Theatre alum earns high praise for role in Sanctuary City

Ashley Oviedo in a rehearsal studio with cast member King Hang behind her.

Ashley Oviedo (BFA 2020, Theatre) is featured in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review of Sanctuary City, a production by Next Act Theatre. In her debut at Next Act, Oviedo plays G, an undocumented immigrant teen. The article highlights how the play mirrors real immigration struggles in the present moment.

She praised her training and personal attention she received at UWM as giving her a voice for meaningful stories: “What draws me to a play like Sanctuary City is essentially the same thing that draws me to music and dance! I love telling stories, and from the time I was eight years old, it’s what I have always loved to do.”

Read the full story on JSOnline.

Music alum earns two awards at international guitar competition

Kyle Khembunjong, a recent graduate of UWM’s classical guitar studio, received second prize and the audience prize at the Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition in Denver over the weekend. The competition draws talented musicians from around the world.

UWM alum named director of the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus  

Jonathan Laabs (MM 2017, Music) was announced as the new director for the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan Laabs as Director of the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus,” said Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra’s music director Ernesto Estigarribia Mussi. “Jonathan brings a wealth of experience as a conductor, and his passion for choral music aligns perfectly with our mission to connect and inspire through song. His leadership and vision will undoubtedly elevate our chorus and enrich the musical experience for both singers and our community.” 

PSOA alum is the artist behind famous hyper-realistic sculptures 

Hyper-realistic sculpture

Marc Sijan (BFA 1971, Art-Sculpture) is regarded as one of the best hyper-realistic sculptors in the world, localizing his practice in Milwaukee’s Bay View area. Sijan has been working for decades to create sculptures, taking inspiration from real people and situations. 

In an article written by James Groh for NBC TMJ4, Sijan talks about his artistic path and his lifetime of work.  

“What motivates me? To outdo myself,” said Sijan. “To outdo something I’ve done before, all of them I’ve done before. To make the next one unique and have its own message.” 

To read the full article, visit TMJ4.  

Alum and Black Space co-founder extends mental health mission through her art

A black and white portrait of Nellie Vance

Nellie Vance (BA 2013, Art), artist and co-founder of Black Space, was featured in Shepherd Express for her creative work and community impact. Black Space is a free mental wellness resource for Milwaukee’s Black community, and Vance extends that mission through her art.

Specializing in portraiture, including well-known pet portraits, she also draws inspiration from nature, influenced by her upbringing in Green Bay and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. “Through both my art and nonprofit work, I want people to feel seen, heard, and included,” Vance shared in the article by Ben Slowey.

Read the full story on Shepherd Express.

Peck School of the Arts faculty member named 2025 Cunningham Commission Winner

Headshot of Alvaro Saar Rios

Peck School of the Arts theatre faculty member Alvaro Saar Rios (Associate Professor, Theatre) has been awarded the 2025 Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre by The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Rios, a Texican playwright based in Chicago, has had his work produced in Chicago, New York City, Mexico City, Hawaii, and throughout Texas. His plays include Luchadora! and Quetzali & Comic Book Queen vs. The Alebrije of Darkness. He also recently adapted Pam Muñoz Ryan’s novel Esperanza Rising for Milwaukee’s First Stage.

Through the Cunningham Commission, Rios will write a new play titled How to Catch an Alebrije. The story follows a group of eighth-grade friends searching for a mythical creature they believe can grant them one wish. Rios will develop the piece over the next year in collaboration with the Cunningham Commission Selection Committee and faculty at The Theatre School.

Dr. Ali-Reza Mirsajadi, chair of the Cunningham Commission Selection Committee and artistic director of Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences, praised the project.

“How to Catch an Alebrije captures the excitement and whimsy of childhood imagination at the intersection of Mexican culture and folk art,” Mirsajadi said. “Rios’s piece questions humanity’s relationship to power and control in a world where we coexist in balance with nature, creatures, and dreams.”

Rios reflected on the honor, noting his past experiences working with DePaul’s Chicago Playworks.

“Each experience left a strong impression on me, thanks to the talented performers, designers, and directors,” he said. “This play aims to incorporate puppetry, and I have no doubt that everyone involved will showcase the same creativity they brought to my previous works.”

At UW-Milwaukee, Rios serves as Associate Professor of Theatre and head of the Theatre Practices BA program, through which he mentors aspiring theatremakers who hope to contribute to and change theatre. He is also the creator of New Dramaworks, a Peck School of the Arts series introducing undergraduates to the craft of new play development.

UWM alum directs Netflix documentary on band Devo 

Still from Devo documentary

Chris Smith (MFA 1999, Film) directed a Netflix documentary on the new wave/post-punk band Devo. After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, Netflix picked up the project and released it to streaming services on August 19. 

The On Milwaukee article written by Molly Snyder sheds light on some thoughts and opinions about the film. The review of the project features opinions on the origins and story of the band as a fixture of the genre. 

To read the full article, visit On Milwaukee.  

PSOA dance instructor brings ballet to Geneva Lake 

Promotional image taken from Dawn Springer's personal website

Dawn Springer (Teaching Faculty I) of Dawn Springer Dance Company takes her new contemporary ballet “Sylph” to the Ferro Pavilion at the George Williams College of Aurora University in Geneva Lake, WI.  

Springer sat for an interview with Fox 6’s Bria Jones to speak further on the development of her project. For Springer, a central part of this piece was the shared experience ballerinas have with gender expectations.  

To watch the full video, visit Fox 6.  

Art MFA candidate credits faculty mentor for landing solo exhibition at Krasl Art Center

An exhibition on view in a gallery

Art MFA candidate Jack Lehtinen is the artist behind In the Lab: Poking Fun, a solo exhibition that recently closed its successful run at the Krasl Art Center in Michigan. The interactive installation explored how artificial intelligence has shifted physical and social interaction in a screen-mediated world. 

headshot of Lehtinen
Jack Lehtinen

Lehtinen, who earned his BA from the Peck School of the Arts and is now in the early stages of his MFA, drew inspiration from automatic drawing techniques pioneered by surrealists in the 1930s. He prompted a computer to generate random lines, which were then executed by a wall-mounted plotter, which he called his own personal drawing robot.  

Lehtinen completed the pieces by hand using crayons and other classroom materials to highlight human touch in contrast to the machine’s gestures. His work intentionally exacerbates the distortion commonly associated with AI-generated images. 

“I really want people to be critical about AI,” Lehtinen said. “I want to highlight the mistakes and to make people aware about what is or isn’t AI.” 

Lehtinen’s show opened the same weekend as a concurrent exhibition by his mentor, Dr. Nathaniel Stern (Professor and Co-Chair, Art & Design). Their shared opening drew a crowd of more than 200, including a group from UWM.  

The two artists have been closely connected since Lehtinen’s undergraduate days, when he worked as a research assistant for Stern and helped install an earlier solo show of Stern’s at Krasl. 

“I get a lot of inspiration from looking at his [Dr. Stern’s] work,” Lehtinen said. “I think he was incredibly influential in helping me get connected in the art world, which helped me land this solo exhibition.” 

A view of an art studio with colorful works in progress
A view inside Jack Lehtinen’s studio at Kenilworth Square East

Although it’s rare for a graduate student this early in their program to land a solo show at a respected venue, Lehtinen viewed the opportunity as the result of years of dedication. He made the leap into art during uncertain times and hasn’t looked back. 

“I switched my major to art in 2020 during the pandemic. That’s when I really started dedicating myself to my practice,” he said. “Just the fact that 5 years later I have a solo show is crazy.” 

He credits graduate school for providing the space to not only explore his creative practice but also explore new perspectives about social topics. 

“Graduate school has been the most influential thing in my practice,” Lehtinen said. “Just being given the opportunity to dedicate the past few years to my practice and spend time with my work is the biggest thing. Being given the praise and advice of my professors and time to develop my work has changed me greatly.” 

Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA, Film)

Film alum Soyeong Emma Chang featured in Shoutout LA

Soyeong Chang on a film set.

Soyeong Emma Chang (BFA 2021, Film) was featured in Shoutout LA for her growing career as a filmmaker. Chang shared how her undergraduate studies at UW-Milwaukee, where she worked closely with the late Carl Bogner, helped shape her artistic path.

After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, Chang continued on to UCLA for her MFA and is now building her career as a film director and producer in Los Angeles. “The more I learned, the more excited I became,” Chang said of her journey into filmmaking.

Read the full story on Shoutout LA.

New York Times features UWM talent at Northern Sky Theatre 

Owen Foulds, a junior, is seen backstage before “No Bones About It.”

The New York Times highlighted Door County’s Northern Sky Theatre in a feature by Elisabeth Vincentelli, with several Peck School of the Arts connections at the center of its 2025 summer season.

Assistant Professor Jason Orlenko (BA 2008, Theatre Studies) contributed to the productions, which also featured students Owen Foulds and Saana Harper, both juniors, and senior Nathaniel Contreras in acting and camp leader roles. The article explores the rewards and challenges of producing theatre in a unique outdoor setting, from post-COVID recovery to the artistry required to bring productions to life.

Read the full story on The New York Times.

Alum Ben Dameron leads jazz quartet Heirloom toward debut album release 

Guitarist, composer, and UWM alum Ben Dameron (MM 2017, Music) is co-leading the emerging jazz ensemble Heirloom as they prepare to release their debut album Familiar Beginnings this September. Rooted in the classical foundations of jazz, the record offers a contemplative sound driven by Dameron’s compositions, weaving together original works that explore personal and musical memory.  

“We wanted the record to evoke the feeling of discovering something new that still feels like home,” says Dameron. “It’s about cycles and moments that echo through our lives.” 

With its blend of reflection and experimentation, Familiar Beginnings marks a strong debut for the quartet and a meaningful step forward in Dameron’s creative career. 

Art alum’s claymation music video featured in Shepherd Express

Tommy Simms on set with a puppet, a monitor displaying what the camera is capturing, and a green screen in the background.

Tommy Simms (BFA 2011, Art) was featured in Shepherd Express for his claymation music video created for Milwaukee rock group Fuzzysurf, which will be screened at the Milwaukee International Short Film Festival this September.

Written by Keegan Mihm, the article highlights Simms’ lifelong passion for art, his discovery of animation while studying at UWM, and his continued success as a filmmaker. His past projects include Sucky and his senior animation film The Legend of Leatherface Larry, which was screened at the 67th Festival de Cannes.

Read the full story on Shepherd Express.

Dance MFA Students Turn Research into Performance 

Two individuals side by side: one seated in a gray shirt, the other in a black outfit posing with an extended arm.

UpStart is an experimental project choreographed, researched and performed by Dance MFA students at the Peck School of the Arts. Each performance reflects deeply personal themes and self-exploration by the individual artists.

Led by dance professor and graduate program director Maria Gillespie, the project features eight first- and second-year MFA students, each taking a unique approach to their work. The performances also include dancers from both UWM and the Milwaukee dance community.

Alex Hlavaty, a first-year MFA candidate, created a piece centered on the poetry of Ocean Vuong alongside his own poetic techniques. After discovering a love for poetry during his undergraduate studies, Hlavaty found space in the MFA program to blend his writing practice with movement, while exploring how personal experiences of art can resonate with others.

“I was researching Ocean Vuong, and he writes a lot about his cultural background, his relationship with his parents, and his relationship with himself and his culture, and I thought, well art exists in everything,” said Hlavaty. “I thought about how I can put myself into his shoes and how can I relate to this experience?”

Kelly Williamson, also a first-year MFA student, brings a background in comedy and a lifelong fascination with costuming—sparked by watching Solid Gold dancers as a child. Her piece, Divorcing Cindy Sherman, began as an exploration of the artist’s photography but evolved in response to a key question from Gillespie: Why costumes?

“Originally my piece was about the photography of Cindy Sherman, but then Maria Gillespie posed the question ‘why costumes?’,” said Williamson. “So, why costumes? Why do you have these things? Then it became a little bit less about Cindy Sherman and a little bit more about the idea of being addicted to costuming.”

The MFA cohorts drew heavily on resources at PSOA to research and develop their pieces, from access to studio space to support for academic inquiry. But for many, the collaborative spirit has been the most impactful element of the process.

“The feedback and help I’ve received is very beneficial,” said Williamson. “It’s great to have feedback from amazing artists who have never seen my work. The whole concept is amazing to me.”

A central goal of UpStart is to foster community connections. While the performances reflect each choreographer’s vision, the cast includes undergraduate dancers and community members who serve as performers, designers, and collaborators, many taking on multiple roles.

“I’ve been taking my ideas and proposing the questions to my dancers: how do you fit into these ideas?” said Hlavaty. “They are really a great bunch. They are so open to my ideas and trying new things. I’ve even using some of the movements they’ve created and incorporating them into my performance.”

As UpStart takes shape, it becomes more than a showcase of individual choreography. It’s a space for dialogue, risk-taking and mutual influence. For the dancers involved, it’s both a performance and a research practice, one that’s helping define what it means to make dance in community.

UpStart is July 30 at 7 p.m. at UWM’s Mitchell Hall Studio 254. Tickets and more information are available on the PSOA events calendar.

Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)

UWM film alum speaks on career in experimental documentary 

Lenore Rinder and her crew

Lenore Rinder (MFA 1986, Film) has built a long and accomplished career as an experimental documentary filmmaker. Her work has earned international acclaim and reflects a lifelong commitment to both artistic expression and humanitarian values. Rinder began her filmmaking journey at UWM’s Peck School of the Arts, laying the foundation for a practice that has taken her across the globe. 

Humanitarian Focus in Film 

Rinder describes herself as a humanitarian and animal rights activist, with her films often focusing on animal conservation and extinction. Much of her work centers on endangered species in India and the environmental challenges they face. 

“I’m just as concerned with animal extinction as I am with human extinction,” Rinder said. “We’re killing them and poisoning them with fertilizers and chemicals.” 

Her filmography includes People of the Wild Tiger (2017), which explores the plight of India’s endangered tiger population—a project for which she received the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary Nohl Suitcase Travel Grant. She also directed Kagaraja (2019), a film about the illegal trade of animals and animal goods in Bangalore. Rinder is the filmmaker behind the award-winning Monkey Eden (2023), which examines human-animal conflict as monkeys increasingly encroach on urban environments. Her most recent project, Island of Elephants (2024), documents the challenges elephants face as their habitats disappear. 

“I like to dream and shoot film of whatever animal I’m studying,” said Rinder. “I’m studying the conflict with people and their conflict with animals.” 

Throughout her career, Rinder has developed strong ties in India, working closely with local guides and communities. She also maintains connections to UWM, having collaborated with alumni such as Yinan Wang (BFA 2017, Film), now a lecturer. Her repeated trips to India have deepened her understanding of the country’s culture and ecology. 

“There are all kinds of surprises and wonderful things. I love India; the people are really kind and helpful to me,” Rinder said. “As an artist, I think the colors are beautiful, and everywhere you go—from the markets to the parties—celebrations are always happening.” 

Cinematic Journey Begins at UWM

The Peck School’s Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres is recognized for its focus on experimental, non-commercial film. Rinder was among the first to attend and graduate from what is now known as the Cinematic Arts MFA program. Her time at UWM shaped her artistic approach and understanding of the medium. 

“What I learned about film from UWM was a huge eye-opening experience about what film is, what is okay to do in film, and what the media is possible of doing,” Rinder said. 

Rinder began her studies at UWM at age 29, after earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Macalester College and working a series of photography jobs. When she started graduate school, she had little exposure to experimental film. 

“When I started graduate school, I didn’t know anything about experimental films,” Rinder said. “There was a lot of work that went into manual filmmaking. It was a lot of independent black and white filmmakers. I just loved it; it was like photography but moving.” 

Since earning her MFA, Rinder has explored several other art forms in addition to film. She is a graphic artist, a published poet and continues to pursue photography. She integrates these creative practices into her filmmaking, seeing them as interconnected expressions of her artistic vision. 

A lifelong learner, she encourages others to embrace the creative process, even when it feels uncertain. 

“If you’re frustrated or don’t like something, let it sit for a while,” Rinder said. “If you can, leave it for a week. Keep trying and making mistakes, try different things.” 

Payton Murphy ’27 (Film BFA)