Syracuse University

The College of Visual and Performing Arts' (VPA) Interdisciplinary Committee has awarded five grants to VPA faculty for interdisciplinary projects for the 2007-08 academic year. Funded by the office of Dean Carole Brzozowski, the grants are a new and integral part of an initiative developed by the college in 2006 to encourage interdisciplinary study and engagement activities.

"To be considered for a grant, faculty had to submit a proposal to the committee, which evaluated them according to the potential of each to bring together two or more disciplines through new methods of teaching and research," says Joanna Spitzner, assistant professor of foundation in the college's School of Art and Design and a committee member.

The following VPA faculty received grants:

• Anne Beffel and Sarah McCoubrey, associate professors of foundation in the School of Art and Design, and Anne Demo, assistant professor in the School of Art and Design, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies and Department of Transmedia, for a yearlong research group on community and the arts that would culminate in course development or proposals for further research;
  

  
  

• Emily Fleisher, adjunct professor of fiber arts/material studies in the School of Art and Design, to develop the class "Kinetic Aesthetic," which would explore interactive/kinetic art and involve issues in such disciplines as the studio arts, design, engineering, transmedia and architecture;
  

  
  

• Mary Giehl, assistant professor of sculpture in the School of Art and Design, for development of "Extending the Body Through Sculpture," a class that would allow students in the fashion design, sculpture and fiber arts/material studies programs to explore how the body can be used as an armature to create conceptual and sculptural clothing;
  

  
  

• Alexander Koziara, associate professor of design/technical theater in the Department of Drama, to develop a new production and supporting curriculum for a holiday theatrical production that would involve the cities of Syracuse and Florence, Italy; and
  

  
  

• Judith Meighan, assistant professor of foundation, and Edward Aiken, associate professor of museum studies in the School of Art and Design, to team teach the classes "Curating an Exhibition: From the Inside Out" (ART 500), a studio-based course for undergraduates and graduates, and "Advanced Curatorship" MUS 703, a course for graduate students in the museum studies program; students would work together to develop and launch an exhibition in the Syracuse community.