UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture

Our theatre students have had a busy month attending different theatre conferences! ??????? Last weekend, four theatre students joined Professor of Physical Theatre Carlos Cruz in Baltimore, MD, for the 76th annual Southeastern Theatre Conference. At the conference, students were able to network with industry leaders, attend professional development sessions, and learn about the latest trends in theatre. Students Madison King and Sol Delqado presented their recent portfolio work, and students Izzy Oyler and Morgan Wakefield auditioned for multiple performance opportunities. Earlier this month, six theatre students went to the United States Institute for Theatre Technology's 65th Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Professor of Lighting Design and Associate Chair for the Department of Theatre David Filmore and Lecturer/Stage Manager Rachel Swenson Watkins traveled to Columbus, OH with theatre design/tech students Madison King, DJ Cook, Kat Fletcher, Astrid Reid Kennedy, Max Martin, and Adrian Ewens to attend this year's conference. The conference is designed for all those who work behind the scenes. It included four days of educational sessions and immersive labs in a variety of technical theatre and design topics and a stage expo! What great experiences!

On April 4, the CoA+A presents "Subcritical," an event where art and science collide to uncover the hidden stories within Earth's fractured landscapes ?? "Subcritical" is a multi-sensory exhibition, book launch, reception, and public conversation featuring work by artist and Associate Professor of Art Marek Ranis. Created out of an intense three-year collaboration with geoscientist Dr. Martha Cary (Missy) Eppes, Ranis's photographs, paintings, sculptures, and video installation explore the power, patterns, and beauty of rock cracking—a foundational process shaping our planet and unexpectedly responding to climate change. This one-night-only public event fuses art, science, and climate Inquiry. Join us at Hodges Taylor (Located in The Rail Yard South) on April 4 from 6-8 PM!

“The School of Architecture teaches students how to think, how to be critical of themselves, and how to communicate through visual representation and verbal presentation. These skills are essential to the practice of architecture. ??? Today, we're spotlighting alumnus Garrett Olin – Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture '04 – who currently serves as the Executive Vice President of McCulloch England Architects! Garrett started his journey in architecture at age 17, joining McCulloch England Architects as a draftsman the summer before his senior year of high school. Now, more than two decades later, he manages some of the firm’s largest and most complex acute care projects, in addition to leading marketing and business development efforts. McCulloch England Architects specializes in healthcare design, with projects like the CarolinaEast Medical Center Expansion, the Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center G3 Patient Tower Addition, and the Novant Health Matthews Medical Center Bed Tower Addition, among many others. Garrett’s expertise in healthcare architecture has grown alongside his career, and he has contributed to numerous significant projects in the medical industry. ?? Some of Garrett’s favorite memories from his time at UNC Charlotte include how the architecture program provided him with a great concept of the philosophy and concepts around design that he uses daily in his current career. ?? His advice to current students: “Take off your headphones and learn from those around you.” Check out more spotlights on our amazing alumni! ?? https://lnkd.in/eg7jDGkd

The Charlotteans, directed by Ginger Wyrick, performed at the Office of International Programs' International Women's Day celebration on March 11! ?? The first International Women’s Day occurred in 1911, supported by over one million people. Coinciding with Women's History Month, IWD is now celebrated collectively across the world. IWD is not specific to any country, group or organization. The Charlotteans sang two pieces by American women: "I Will Be Earth," composed by Gwyneth Walker with text by May Swenson, and "By Night," composed by Elaine Hagenberg with text by Harriet Prescott Spofford. Made up of women from across the University, The Charlotteans often perform at UNC Charlotte and community events. Hear them next at the Knights baseball game at Truist Field on Wednesday, April 16, where they will sing the National Anthem and "God Bless America."

The Department of Dance is thrilled to have former Charlotte Ballet company artist James Kopecky in the studio with us to set a new work for the upcoming Spring Dance Concert! ?? Kopecky spent 9 seasons with Charlotte Ballet, dancing principal roles in both classical and contemporary repertoire. He is also a former member of Ballet San Jose and is currently a teaching artist at Charlotte Ballet Academy. As a choreographer, he has created works for Butler Ballet, Ballet San Jose School, Opera San Jose, Charlotte Ballet II, and Charlotte Ballet. Kopecky's new contemporary work will premiere at the 2025 Spring Dance Concert, running April 10-13! The concert also features work by faculty Audrey Baran, Tod Kubo, and Kim Jones. CoA+A faculty, students, and staff can claim their free tickets at the Charlotte Box Office! ??: Kat Lawrence

Thanks to everyone who joined us last Friday for our 57th Annual Juried Student Exhibition reception and award ceremony! ??? The annual exhibition showcases works from students representing all disciplines in the Department of Art & Art History. This year, we welcomed Woon Kee Yong, motion media design professor at Savannah College of Art and Design, as our juror. Congratulations to the award-winning artists! ???? Morgan Alexander - Best of Show Caroline Wingerd - 1st Place Andres Palacios - 2nd Place Kayhe Duerson - 3rd Place Ashley Briggs - Honorable Mention Celia Castaldo - Honorable Mention Maya Hutagalung - Honorable Mention Tamia Watley - Honorable Mention If you haven't had a chance to see this exhibition and marvel at the immense talent of our students, be sure to stop by Rowe Galleries before March 21! ??: Landry Hutchens

We had such a special time celebrating our 2025 Distinguished Alumni last Friday, March 14 ?? The Distinguished Alumni Awards were created by the CoA+A to recognize the accomplishments of alumni who demonstrate in their work the core themes of the College's vision: professionalism, global perspective, environmental engagement, connectivity with community, collaboration, and the emergence of new ideas, skills, and practices. Each department designated one alum, chosen by faculty and administration. This year's alumni were, Rachel Keeton ‘06 (B.A. in Architecture), award presented by Kayla Berlin Kenny Nguyen ‘15 (B.F.A. in Painting)??, award presented by Dru Swan Alex Aguilar ‘17 (B.A. in Dance)??, award presented by Jasmyn Schettino Amber Carpenter Koeppen ‘13 (B.M. in Harp Performance)??, award presented by Mckeila Ortiz Jeremy W. Foil ‘05 (B.A. in Theatre and Dance)??, award presented by Kat Fletcher B.M. in Vocal Performance student Jack Richardson opened the program with a performance of Michael Head's "When I Think Upon The Maidens." The alumni also spent their extra time on campus visiting classes and sharing their experiences and advice with students. What an inspiring day! ??: Ivory Galloway of the Niner Times

“Without my time at UNC Charlotte, I would not have such a varied skill set as I do now. What comes into play day-to-day at the moment are the communication skills I learned at UNC Charlotte. I learned how to hold meetings and important conversations with folks in the field of theatre” ?? Today, we're spotlighting alumnus Aaron Bunzey – Bachelor of Arts in Theatre '19 – who currently works as the Marketing Assistant at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte! In his role, Aaron manages the box office, assists with school performances, and works with other theatre companies on the side in a more hands-on way. Before moving into marketing, Aaron gained experience in both the Education and Production Departments at Children’s Theatre. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Aaron’s love for theatre started early in elementary school. While he explored engineering and architecture during high school, he combined these interests with his passion for theatre to focus on scenic design and production during his studies at UNC Charlotte. ?? Some of his favorite memories from his time at UNC Charlotte include co-designing "The Servant of Two Masters" (pictured) with his best friends. “The excitement, joy, and tons of nerves that came with the news will forever be with me. That was only topped by getting to opening day after everything was said and done.” ?? His advice to current students: “Work towards finding a school/work/life balance that best suits you. We all work on passion and excitement for the craft, but that can come with overextending yourself very quickly. At the end of the day, quality will triumph over quantity, and I think your sanity may thank you as well.” Check out more spotlights on our amazing alumni! ?? https://lnkd.in/eg7jDGkd

We stopped by rehearsal last week for the Department of Theatre's upcoming performance of Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" ?? In just two days, students take the stage to perform a contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s classic production, directed by Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare Studies Rob Conkie. The play will meditate on the tragically timeless dimension of this comedy – on corruption of state from the top down, of dangerous desire, of violence, but also of determined faithfulness – and on Shakespeare as prophetic time-traveler. The performances will take place March 20, 21, and 22 at 7:30 pm and March 22 and 23 at 2:00 pm! CoA+A students, faculty, and staff can claim their free tickets at https://lnkd.in/eF7H4JZ2. Photos: Miguel Sanchez-Nu?ez Director: Rob Conkie Costume Design: Meredith Magoun Props Design: Maxwell Martin Sound Design: Benjamin G. Stickels Choreographer: Delia Neil Lighting Design: Dallas J. Cook Scenic Design: Ben Hirschfield Stage Manager: Lauren Routhier * * * Closed captioning will be available at all performances in both English and Spanish, powered by CCTheater from AccessTech, LLC. Spanish subtitles provided by Irene K. Nash and Glorian Hidalgo Vega. ASL Interpretation will be provided on Sunday 3/23 at 2 pm, provided by LanguageLine Solutions. Though Measure for Measure is listed in the Comedies section of Shakespeare's First Folio, it is a play that deals with serious and difficult themes. See our website for more details.

“When I entered the Scholastic competition, I didn’t know what to expect; I didn’t know if anyone would appreciate my art. When I found out that two of my pieces won Gold Keys and would be displayed at The Mint Museum, I couldn’t believe it! When I took my first steps into the gallery it was like pure magic.” – Nate Silver, current student and former Scholastics winner The 2025 Scholastic Art Show is currently on view at The Mint Museum until April 6, with over 200 works installed with the help of our galleries team! The Scholastic Art Competition celebrates young creatives in an installation showcasing talented students from 27 counties in the Mid-Carolina region. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have an impressive legacy dating back to 1923. They have grown to become the longest-running, most prestigious program for creative teens in the U.S. and the nation’s largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers. Each year, the awards are administered by the College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte. Learn more about our involvement ?? https://lnkd.in/gCxjQ-wk ??: Courtesy of the Mint Museum