We hope you enjoy the 2nd Installment
In this second digital installment of the 12th edition of the UVA Arts Magazine, we continue to look back and highlight some of the incredible work of our students, faculty, and staff from the past year. Although these stories focus on work that has been done in the past, they continue to teach us lessons about our shared humanity and collective future, as art has historically and profoundly been such a strong vehicle for such progress.
These stories also portray a glimpse of what is to come when our students return to grounds in just over a month. Our faculty and staff are currently hard at work to prepare for the new environment and challenges that our students will assuredly face this fall, but as they have proven time and time again, they will certainly find creative solutions that will allow them to continue to deliver an excellent education and student experience.
Our world is changing at a seemingly exponential rate, in some new and unexpected ways, and in some ways that feel to have been long-coming, but one of the constants through this turbulent era is the solace and inspiration that the Arts provides to everyone. We hope that the stories you read in this installment of the UVA Arts Magazine provide you with just that and we encourage you to share with your friends and family.
You will read about several amazing young women, two of which have channeled their artistic talent and story-telling into the medium of film. Wanuri Kahiu was a special guest of the Virginia Film Festival in 2019 and is an award-winning filmmaker from Kenya. Her film, Rafiki, a love story between two girls, was banned in Kenya, but Kahiu took the Kenya Film Classification Board to court and fought for her constitutional rights to Freedom of Expression and won. Michelle Miles, a recent UVA grad, with a fierce drive and work ethic and a keen artistic talent, wrote and produced a short film, how did we get here?, that screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.
As the Architecture school celebrated its 100th anniversary, they chose to celebrate by exploring what the next 100 years might look like and their role within UVA, in the arts and academia, and in the world. Planning for a bright future, while honoring a rich and significant past, this edition also features a story about Architectural Scholar Mabel O. Wilson and her mission to confront issues of Race in American History and physical space.
We want to thank you, so much, for your continued readership, patronage, and support, especially now. Your investment fuels the future success of the arts and programs you’ll read in this installment and we are truly grateful.
Best wishes,
Jody Kielbasa
Vice Provost for the Arts
Director, Virginia Film Festival
University of Virginia
Contact: uvaartsmagazine@virginia.edu