Beau Jones, Author at BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

Assistant Professor’s Work Highlighted as "Most Original"

Beau Jones — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 15:54:39 +0000

Justin Kunz, an alumnus of BYU’s illustration program and an assistant professor in the BYU Department of Design, recently received the “Most Original Award of Excellence” in the Associate Signature Division from the 24th National Juried Exhibition of the Oil Painters of America (OPA) for one of his paintings. OPA is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 4,000 artists throughout North America. Its mission is to advance the cause of traditional, representational fine art by providing a forum in which artists can display their art in regional and national competitions. Their National Juried Exhibition is one of the field’s most prestigious competitions. “The OPA National Exhibition is an important juried venue for representational painters,” said Kunz. “I had a piece juried into the show last year, but this is the first time I’ve won one of the awards.” Kunz’s award-winning piece, The Days Were Accomplished, is a 10” x 8” oil on linen representation of Mary as she admires the sleeping baby Jesus in her arms. Kunz says the title comes from Luke 2:6, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”The piece is currently on display in St. Augustine, Florida along with other awardees from this year’s National Exhibition. Owing much to the university he graduated from and with it being a motivating factor behind his work, Kunz had this to say about his love for BYU, “In all the time I’ve worked here, I have been very impressed with the high caliber of students, faculty and alumni. So many of them are doing remarkable things, striving for excellence in their fields, and making an impact for good in the world.” Kunz’s talents are not solely confined to painting. Along with working on a multi-figure painting of Christ raising the daughter of Jairus, he is also currently developing a movie. He has recently completed commissioned work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a series of numismatic designs for the United States Mint, including a gold coin and a quarter in the “America the Beautiful” series. To view more of Kunz’s work, click here.

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INTERDISCIPLINARY CFAC PROJECT CONTINUES TO WIN AWARDS

Beau Jones — Fri, 22 May 2015 19:28:50 +0000

Breaking the Class Ceiling, a College of Fine Arts and Communications interdisciplinary project, has continued on its award-winning run by receiving a gold recognition in the 45th Creativity Student Media & Interactive Design Awards. Across the world, economic and social disadvantages continue to hinder the advancement of hard-working men and women, a concept known as a “glass ceiling,” or the “class ceiling.” A group of BYU students would argue that for Chile, one of the biggest obstacles is free, quality public education. Motivated by personal connections to the people and a sense for the gravity of the situation, an interdisciplinary team of students and faculty from BYU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications, in conjunction with the Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the Arts, traveled to the country for two weeks and gathered information about the reform of higher education from students at Universidad Mayor, a Chilean private university. “Being from Chile, this was a great opportunity for me to cover something that I have personally been involved in,” said Ricardo Quintana, one of the students who participated in the project. “This is an important issue and society should be involved in its improvement.” Since compiling and presenting the gathered information, the project has won numerous awards and highlights the learning opportunities available to students at BYU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications. Quintana added, “Our work is significant because it shows how coveted education is outside the U.S., where it typically is not nearly as accessible. Kids and young adults are raising their voices against the government through different forms of protest because they feel they have a right to free education.” This project explicitly asks: should a college education be an implicit right for everyone? No doubt due in part for the hard questions that it asks, Breaking the Class Ceiling has recently been announced as a national finalist of The Society of Professional Journalists 2014 Mark of Excellence Awards and a gold winner in the 45th Creativity Student Media & Interactive Design Awards. “It is great to see that our work is being recognized,” said Shelbi Anderson, another student participant. “I was gratified to hear these stories firsthand, but getting recognized a year after we actually went to Chile makes it feel like we have had an impact after the fact.” These awards were given based on excellence in challenging criteria. For the Creativity International Award alone, entries came from 16 countries, 2 Canadian Provinces and 20 U.S. States. Student participants included: Shelbi Anderson (Journalist) Ricardo Quintana (Cinemaphotographer) Jared Jakins (Cinemaphotographer) Jeff Wade (Graphic Designer/Web Support/AV Support) Faculty advisors included: Brent Barson Jeff Sheets Ed Carter

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COVETED COPPER INGOT AWARD PRESENTED TO BYU ARTS PRODUCTION

Beau Jones — Mon, 18 May 2015 20:19:11 +0000

BYU Arts Creative brought home one of the most sought after awards in the design community Saturday night for their work on the BYU Arts 2014-2015 season brochure. The coveted award, known as the Copper Ingot, was presented to BYU Arts Creative by the Salt Lake City chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). AIGA is the professional associate for design and annual host of the AIGA 100 Show Gala & Benefit, Salt Lake City’s most prestigious juried competition, which honors and showcases the year’s best designs. “This is big for BYU Arts and the College,” said Nick Mendoza, the Creative Services Manager for BYU Arts. “The out of state judges had great things to say about the brochure and were amazed that we were able to put all the event information in the limited space.” Of the 100 pieces selected for presentation at this years Show, only 10 are awarded the Copper Ingot; seven for designers in the professional category and three for designers in the student category. Randall Boothe, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications, praised the work of Mendoza and his student team. “What a wonderful recognition of the amazing work you and your students have put into not only our season brochure, but dozens of additional creative projects throughout this year.” Mendoza was quick to point out that their office would not function and enjoy the same degree of success without the direction of Ken Crossley, BYU Arts Production Marketing Manager, and their student employees: Jeffrey Whitaker, office assistant (BS Exercise Science) Dallin Mansfield, office assistant (Pre-Animation) Nicolina Brown, graphic designer (BFA Graphic Design) Sam Reed, graphic designer (BFA Graphic Design) Brian Collier, graphic designer (BFA Graphic Design) Andrew Galloway, graphic designer (BFA Graphic Design) Hillary Tait, graphic designer (BFA Graphic Design) Stephanie Ottehenning, graphic designer (BA Graphic Design) Ashley Holmes, office assistant (Graduate) To view BYU Arts 2014-2015 award winning season brochure, click here.

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BYU ALUMUS J. CHRISTIAN JENSEN EXPLAINS THE POWER OF NARRATIVE AT TEDxBYU

Beau Jones — Thu, 14 May 2015 06:11:54 +0000

According to filmmaker J. Christian Jensen, the same emotional forces that propel us forward in a good film can motivate us to do remarkable things in our lives. On April 9, crowds pack into the Provo Covey Center for TEDxBYU. Hosted by Brigham Young University’s Ballard Center, the conference gave hundreds the opportunity to hear presenters from a variety of backgrounds “spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.” Jensen, a graduate form BYU, was one of the featured speakers at this year’s event. Illustrating his lecture with scenes from his Oscar-nominated documentary, “White Earth,” Jensen explained how people can fulfill their life’s mission by constructing their own personal narratives. “When you discover your personal narrative, it will not only guide you to find your life’s mission, but it will also serve as a lifelong source of strength and motivation to help you accomplish that mission,” said Jensen. Jensen offered three tips in finding this lifelong strength: (1) find your marks and own them, (2) tell personal and family stories, and (3) find your mentors. In speaking of his own marks, Jensen said, “Marks can be very personal. I’m obsessed with trying to build bridges between ideologies. I can trace this to my religious upbringing.” Just as important as owning one’s marks is telling personal and family stories. “The stories that we tell about ourselves help to create our identity. They are a part of our personal narrative,” said Jensen. The power of such personal narratives, Jensen shared, has a scientific basis. He cited the work of psychologist Marshall Duke, who found that children who knew more stories about their history and childhood showed levels of higher self-esteem and self-control. These outcomes ultimately led to greater happiness. Jensen concluded by explaining the influence of mentors using an example from his own life. Many of his greatest mentors, he related, came into his life while a student of BYU’s Media Arts Studies program. “Before going to BYU, I came from a fairly sheltered background where I was given every opportunity to learn and explore my passions, but I was not exposed to a diverse set of films and things to study,” he said. “Many of the professors and the program helped completely shift and transform the pursuits that I am now carrying out in my life.” Jensen began in journalism before moving to film. While a BYU student, he worked on productions for National Geographic and on PBS’s FRONTLINE and American Experience. After graduating from BYU, he completed an MFA at Stanford. Jensen’s recent work has screened at major festivals around the world. “I’m ever grateful for BYU and the role that the CFAC played in pushing me along this path that I have followed. I have been very blessed and I hope that I can keep doing things that are of value to me and to others,” Jensen said. To view Jensen’s TEDxBYU presentation, click here.

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ART AND DESIGN CONVOCATION ENCOURAGES GRADUATES TO CHERISH THE WALK

Beau Jones — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 21:50:24 +0000

The College of Fine Arts and Communications’ Department of Art and Department of Design held a joint convocation on Friday, April 26 in recognition of the 196 graduates who have recently completed their undergraduate or graduate programs. The ceremony, which began at 8:00 a.m., was held in the de Jong Concert Hall and keynoted by Mark Graham, Professor of Art and Area Head, Art Education. Two graduates, alumnus Scott Eckern, Academic Vice President Brent Webb and Dean Stephen Jones, all made additional remarks. “Was the climb worth the walk?” Graham asked the graduates present at the ceremony. “The walk was worth the walk. A person who does not have anything to believe in is without energy. When you have the energy of faith in you, your steps become firmer and your look becomes brighter. You are ready to love, to understand, to help and to work. “ Graham encouraged the graduates to cherish the efforts they have made and will continue to make, as they continue to make their dreams become a reality. Likewise, Samuel Carpenter, a BFA Studio Arts graduate, acknowledged the role that his BYU education has played in making his dreams a reality. “I have a gift stirring inside of me. I felt that those stirrings towards art meant that there was something inside transforming my life. I wanted more than just stirrings though, and I knew that I needed help in releasing my gift. My journey here in the Department of Art has been the vehicle for releasing this gift.” Scott Eckern, the college alumni representative, reminded the graduates of the values they have gained through their studies. “This is the beginning of the next chapter of your story,” he said. “How will the spirit of the Y stay with you?” In offering at least a partial answer to his own questions, Eckern suggested that it is a BYU graduates’ responsibility to find a way to stay connected and give back. To conclude the ceremony, Dean Jones expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the teachers, parents, mentors, and students for making the College of Fine Arts and Communications what it is–an institution of learning in preparation for professional contributions and a lifetime of service to humankind.

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BYU STUDENT FILMS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

Beau Jones — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:58:23 +0000

A new database of student created films is now available for use by Brigham Young University students and fans alike, the Department of Theatre and Media Arts announced on Friday at the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts and Communications Center 50th Anniversary Gala. Created to allow all to see the student work created here at BYU, the database already hosts over 150 films and can be accessed online at studentfilms.byu.edu. More films will be added each week by the TMA department and alumni who wish to submit their former work. “This website is an effort to help show people what the BYU Media Arts program has done in the past and what we are capable of doing now,” said Kyle Stapley, Media Arts Program Coordinator and lead for this project. “By focusing specifically on student work that has been done here at BYU, we hope that this project will also act as a recruiting tool to help bring in additional talent to our renowned programs.” Brigham Young University has a long, rich history in the creation and education of film. BYU was one of the first universities to create a formal department for the production of motion pictures, founded in 1953. Currently, the BYU Media Arts Program and the Center for Animation have won over 30 National and Regional Student Emmys in the past 12 years making BYU one of the most well-respected Film and Animation programs in the nation. Those who visit the new website will find that there are different types of films to enjoy such as fiction, non-fiction and animation films. In addition to these, a portion of the website is dedicated solely to BYU Final Cut Films. These films are deemed the best student-produced, student-created fiction films, documentaries, commercials, and animations are created here at BYU. According to Stapley, these films include Mr. Bellpond, which won two Student Emmy’s in 2012, and even go back as far as The Phone Call and Johnny Lingo, films done through the BYU Motion Picture Studio back when the Motion Picture Studio was connected to BYU. “Another exciting option for those who visit our new website is to view the work done with Aperture, our student-ran journal of media arts,” Stapley said. “You can go here to read papers about media art, film, sound, etc. In this way we are able to combine critical studies with the actual production of film.” “Getting this website up and running in the format and in the depth that we have now is a great start,” Stapley said. “But, with the potential for additional opportunities that we are now realizing, we see this project getting much bigger in the future. Just to give you an idea, I know our students are starting to get really interested in creating web series. So, in the future, we might be using this website to launch those kinds of projects.”

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BYU FILMMAKERS WIN BIG AT THE LDS FILM FESTIVAL

Beau Jones — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:41:43 +0000

Brigham Young University students and alumni took up much of the screen time at this year’s LDS Film Festival, highlighting the talent and skills being nurtured here. Christian Vuissa founded the festival in 2001 while he was still an undergraduate studying media arts studies at BYU. The festival is now a major event that showcases an impressive array of feature films, special screenings and short films. Although it was originally founded for LDS filmmakers to network with each other and showcase their work to an appreciative audience, the event has quickly turned into an opportunity for all likeminded individuals to promote their filmmaking trade. BYU students and alumni have taken part of the event every year since its inception. This year, three BYU alumni went home with awards from the festival: Third place in the Short Film Competition — Without a Rope, by Nick Dixon, who also received an audience choice award. Honorable Mention in Short Film Competition -White Earth, by Christian Jensen Third Place in the 24-Hour Filmmaking Marathon — Tooth Fairy: A New Hope, group led by Raven Alard “Winning these awards is a great recognition,” said Nick Dixon, the creator of Without a Rope. “It’s nice to know the work we put into the film was appreciated and that our hard work paid off. A lot of time and energy went into making the film, so getting recognized is really gratifying.” [one_half]Cokeville Miracle[/one_half][one_half_last]Cokeville Miracle[/one_half_last] Other films made by Theatre and Media Arts students and alumnus included: Feature Films Freetown, Director: Garrett Batty; Writer: Melissa Leilani Larson, Garrett Batty; Producer: Adam Abel, Garrett Batty The Cokeville Miracle: Director: T.C. Christensen, actors included Kym Mellon, Barta Heiner Austenland: Director: Jerusha Hess; Writer: Jerusha Hess; Associate Producer: Jared Hess Meet the Mormons: Director, Blair Treu (Many media arts alums on the crew) Glimpses Beyond Death’s Door: Writer, Director, Producer: Brandon Smith; Executive Producer: Ron Brough The Heart of the Matter: Director: Jessica Mockett; Producer: Jessica Mockett, Nathan D. Lee, Jordan Harker; Director of Photography: Travis Cline Untitled Girl’s Camp Movie: Writer, Director: Maclain Nelson; Producer: Jake Van Wagoner, Lisa Clark, Hailey Smith, Clare Niederpruem; Executive Producer: Maclain Nelson; Director of Photography: Joel Remke; Production Designer: Anne Black Mythica: Director: Anne Black; Writer: Anne Black, Jason Faller, Kynan Griffin; Producer: Jason Faller, Kynan Griffin; Director of Photography: A. Todd Smith Survivor: Writer, Director, Producer: John Lyde; Executive Producer: Jason Faller, Kynan Griffin Short Films Newsies: Director: Jeff Parkin; Producer: Jared Cardon, Jeff Parkin, Babetta Kelly; Director of Photography: Jacob Schwarz White Earth: Writer, Director, Producer: J. Christian Jensen; Director of Photography, Editor: J. Christian Jensen Without a Rope: Writer, Director: Nick Dixon; Producer: Willem Kampenhout; Executive Producer: Tom Russell, Courtney Russell, Tom Lefler; Director of Photography: Gary Groth; Production Designer: Gina Thompson; Original Score: Spencer Russell; Editor: Jonathan Ying. Presentations and Panels Christian Vuissa Jerusha Hess Garrett Batty Studio C A complete list of all those honored at the festival can be found by clicking, here.

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NEW GENRES PROFESSOR IS AWARDED $10,000 FELLOWSHIP TO CONTINUE WORK

Beau Jones — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 17:39:30 +0000

Each year the Utah Division of Arts & Museums awards $10,000 fellowships to two individuals in recognition of their artistic excellence. This year, BYU professor Daniel Everett has been chosen for his work across a broad range of media including photography, video, sculpture, and installation. Everett is an artist and assistant professor of new genres in Brigham Young University’s Department of Art. Over the past few years, his work has been featured across the United States and Europe, bringing international and national attention back to Utah and BYU. “What the Utah Division of Arts & Museums does for artists is incredible and I’m extremely grateful to be a recipient of this award,” said Everett. “Utah has not always been such a welcoming place for contemporary art, but right now there is a growing group of very involved people working to change that. I think what they’re doing is wonderful.” Artists practicing in a variety of media such as painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, craft, and new genres apply for the fellowship each year. By only selecting two winners, this award shows the professionalism and quality demonstrated through the winners’ work. “I was quite surprised by the announcement,” said Everett. “I’m not exactly sure why I was chosen, as there are certainly a range of equally qualified artists. All I can say is that I take art seriously and work very hard at what I do.” In addition to awarding for excellence, the fellowship is also a way to encourage the careers of the winners. Everett hopes to use the award money to finalize two new bodies of work for exhibition. “My only real aspirations as an artist are to continue working in a sincere and dedicated way and pushing myself forward. I hope to be a part of a larger dialogue and one of the ways I see to achieve that is through exhibitions.”

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STUDENT, PROFESSOR COLLABORATION WINS BIG AND BRINGS IN BROADWAY DIRECTOR

Beau Jones — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 07:03:41 +0000

Dubbed as “a love story that isn’t spoiled by the trailer,” the new musical Single Wide has attracted national attention, awards and the opportunity to be performed Off-Broadway in the 2015 New York Music Theatre Festival (NYMF). What started as a joint project between Brigham Young University’s George D. Nelson, the head of the playwriting program in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, and Jordan Kamalu, a commercial music major in the School of Music, is now exploding into a star-studded venture. Jeff Whiting, a BYU Music Dance Theatre alumni and acclaimed Broadway director has just signed on to direct Single Wide’s world premiere at the NYMF festival in New York in July. “I’m honored to have been asked to help develop Single Wide and take it to the stage in New York,” said Whiting. “I love the piece! I think the story is going to translate well on the stage in the context of the dialogue and the music that’s been created, it’s going to make a real big splash in New York.” In addition to this privilege, Single Wide received the Blanche and Irving Laurie Musical Theatre Award from The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). This award recognizes the best new musical to be written and performed on a university campus in 2014-2015. Excerpts from the musical will be showcased at the KCACTF national festival in Washington D.C., this April. Single Wide follows a community of single women living in a trailer park in the southern United States. Katy, a single mother, living with her own single mother, is trying to get her son out of their “single wide” situation. For her, this means hard work and avoiding men, especially the type that left her there in the first place. But when her son befriends the reclusive new move-in two trailers down, she sees something different in him that makes her take a second look. “At the core of this musical is the story of an unlikely family that begins to come together. No one could have done this better than George,” said Whiting. “George has this ability to really create dialogue that sounds like people, the way they actually exist in their world. Then it’s Jordan’s score that really makes it fun. His music gives wonderful life and vibrancy to this piece. Their collaboration is what makes this project so brilliant and clever. “ “It’s thrilling that Single Wide has won these recognitions,” said Nelson. “These honors belong to our entire department and the atmosphere here that is supportive and conducive to the development of new works. I hope these awards are momentum-building.”

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BYU and ElevenNEWS Students Win Big at Gracies Awards

Beau Jones — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 20:12:12 +0000

Brigham Young University and four ElevenNEWS at Noon students won a grand total of five Gracie Awards in the student-level competition this year. The Gracies focus on recognizing exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women. Since 1975, these awards have been presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation to honor programming and individuals in radio, television, cable and web-based media. The numerous winners in this year’s competition highlight the caliber of students and quality instruction that can be found at BYU. “My education at BYU has allowed me to go beyond the classroom; the hands on opportunities to work in the lab and with professors have taught me so much,” said Rebecca Woahn, a senior in the journalism emphasis and Gracie winner. “I graduate in August and as I’ve been interviewing for internships and jobs, people are always impressed by the experiences that we have as undergraduates here at BYU.” For Lauren Butterfield, it has not only been receiving the Gracie Award that will forever be memorable, but also the experiences that she has had along the way. “I received the award for a story very close to my heart,” said Butterfield. “The story was about my 5-year old friend who not only fought cancer twice, but has beaten it both times. She is an inspiration and hero to me and it means so much that through her, I won a Gracie, which is all about the empowerment of women. I feel very blessed.” Below is a list of the Gracie Awards presented to BYU this year: CoogTube Outstanding Sports Program Brigham Young University Aubree Jones Outstanding Reporter/Correspondent Brigham Young University Lauren Butterfield Lifesaving Bond — Outstanding Soft News Feature Brigham Young University/KBYU Rebecca Woahn Outstanding On-Air Talent: Sports Program Brigham Young University/KBYU Tawny Zambrano Outstanding Director — News Brigham Young University/KBYU Each winner will receive their award at a ceremony in New York City in late June.

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