, and panel discussions on Thursday, May 16 from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Fine Arts 232. The presentations are free and open to the public.

actor in tights, sportcoat and clownish mask leaps into the air
 Auditions for "Masks Play! II Keep Playing!" are May 18. A devised work using the Six Basic Emotions masks and traditional Commedia masks, techniques and characters, the cast of "Masks Play! II Keep Playing!" will collectively devise original short scenarios that will be improvised in performances in Fall 2024.

six design students pose holding trophies
 Western Washington University’s Department of Design is excited to announce that Bachelor of Fine Arts students Cam Gibb, Elliot Fogarty, Elsa Haddock, Owen Paznokas, Jade Blue, and Taylor Truong all won American Advertising Awards. All students won in the category: Elements Of Advertising–Film, Video & Sound–Animation or Special Effects.

two actors in sill masks and outfits
 As a public university, Western is committed to being accessible and affordable to any student who wants to pursue higher education. We believe deeply that our students’ unique experiences and backgrounds are their greatest strengths—it’s what makes our community of inclusive teaching and learning thrive. Your support makes all the difference.

people work to develop a play reading
 This is an excellent opportunity to work with professional artists from Seattle, make connections with the leadership of Seattle Children’s Theatre, gain experience developing new work, and get paid for your contribution! We hope you will submit an application.

molded textile art installation that looks like curious mountain peaks floating in or above a fog.
 See Seiko Purdue's installation of fibers and natural dyes at Queen, a unique exhibition space that is the same dimension as a queen-sized bed.

Interior of an art gallery
 Hudson's work delves into the intricate relationship between humans and their environment, evoking a powerful sense of interconnectivity through her meticulous creations using carefully curated cuttings.

a oval painting of a patch of bog
 Cynthia Camlin’s latest work draws inspiration from sites in the coastal Southeast where she grew up. The paintings in "BOG" call attention to the unique ecosystems called Carolina Bays. These oval-shaped bogs, shallow lakes and savannas once numbered in the thousands: a vast pattern of oval depressions, aligned northwest to southeast.

a group of students and staff in a well-apointed conference room
 Every year, Professor of Art History Julia Sapin takes the capstone Art History 475 students to Seattle to meet with alumni. This year was extra special: they gathered at Chihuly Garden and Glass (CGG) on Monday, April 15.

two artists at a residency at Shannon Point Marine Center
 Continuing students in Art Studio and Art Education majors are invited to apply for two artist residencies this summer at Western's Shannon Point Marine Center (SMPC) located in Anacortes, WA. The residency will support two students who are interested in communicating marine science and/or climate change issues through their creative work.

a person sitting in an empty parking lot, blindfolded
 The Department of Art and Art History and Fairhaven College present a lecture by Robert Yerachmiel Sniderman on Wednesday, April 17 at 5:00 to 6:00 pm in Miller Hall room 152.

the cover of a book called Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects
  A compelling exploration of trans art, activism, and resistance. Spanning over four centuries, this volume brings together a wide-ranging selection of artworks and artifacts that highlight the under-recognized histories of trans and gender-nonconforming communities.

two dancers with arms entwined writhe about a single chair
 Dance faculty Pam Kuntz's humorous duet "Is This Seat Taken?" was awarded a "Gala Selection" for the festival by the adjudicators at the American College Dance Association Conference in Utah. Attendees also enjoyed a surprise blizzard.

a group of students pose for a photo on their trip to New York City. They are on a bridge with the cables nearby and the skyline behind.
 Join us on March 13 at 6 p.m. to learn more about our Global Study trip to NYC this summer!

abstract screen print with organic pastel shapes overlaid with x-rayed plastic trash
 Associate Professor of Printmaking Lisa Turner opened two solo exhibitions early in 2024. Her exhibition "Bodily Impressions” ran through January 26 at the Thompson Gallery of Furman University. The exhibition is now on display through February at Tennessee Tech in the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery.

Bearded Trey McLaughlin is smiling at you. His backward ball cap perches on his head.
 Western is thrilled to announce that Trey McLaughlin, a renowned gospel singer, composer, and director, will be visiting the campus for a week-long residence this February.

still from an 8 mm reel, person at a lake
 Taught by Dana Ollestad, this three-week intensive covers the principles of manual motion picture filmmaking against the backdrop of understanding the contemporary socio-political and capital fascination with nostalgia, resulting in a deeper awareness of where these images come from, how they are made, and the way they are used to shape and market in contemporary society.

side by side textured canvases with an organic grid pattern and detailed rectalinear abstract shapes within the grid.
 Professor of Art Cara Jaye is one of ten artists featured in "Fibonacci Footprint," an exhibition at Bellevue College Gallery Space exploring global warming through paintings, sculpture, installation, and video. The exhibition runs February 9 through April 11.

students pose for a photo on a bridge in italy
 Arts of Italy is an intensive studio course that takes place in central and northern Italy. In this class we will explore Italian art and culture focusing on the arts and architecture in Florence, Tuscany, and Venice.

Ashley Mask wears glasses and is smiling
 Ashley Mask's article "Mentoring Up, Down, and Sideways: Reciprocity and Care in the Museum Education Field" offers new frameworks for reconsidering the role of mentoring in the museum education field; both for newcomers and for museum professionals with many years of experience.

a pair of hands gently remove a thin stencil from a piece of fabric on a table
 “Katazome: Japanese textile art from the US (Pacific Northwest)” curated by Seiko Atsuta Purdue, is an extension of the winter 2023 exhibition at the Whatcom Museum. The Italian exhibition is open from December 1 through 23 at at the Textile Museum of Chieri in Turin, Italy.

hundreds of strands of white rope spill from the ceiling to pool and puddle on the floor like water
 Renee Noelle Cheesman, who graduated from Western in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, was awarded Third Prize in the juried exhibition "Acts of Healing and Repair" at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham.

four art students waiting for the subway
 Get ready for MetroArtAccess: NYC 2024! Join the info session on Wednesday, January 24 for the Study Abroad details.

3D grid pattern of lines forming an illusion of 3 intersecting cubes
 Western students in the Design program got to work on projects with big name professional Multimedia Designer Peter Clark, AKA Enternull.

a group of about 20 people pose for a photo
 Students from Pam Kuntz's "Dance for people with Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders" class at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center collaborated with Western students in "Choreography I" to create original movement.

The Bellingham flag projected onto the Herald building at night
 As part of the First Fridays Art Walk for this month, Western's Design students worked with Design Alumni to project their designs onto the side of the Herald building.

4 coffee cups in a row with various design patterns akin to wrapping paper, and the Starbucks logo
 This year's holiday cups from Starbucks "Share the Joy" thanks to Western Design Alumna Bridget Shilling.

cake topper depicting a couple kissing with the words "Mrs" and "Mrs" on either side.
 Auditions for Bekah Brunstetter's play "The Cake" are Friday, January 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. Directed by Eva Gil. Register to audition by Thursday, January 11 at 5 p.m.

a shadowed figure slumps in a darkened hall from a dream. A light appears through a door, a mysterious fluff covers the floor.
 Auditions for The Duchess of Malfi will be held on Wednesday, January 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in room 399 in the Performing Arts Center. Please come prepared with two contrasting monologues in verse or heightened language (think Shakespeare, Marlowe, Greek tragedy, etc). Total audition time should not exceed 3 minutes.

aerial view of campus, seen from the West
 The College of Fine and Performing Arts was incorporated in 1976 thanks to a group of faculty, a year before Western became a university.

Series of images each depicting densely packed wiggly lines that show waterflow on bodies of land
 Western's Art faculty, students, and art and climate scholars from throughout the Puget Sound region have come together to present an exhibition and symposium.

side by side textured canvases with an organic grid pattern and detailed rectalinear abstract shapes within the grid.
 Recent Studio Art graduate Tesla Kawakami, Professor Cara Jaye, and Associate Professor Sasha Petrenko are selected artists among 20 whose work is featured in the Museum of Northwest Art's "Surge 2023." "Surge: Mapping Transition, Displacement, and Agency in Times of Climate Change" is an exhibition drawing attention to climate change and its tangible effects on the Northwest’s Coastal communities.

a book cover depicting small robots made of bits of discarded hardware. one robot leads the others through a museum.
 Ashley Mask, Assistant Professor of Art & Museum Education authored a chapter in "A New Role for Museum Educators." Mask's contribution centers the stories of three novice art museum educators in order to provoke and produce new ways of understanding how novice art museum educators find their way in the field.

Earth-colored cartoonish laughing mask, with a big nose and empty eye sockets
 Auditions for "Masks Play!" are November 4. A devised work using the Six Basic Emotions masks and traditional Commedia masks, techniques and characters, the cast of "Masks Play!" will collectively devise original short scenarios that will be improvised in performances in February 2024.

 The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) report on Western Washington University shows that arts alumni are satisfied with their education and careers, and recommend the experience.

Srivani Jade holding a long Indian string instrument, looking up with a calm, blissful expression
 Open to all students, performer Srivani Jade presents interactive multicultural learning opportunities on Friday, November 17th. This follows a Musicultural Series concert by the Srivani Jade Ensemble the evening before.

surreal painting in bright colors suggestive of craters, mineral crystals, and outer space
 “Asteroid Autopsy” is a series of gouache paintings by Studio Art faculty member Christopher Hartshorne that suggest sci-fi narratives through alien forms and ambiguous text. The paintings are on view for the month of October during Brazen Shop + Studio hours, Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

a dancer tossing her right arm in the air like she is grooving at a supa cool techno club, wearing a shiny blue metallic halter top and eyeshadow that just won't STOP glimmering under the lights
 Advanced choreography students will be auditioning for their pieces in "Winter Dances" performed on the Mainstage Jan 25 through 27, 2024.

Two people in a dim space dance intimately. We can only see the face of one person, advanced in age.
 Inspired by the poetry of Jessica Ardis and Helen Scholtz's photographs of water, eighteen dancers ages 19 to 79, under the direction of Pam Kuntz, have created TIDAL - a piece about water...or "a piece about influence and connection, inevitability and change." The work is set to an original sound score by WWU composition professor Charles Halka.

a glass enclosed kiosk with a purple fortune teller sits at the end of a twilit alley in Lyon France
 Auditions for "Ride the Cyclone" will be held on Saturday, September 30. "Ride the Cyclone" is a musical and the second installment in Jacob Richmond’s “Uranium Teen Scream Trilogy.” In this hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster.

Dancers in a studio in Italy
 Five Western Washington University dance students and three Western faculty joined dancers from Italy, Chile, and Colombia for an intensive residency in Arezzo, Italy. The students and faculty are part of a research program exploring dance and somatic practices called "Moving environment."

Henry Jackson-Spieker works with molten glass
 The University of Washington School of Art, Art History, and Design announced the appointment of Western alum Henry Jackson-Spieker as assistant professor in the Division of Art. Jackson-Spieker will begin teaching in the Fall of 2023 as the Dale Chihuly Endowed Chair of Glass.

a man in a suit looks at us through an empty picture frame
 "Misconceptions" is the story of a woman who dares to search for answers "wherever they take her." It is a dramatic inquiry into the performance of fact and fiction; an exploration of how verbatim theater, performance art, and magical realism illuminate reality. This is Rich's third time performing with Blessed Unrest, along with "Lying" (2014) and "The Snow Queen" (2017). Rich is now an associate member of the company. Photos by Maria Baranova Photography

two zany cartoon characters pilot an out-of-control flying saucer
 Daniel Geiszler, Charlotte Offin, and Montana Siddle have each won a Student Addy for the American Advertising Awards, Seattle, 2022. Geiszler and Offin won in the category: Elements of Advertising, Animation or Special Effects. Siddle won in the category: Sales & Marketing, Sales Promotion.

DJ spins records. Text overlay with hip-hop related terms
 This online course executes a survey of Hip-Hop through the study of the major works of Hip-Hop Music's most influential artists. The course will cover the history, culture and influence of the art form; from the beginning as a Black inner-city youth movement of the early 1970's to a major popular culture center in the early 21st century.

Ella Fiztgerald sings into a microphone in a black and white historical photo
 Explore the music that shaped the 20th century. Jazz is an iconic, originally American artform. Jazz 202 is offered online asynchronous in Summer 2023 at Western Washington University.

a person molds a clay urn on a pottery wheel
 The best part of working with ceramics at Western Washington University, according to studio art majors and ceramics club members Gabe Rubanowitz and Kasey Maniulit, isn’t its expansive nature or even the act of creating. Rather, it’s getting to work with Ryan Kelly, the club’s academic advisor. Read more of this story by Kumiko Juker of The Front.

Yellow background with a violet silhouette of a flapper in a cloche, a cigarette holder held in one hand.
 Register by May 27 at 5 p.m. to audition for Noel Coward's "Hay Fever," directed by Evan Mueller. Auditions are open to all Western students.

a person with antlers held to their head crouches with another person sitting on them.
 Video auditions for “The Snow Queen” due May 8. Submit your audition now!

a small gallery with blue light behind white walls
 The B_Gallery is seeking exhibition proposals for Fall 2023. Applications are due May 20. For complete application instructions and to submit, visit the B_Gallery website.

dancer Lainie Pennington
 Lainie Pennington’s choreographed work “All the Old Familiar Places” was selected for the prestigious Gala concert at the American College Dance Association (“ACDA”) Festival in Salt Lake City. Lainie's piece was also one of the only undergraduate student pieces chosen for the concert, which otherwise featured graduate students, faculty and guest artists.

floor to ceiling acrylic rods refract prismatic light throughout the warehouse-like room
 In his exhibition Interstitial Volume, Seattle-based artist Henry Jackson-Spieker presents a series of installations that uniquely integrate themselves into the studio’s architecture.

black and white photo of an old roller coaster
 Michelle Bates, author of Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity joins us for an exclusive interview where we ask her about her experience with Holga, writing her book, personal and professional photography and for advice to photography students.

a hula leader kneeling in a dance pose on the grass extending one arm in a graceful gesture
 Guest Artist Toni Pasion will be choreographing for this spring's "Dance in Concert." Come to the auditions on Tuesday, January 31 at 6 p.m. at the Commissary Studios at Western.

a painting of a horse by an indigenous artist. Stylistically similar to paleolithic drawings. Red splashes evoke erupting wounds. "war is heck" written on it.
 The Western Gallery on the campus of Western Washington University presents “Arbitrary Borders: Works by artists of color in Washington’s State Art Collection” from January 5 through March 17, 2023.

diaphonous fabric panels with delicate images of a partially defoliated maple tree
 Whatcom Museum’s exhibition “Katazome Today: Migrations of a Japanese Art” presents contemporary visions of a unique and historically significant Japanese textile-dyeing process. The exhibition is co-curated by Seiko A. Purdue, Professor in Fibers/Fabrics and Western alum Amy Chaloupka, Curator of Art at the Whatcom Museum.

a person smiling broadly holds a blue ceramic olla near their head. The jug is blue and decorated with poi.
 When an injury took WWU Women's Basketball player Dani Iwami off the courts, her student journey took an interesting turn. Along the way she connected with Jennifer Anable and Ryan Kelly of WWU Art & Art History and discovered a passion she didn't know she had.

An aged black and white snapshot of ranks of barracks buildings against steep, aired snowcapped mountains.
 On Thursday, December 1 at 5 p.m. the Western Gallery presents "Resistance & Resiliency: Accounts from Japanese American Incarceration Camps of WWII." This event welcomes two representatives of Nikkei Northwest, Fumio Otsu and Gail Kuromiya, to speak about the Japanese Incarceration Camps of World War II.

A large artwork in the window of a shop shows medical illustrations juxtaposed with plastic consumer items.
 Associate Art Professor Lisa Turner's work "Plastic Bodies" is on display until January 30, 2023 at 345 Boren Ave N. in Seattle as part of Shunpike's Storefront Program.

a young woman leans her head on the knee of a young man. There is a fir tree behind them.
 The WWU spring 2022 opera production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Carlisle Floyd’s Slow Dusk was awarded Second Place in Division II of the National Opera Association’s Opera Production Competition. This is the principal opera competition for university and conservatory programs across the United States.

Savannah LeCornu wrapped in a tribal blanket, smiling
 Savannah LeCornu, WWU alumna, ’14, brings multiple talents to Western and the surrounding community. She works on Theatre productions at WWU and Mt Baker Theatre, and her main focus of creating diverse art that is special to her indigenous relatives and that anyone can afford to enjoy.

glass atrium of the Western Gallery
 We are currently looking for guest DJs, designers, artists, musicians and sound designers to become part of our all volunteer army of sonic liberation.

a dancer in a wheelchair leans the chair to the side onto one set of wheels while the dancers arms are extended in the opposite direction in a curve.
 WWU Dance is partnering with Kuntz and Company to present "Documenting Grace: a Film Series," beginning Sunday, November 13. The series of six films was selected to portray dance in its power to give voice to people through movement.

a ceramic turkey with a cartoonishly vacant expression. or maybe it is suprised.
 Bellingham's Circa Pottery hosts the work of Art & Art History's Ryan Kelly for the Friday, November 4 ArtWalk. Find the alley entrance between Commercial and Cornwall.

a pinwheel shaped painting with many colors
 BFA Studio Art alum Debbi Kenote's works appear in five upcoming or current exhibitions in Toronto, Beijing, Oakland, Connecticut, and Seattle. Image: Debbi Kenote, Anemone, 2022, Acrylic on dyed canvas over shaped stretcher bar, 25 x 25 in. (63.5 x 63.5 cm)

an artist reclines on a stoop or patio in an urban environment
 "Being vulnerable and showing up as my true self and having others recognize that and accept me fully for who I am makes me feel liberated."

a woman stands in front of a brightly painted mural of Mexican folk dancers
 At 14 feet tall and 63 feet wide, "Root to Rise" is the biggest painting Christen Mattix has ever created, although she did knit a rope of yarn from Bellingham's South Hill to Bellingham Bay — a feat that took more than three years.

a concert hall seating area
 A brief guide to help ensure you and your fellow audience members have the best experience possible.

a shadowy night time street scene punctuated by bring splashes of neon. A silhouette of a couple recedes into the distance of the street.
 Sign up by November 11 to audition for "Street Scene" - an American Opera by Kurt Weill and Langston Hughes - jointly staged by Music, Theatre, and Dance.

watercolor image of a person dead or sleeping with an inky mass of black hair spreading like moss or roots over an old frame building with flaking wooden shingles.
 Sign up by 10 p.m. on October 21 to audition for "what the Gods gave me," written by WWU alum Eryn Elyse McVay.

two college students stand in front of a brick wall.
 Western Washington University’s Department of Design is proud to announce that 2022 graduates, Isabel Barni, Jacqueline Karis, Sybil Roberts, Joshua Shinoda, Charlie Sperry, Mavis Yao, and current seniors, Charlotte Offin and Daniel Geiszler, have won awards for their projects.

a french horn
 Music ensemble auditions are OPEN - September 19 and 20. Get in touch with us to learn more!

a sextet of small musician figurines sit on a driftwood log near a lake with mountains behind
 "We spent the last year working on our website, our logo, gathering musicians, dreaming up our first season, finding a new home."

a dancer in a green outfit sits in a director's chair on a video production set
 Macklemore is rocking center stage but we’re all eyes for alum and 2021-2022 WWU Hip-Hop faculty Cieon White dancing in the newly released video.

a person stands in front of a very large colorful mural on an exterior building wall
 Color perception is both nature and nurture. Take blue: In psychological terms, our response to blue evokes tranquility, serenity, and safety. Nowadays these associations are used purposefully by many financial institutions in their logos. And yet, there’s “feeling blue.”

Carly Cloward has a blue shirt, glasses, and long light brown hair. Carly is smiling.
 Carly Cloward has been an incredible leader in Theatre as she participated in both departmental productions as well as student clubs and community performances, performing and writing works for Plays4Us, regularly volunteering to direct scenes outside of her own course work, and staying active in STP and Dead Parrots Society rehearsals and shows.

Emma Rose DeSantis appears to be stuck to a wall by her shoulder and neck, but it's a visual trick because the image is rotated 90 degrees on pupose, and she's really in a shoulder stand on the floor. The wall is blue, her short dress is burgundy.
 Congratulations to our Outstanding Graduates from the College of Fine and Performing Arts, including: Emma Rose DeSantis, Outstanding Graduate of Dance, who worked with contemporary dance theatre Whyteberg based in LA for her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance Capstone performance.

Side-by-side photos of two very similar looking people. The one on the left is Alex, who holds a trumpet. The one on the right is Jordan, who holds a saxophone.
 In four short years, Alex made incredible improvements as a musical performer; Jordan brought an infectious sense of enthusiasm and eagerness to learn to the classroom, to performance ensembles, and to the offices of his professors.

Aidyn Stevens smiles at the camera.
 With a major in theatre arts and minors in music, arts enterprise and cultural innovation, and honors interdisciplinary studies, Aidyn is a performance artist who has held leading roles on stage and behind the scenes. Her performance in “Henry V” earned an Irene Ryan Nomination from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

an actor sings while holding out one hand
 Playwrights Leonard and Losansky were intentional about bringing their own experiences to light in a play that focused on the queer community without having the plot be mired in trauma — and that included bringing the stories of real people into the mix.

Richard Hodges
 Richard Hodges, DMA, joins the faculty of the Music Department in the Fall of 2022 as the new Director of Voice Studies.

Ryan Dudenbostel wears a blue seater and holds a conductor's baton
 Ryan Dudenbostel, Western's Director of Orchestral Studies, will host a series of virtual pre-concert talks for the prestigious annual Bellingham Festival of Music's 2022 season.

Smiling bearded person with glasses
 Paul Bain will join the music faculty at Western Washington University this fall as a visiting Assistant Professor of Music and the Interim Director of Bands.

illustration of a place mat with some diner food advertising Pump Bpys and Dinettes
 WWU Student Comp code for opening night is STUDENT22 - Tickets in advance at bellinghamtheatreworks.org, or purchase at the door with ID.

digital music recording station
 Learn the basics of audio recording, mixing, and editing, the underlying principles of MIDI, the ins and outs of analog and digital synthesis, as well as the fascinating history of electronic music creators, performers, engineers, instruments, devices, and more!

Chrome bumper, acoustic guitar, cowboy boots
 You don't need a ten-gallon hat to register - you don't need a belt buckle the size of a license plate.

several balck and white images superimposed show vegetation and dancers
 Western students will have the opportunity to present their own art for social justice pieces during the informal performances at the culmination of the residency with NYC dance artist Briana Reed.

three design students holding trophies
 All students won in the category: Elements of Advertising, Animation or Special Effects.

several people on a stage in front of a projection of the award winner's photo
 We are honored to present Gabrielle Kazuko Nomura Gainor (’10) the College of Fine and Performing Arts Distinguished Alumni Award for 2022!

cover of the conference booklet. name of conference over reddish image of people moving
 Director of Dance Susan Haines has been selected by the Dance Studies Association to present at the their annual conference in Vancouver, B.C. in October of 2022.

in a surreal park, squirrels with muscular human arms and torsos hand each other huge nuts
 The Western Washington University Department of Design announces Design Days 2022! With events already in full swing, there's plenty to take in.

a dancer in a burgundy dress leaping in front of a concrete wall
 Thanks to Monica Gutchow, Mrs. Carole Hoerauf, the Office of the Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts, and the Western Washington University Foundation for supporting the work of our Dance students.

Rashawn Nadine Scott sits on the floor in a patterned sleeveless dress looking comfortable and confident
 Hear about Rashawn’s journey from WWU, to Chicago, to LA working professionally on stage and screen (including South Side on HBO Max).

a sabel background frames a black female dancer in a form fitting bodice flinging her head and arms back so far they reach toward the floor. Her leg extends from the floating pinwheel of voluminous white fabric comprising her skirt.
 WWU Dance is bringing in internationally known artist Briana Reed to set a new piece on our students. We hope you will be able to participate in this residency.

a small theatre stage facing the seats
 The Department of Theatre and Dance will be holding auditions for William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" on May 13 and 14. Professor of Theatre Mark Kuntz will direct the production. Performances are set for Fall Quarter 2022.

people in the b gallery
 Do you dream about running your own gallery creating groundbreaking art programming to encourage and support artists in your community?

three people sit on a bench in front of a large window
 “I had weekly meetings with Aric [Mayer] and Lucas [Senger]. They helped me develop the idea behind HodWall way back before I graduated college when The Blue Room wasn't a thing yet.”

three young adults stand on a corner with a modern glass building behind them
 The Arts Enterprise and Cultural Innovation minor is intended to enhance the College of Fine and Performing Arts ("CFPA") majors, whose career paths place them working successfully as an artist or working successfully in an arts-oriented institution.

suitcase full of money
 Western Washington University's College of Fine and Performing Arts ("CFPA") Dean's Office is currently offering scholarships for the academic year 2023-24. These scholarships are open to returning majors in Art, Art History, Dance, Design, Music, and Theatre Arts.

yellow golden field of color with red, orange, and pale green organic shapes running diagonally from upper left to lower right
 Visit SAM Gallery throughout the month of March to experience colorful abstract works by Katie Anderson, Cara Jaye, Anna Macrae, and Dana Roberts.

young person seated at a grand piano on a stage in an empty concert hall
 The event will begin with a Zoom presentation on hearing conservation and health led by Ian Cox. After intermission, WWU Director of Dance Susan Haines will lead a workshop on body health.

a beared fellow in a hat sitting in a chair in front of a window. outside it is leafy.
 Jensen was a faculty member at Western Washington University for 30 years. He retired in 1997 and continued his vibrant work.

a sketch-like line drawing depicting a palimpsest of moving outlines of bodies
 Presented by Kuntz and Company at the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building, "Dialog(s)" is a movement conversation between two seated individuals. One chair will be empty, waiting for an attendees to sit down and make a gesture.

anatomical diagram of foot bones
 Director of Dance Susan Haines shares her research on shifting the culture of dance science began with an acknowledgment that our foundational resources come from a very narrow viewpoint.

A person peers over a book titled "New Works"
 The series will include one full length play, an evening two of one-act plays, and an evening of ten minute plays. Each play reading will be performed twice during the series. We'll read live on stage Old Main Theater, and we'll be livestreaming the readings.

person in glasses wearing black suit with black shirt and tie holding a conductor's baton
 Jacob Scherr is joining the Music Department as the Visiting Director of Bands beginning Winter Quarter of 2022.

a middle-aged person in a suit and tie, seated, with a younger person leaning over the seated person's shoulder
 Bellingham TheatreWorks presents the world premiere drama of office politics and intrigue: "Just Once", written and directed by Professor of Directing Mark Kuntz, featuring Associate Professor of Voice/Acting Evan Mueller and Theatre Arts alum Gabi Gilbride.

Jim Lortz
 Jim gives so much. Following his example, now we can give back.

Cover of a book called Rethinking Global Modernism shows a large ball of string
 Daniel E. Coslett, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Art History, and two colleagues have recently produced an anthology that collects developing scholarship outlining a new decentred history of global modernism in architecture using postcolonial and other related theoretical frameworks.

four actors on a stage in a play about the 1930s
 Anna Wulfekuhle (Class of '16) and Dylan Gervais (Class of '15) performed in Tennessee Williams' Battle of Angels with NYC-based physical theater ensemble Blessed Unrest in September 2021.

smiling person in sleeveless azure gown with deep vee neck
 The Western Washington University Department of Music is proud to announce the appointment of Heather Dudenbostel to the position of Assistant Professor of Voice and Dramatic Arts.

black woman with purple sweater standing against a blue chain link fence
 White is a Seattle-based dancer with a BFA in English, Art History and Dance from Western Washington University. She has studied styles such as contemporary, ballet, and jazz. Her main love has always been groove and hip-hop.

Person standing on the beach during sunrise with their arms raised
 Pilates, Yoga, and breath work will get you moving mindfully, and the live format of the class keeps you engaged! Connect with alums and the Western community in this all-levels class.

two geometric white people heads floating in black space
 Between the Keyframes is a new podcast/vidcast uniting industry legends Austin Shaw and Erin Sarofsky. The pair take on hot topics in an effortless back and forth as they candidly discuss the crazy world of Motion Design, from their biggest mistakes to their ample frustrations to the unique insights that will tee up the next generation.

a group of musicians sits on stage casually during a pause in rehearsal
 Instructors Jennifer Weeks (oboe) and Pat Nelson (bassoon) along with students Martijn Wall (oboe) and Trevor Born (bassoon) will play in the pit of Pacific Northwest Opera's production of Verdi's "La Traviata" at McIntyre Hall at Skagit Valley College October 29 and 31, and November 5 and 7.

person at a table laughing at something in a book they are reading
 Visiting theatre instructor Patrick Midgley’s review of "All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain" was published in the latest edition of Theatre Journal.

the movie poster for the film firestarter about the Bangarra Dance Theatre
 The Western Washington University Dance program is partnering with the Pickford Film Center to present two dance documentaries for the Pickford's celebrated film festival, Doctober.

Enrapt design enthusiasts lean in to the circle of light, illuminated by firelight and wisdom
 Camp Mograph brings together industry leaders for fireside chats and professional workshops in a natural setting. This year’s event sold out in 45 seconds.

four dancers in a line, back legs extended, leaping forward away from the viewer
 This performance is a collection of original dance pieces choreographed by our advanced choreography students.

colorful objects, like a blue blazer, and posters in frames hang on a wall with monochromatic kitchy wall paper. In the foreground is a vitrine with documents.
 Image: View of “Queer California: Untold Stories,” 2019, Oakland Museum of California. From MOTHA’s exhibition series “Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects,” 2015–19. Photo: Palmer Rose.

band members enjoy rehearsal
 Do you play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument? It’s not too late to become a member of the WWU Symphonic Band! All you need to do is register for Symphonic Band (2 credits) - No audition required!

A person with long hair and a long striped jacket stands staring down a gravel road with one hand holding a hat on their head. Behind them sits a piano bench on the road.
 The Department of Theatre and Dance is holding auditions for "Sonata Escondida" by Manuel Zarate and directed by Ana María Campoy.

Rachel Cheung plays piano with gusto. She wears a long red sleeveless dress.
 Western Washington University’s prestigious Sanford-Hill Piano Series returns to live performances with a trio of concerts starting in January of 2022. The last live performance of the series was in the spring of 2020.

nolan dennett wears a ball cap and toasts us with a small tumbler of reddish liquid
 We are honoring the work of Professor Nolan Dennett as he keeps moving and shaking into retirement after 32 years at Western.

a diaphonous work of fiber art with weaving that appears to be writing
 Kate Sechrist and Stephanie Le - graduates of Seiko Purdue's Fiber Arts studio - are featured in the Surface Design Association's exhibition in the Charles W. and Norma C. Carroll Gallery at Marshall University in West Virginia.

a young person with a black ball cap talks on an older style phone with a corded handset
 We want to celebrate the life of recent BFA graduate, Jackson “JZ” Zechnich, by featuring some of his work during his time as a design student.

smiling young person with a trimmed dark beard wearing a white-striped snap brim cap
 “I sat down and had a conversation with my mom and I told her I wanted to be a professional actor. So I was preparing to starve, to live off of Top Ramen, and basically just struggle. And she stopped me dead in my tracks in the conversation and she said, ‘Don’t ever ever say that. Cause you’re setting yourself up for failure. If you’re one of those people who are lucky enough to know what they want to do and what they love to do, then you simply just find a way to make it work.’ And that was a really profound moment in my life because I was like, ‘Yeah, she’s right.’”

three dancers move in and among large mythical bronze sculptures in a wooded setting
 In fall of 2020, WWU Director of Dance Susan Haines was looking for a way to offer dance students a safe performance opportunity during COVID. She was able to gain access to Ann Morris' Sculpture Woods - an art studio and property that was recently gifted to the College of Fine and Performing Arts. The property is both retreat and collection of Morris' work, featuring numerous mythically-inflected life-size bronze sculptures.

a man in a suit leaps into the air to click his heels
 Professor of Theatre Rich Brown has been away from Western Washington University Spring quarter of 2021 on professional leave. As part of his activity, he's performing in Yasmina Reza's award-winning play "Art" at the Oregon Contemporary Theatre, a professional theatre in Eugene, Oregon.

a modern looking rectangular trophy with silver plaque and lexan top
 Western Washington University’s Department of Design is proud to announce that Coral Saville and Mercedes Schrenkeisen have each won a Student Silver Addy for the American Advertising Awards, Seattle, 2021.

a park like setting, green lawn, trees, and a sculpture
 In 2018, artist Ann Morris and her family made an extraordinary gift to Western Washington University: the 14-acre retreat on Lummi Island known as “Sculpture Woods."

Shirley Jo Finney smiling
 Award-winning international director and actress Shirley Jo Finney joins the theatre faculty this spring to teach Introduction to Acting (THTR 160).

D'Anthonu Wooten wears a red and blue t-shirt and looks calmly at the camera.
 The Department of Music is thrilled to welcome D’Anthoni Wooten to teach MUS 108, Survey of Video Game Music for Spring, 2021. The course is a critical overview of the history, development, and current state of music and audio in video games and interactive media and surrounding issues.

two crossed swords and the words "immortal wound"
 Watch the the animated music video for the single “Left My Mind,” produced and directed by Til and partner Paz Mallea. Follow them on Instagram, and read the critical reception to the EP from Global World Rock and American Pancake.

portrait of Patrick Roulet smiling
 Winter, 2021, music lecture courses will be offered remote synchronous or asynchronous following the ICS guidelines.

matthew sits on a stool in front of a window. he wears a mask.
 Matthew Palmgren (Studio Art, '07) gravitated to art and design from a young age, and committed to sculpture when he was a teenager after he apprenticed under Hai Ying Wu, a Chinese American sculptor.

a smiling student
 I transferred to Western for the Industrial Design program, but had no goals for my career. I started taking art history classes and loved them so much that I switched majors. I have never once regretted my decision. I owe Professor Jimena Berzal de Dios a debt of gratitude for his guidance and persistence in helping me identify my career interests.

Black Lives Matter sign
 We stand in solidarity with those protesting. Black lives matter.

students thank you for supporting give day
 Thank you for helping us create a learning environment that welcomes, nourishes, and celebrates our students.

Deb Currier sits on the floor with small children learning a theatre exercise
 Theatre Arts Professor Deb Currier uses new techniques in immersive theatre for youth to address social awareness, under-served populations and non-traditional learners

Artist Henry Jackson-Spieker smiles while working in the studio. A paned window in the background.
 Alum Henry Jackson-Spieker (Art Studio BFA, '13) enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue his work at the historic and idyllic Chateau d'Orquevaux in France.

Design students shoot Make.Shift promo
 The BFA students in the Department of Design had the exciting opportunity to produce a promotional video for the local non-profit, Make.Shift Art Space - a DIY art and music venue dedicated to innovative, alternative and unusual art and music.

A giant head of Ryan Kelly. Behind are carnivalesque caricatures of animals, demons, witches
 Western Washington University Assistant Professor of Ceramics Ryan W. Kelly is exhibiting work at Method Gallery in Seattle through February 15.

textile art by Kate Sechrist
 In 2014, Kate Sechrist (Art Studio BFA, '16) traveled to Japan with students from WWU’s Department of Art & Art History. Five years later, in March 2019, she opened her first solo show at Kyoto’s GalleryGallery. And, she’s just passed the entrance exams for the Master’s program at Kyoto Seika University.

left: tentacled sea creatures. Right: Quinton Maldonado smiles surrounded by camera equipment
 Quinton Maldonado used photography skills to develop a new body of work at Shannon Point through student internship

Singer Andrew Christianson
 WWU Music alum Andrew Christianson was one of only twenty-four singing actors (ages 20-28) from across the nation selected to compete in the semi-finals of the National Teachers of Singing Musical Theatre Competition in New York City, on Saturday, January 11, 2020.

small photos of heads mounted on pins in a patterned array
 “Whipping It Up: A Collaborative Alchemy,” the catalog designed by Delphine Kiem and Roger Rowley for last year’s exhibit by Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour, received Honorable Mention in the 2019 American Alliance of Museums Publications Design Competition.

Jewelry on display at APSE
 October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but the local Bellingham jewelry shop works to end sexual and domestic violence through their business everyday.

a dancer in grey turns at the waist and looks over her shoulder
 Our work is impressionistic in nature. It is lovely to watch and is best appreciated if audience members allow the experience to wash over them without trying to 'figure it out'.

a man in a plaid shirt stands in a plaza
 Western Washington University’s Rich Brown, associate professor of Theatre Arts, has been selected as the 2015 Washington Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

a student and a teacher sit at a desk and look at a laptop
 Learn how Paden Koltiska, a theatre major at Western Washington University, uses skills and knowledge from the Arts Enterprise and Cultural Innovation program to prepare himself for a rewarding career in theatre.

Students study near Sarah Sze's sculpture SPLIT STONE (NORTHWEST)
 Students welcome and enjoy our latest addition to the sculpture collection at Western Washington University - SPLIT STONE (NORTHWEST by artist Sarah Sze.

take music courses online at WWU
 Choose among nine different courses - three credits each. Many of our online Music courses fulfill WWU GUR requirements.

An award winning design by Bradlee Thielen
 Eight current and former Western Washington University Design students won international recognition in competitions sponsored by CMYK Magazine and Adobe.

student installing artwork in a display window
 Time-lapse video of collaborative installation project with visiting artist Christopher Hartshorne and Chris Vargas's Fall 2017 Art 120 class at Western Washington University.

’Drawing - Untitled’, mixed media, 28”x 21” by R. Allen Jensen
 Jensen, now approaching 81, is exhibiting his work at Smith & Vallee in Edison, WA. The exhibition, "Bob's Boats" is on display Aug. 5- 30, 2016

Cynthia Camlin | Water Fragment, 1-10, ink, watercolor and vinyl polymer emulsion on paper panels, 12 inches x 9 inches each. Image courtesy of the artist.
 The work exhibited examines the ways in which artists translate what makes something abstract as defined by being pulled from, extracted, or as a summarization of larger concepts.

Katherine Mullen accepts the Presidential Scholar award from Dean Kit Spicer
 Katherine Mullen came to WWU in 2014 from Whatcom Community College as an honors student to do a double major in Dance and Sociology. Her international travels and her work in Dharamshala, India with Tibetan refugees have truly set her apart.

Bradlee Thielen, WWU Presidential Scholar
 .Design student Bradlee Thielen is the recipient of the 2019 Western Washington University Presidential Scholar's Award for the College of Fine and Performing Arts.

smiling man in glasses
 Western Assistant Professor Alex Egner has a short essay and a collection of images featured in the new AIGA Design Educators Community journal, Dialectic.

Seiko Purdue demonstrates shibori fabric dyeing
 Professors Seiko Purdue and Julia Sapin participated in Art Inquiry Night at Wade King Elementary School. About 120 students took part.

Western's Equus Saxophone Quartet
 Equus, a saxophone quartet comprising four Western Washington University students, has advanced to the prestigious Music Teachers’ National Association Young Artist Chamber Music competition in Chicago.

WeCounterHate fights hate on Twitter
 Seattle design firm POSSIBLE has given Twitter users spreading hate a hard choice before they retweet a nasty, hateful nugget: don’t retweet – or retweet and send a donation to an anti-hate group.

Cover of book: Visual Experiences in Cinqyecento Theatrical Spaces
 Berzal's book Visual Experiences in Cinquecento Theatrical Spaces studies the performative aspects of the early modern stage, paying special attention to the overlooked complexities of audience experience.

Design students pitch Wieden+Kennedy
 On Friday, Feb 27, the BFA Design students presented design solutions at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland - one of the largest independently-owned advertising agencies in the world.

Kinetic sculpture Lunar Drift
 'Lunar Drift' is two slow-time kinetic sculptures that will constantly point at the Moon and to the Sun, wherever they are located, whether above or below the horizon, in daylight or night, clear skies or overcast lending a continual presence to the entire path of their movements.

Western Alum, Conductor Brett Mitchell
 Brett Mitchell followed his love of music around the world and rose to the top. He has become one of the most prominent conductors of our time.

Paul Grove seated in natural setting with guitar
 The Northwest Classical Guitar Society presents guitarist Paul Grove in concert. Grove’s program this season features WWU Music Department professor David Feingold’s “Song and Dance for Solo Guitar.”

Anelese Webster
 Anelese Webster was crowned “Portfolio Night All-Star,” and will be joining the Huge design team, supervised by Jon Jackson.

desk with computer, mouse, apple, camera
 After a Spring Portfolio Review the students interviewed for placement at professional design firms in the Northwest, including Bellingham, Edmonds, Seattle and Portland.

Capoiera Angola
 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu recently announced that Kuntz and Company is one of only 163 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Challenge America grant. Kuntz and Company is recommended for a $10,000 grant to support three dance residencies by artists from different cultures.

saxophone
 Jazz Combo I of Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA performed before music educators, district arts supervisors, and leaders in the music education profession from around the country at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) National Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Professor of Art, Sebastian Mendes
 Sebastian Mendes, born in San Francisco in 1948, died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 26, doing what he loved – bicycling around Lake Whatcom. He was a proud father, devoted husband, and Professor of Art who was a member of the Western Washington University faculty since 2001. Western's College of Fine and Performing Arts, the Western Gallery, and the Department of Art and Art History will be hosting a celebration of Sebastian’s life in the Western Gallery on Thursday, May 10, 5-7pm. All are welcome to attend.

choreography from Liz Gerring's she dreams in code photo by Rachel Bayne
 Liz Gerring, a nationally-recognized choreographer, will set her piece glacier on WWU Dance students in the spring of 2015. The premier of glacier received unfettered praise from the New York Times.

Paul Brower
 Gallery preparator Paul Brower took the initiative to research and personally retrofit lighting for energy savings and the health of artwork in the Gallery when funds were lacking.

WWU Assistant Professor of Art Chris E. Vargas
 Western Washington University Assistant Professor of Art Chris E. Vargas was awarded a $50,000 prize Creative Capital, a group known for applying principles of venture capital to arts financing.

Stefan Sagmeister's THE HAPPY FILM
 Successful creative designer Stefan Sagmeister attempts to find the root of human happiness by experimenting with meditation, therapy, and drugs in this graphic design project-turned experimental documentary.

Standing in front of the Sylvia Center of the Arts building (from left): Wes Davis (Marketing Director), Bryce Hamilton (Board President), Glenn Hergenhahn-Zhao (Artistic Director), Shu-Ling Hergenhahn-Zhao (Capital Campaign Director), and Ron Warner (Boa
 Theatre has been a treasured part of Bryce Hamilton’s life since he was in grade school. Bryce is now fundraising and acting as the Board President for Sylvia Center.

Zach Becker
 WWU Design Department student and AS Publicity designer Zach Becker won the 2015 Adobe Design Achievement award in “Interactive Experience Media/Digital Publishing” for his work “Isolation” which combines animated typography and images to create a vivid narrative about space exploration.

Amanda Kohler as Dorabella (left) and Yuliya Varavina as Fiordiligi (right) Photos by Charlotte Roulette
 The WWU Opera’s April 2016 production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s and Lorenzo da Ponte’s “Così fan tutte” was awarded First Prize in Division 2 of the 2016 Opera Production Competition sponsored by the National Opera Association (“NOA”)

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Photo by Rachel Bayne
 The WWU Opera’s April 2014 production of Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night's Dream” was awarded First Prize in Division 3 of the 2014 Opera Production Competition sponsored by the National Opera Association (“NOA”).

A group of people standing in a circle outtside, listening to someone talk, at the Whatcom Waterway Park site
 Visiting Art Instructor Werner Klotz and 39 Western art students have been invited by the City of Bellingham (COB) to propose six separate masterplans for a major collaborative public artwork, at Whatcom Waterway Park.

colorful illustrations of monstuous bodies stacked or falling
 Western BFA students talk about the passion that drives them to explore and develop their portfolios as they prepare for careers in the Fine Arts.

Design students pose in front of a brick wall
 Twelve Design majors recently wrapped up their summer internships and returned to campus to resume their BFA design sequence this academic year.

modern architecture
 The Western Washington University Department of Art is offering a pair of upper-division architecture courses in Spring of 2015.

Ded Reckoning: A Space Musical in two acts by Kamarie Chapman and Spencer Willow
 Department of Theatre & Dance playwrighting faculty Kamarie Chapman is set to debut the first full-length original musical produced by Bellingham's iDiOM Theater.