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NEWS / FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
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ART AND DESIGN
Professor helps students design an ever-changing industry
BY JENNY TERRELL
iterrell@kanran.com
jterrell@kansan.com
You can see Tad Carpenter's graphic artwork almost anywhere — from the walls in Wesco Hall to the pages of magazines and children's books around the world.
But the artist himself can be a bit more difficult to track down, unless you're a KU student. He teaches on the second floor of the Art and Design
the Art and Design Building
Every night growing up Carpenter and his dad
A 2003 KU graduate and design lecturer in the School of the Arts, Carpenter grew up in an artistic environment. Both of his parents are also artists. His dad, Steve, is an illustrator and has worked at Hallmark for more than 30 years.
would sit down and draw before they went to bed.
"He never questioned what he was going to do," said Becki Carpenter, Tad's mother. "All they did was draw."
Becki said when Tad was in grade school, he entered a drawing contest for the ticket design of the Kansas City Chiefs. Tad won t he contest, which
awarded him
with season tickets featuring his own design.
"I've always kind of known that I wanted to do something of that nature." Tad said.
Now his life is design. He does his ownfreelance work andco-runs Vahalla Studios, a design company
Out of Karsas
He teach-
two graphic
design classes at the University. To top it off, last June he married a graphic designer who works at Willoughby design Group in Kansas City, Mo.
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Contributed artwork
Although he is a young teacher here at the University, his students do not mind the narrow age gap.
"He's really down to earth and he knows what's going on, especially in graphic design," Andy
Tad Carpenter is a 2003 University of Kansas graduate and a design lecturer in the School of the Arts. Carpenter, who grew up drawing every night, has done work for companies like Target, Atlantic Records, MySpace and Hallmark Cards.
Armstrong, a sophomore from
ong, a sophomor Lansing, said.
Melanie McQuade, a junior from Lenexa, said she also appreciated the input from Carpenter because of his experience in the field.
Tad said he tried to prepare his students for the real world by sharing his current projects and how that translated from the classroom into day-to-day situations.
This month Tad is working on multiple projects.
That includes a children's activity book with San Francisco publisher Chronicle Books, as well as books with publisher Simon and Schuster. He said his most exciting project right now was designing all of John Mayer's concert posters for February and March with Vahalla.
Tad said his favorite part of
working in design was the constant change.
"It's always different which is why design is so exciting." Tad said. "You become an expert in a little field for a couple months and then you move on."
Edited by Taylor Bern
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Jun Kurbaybash, center, returns to his hometown and his alma mater as a performer with Pilobulos, a dance theatre that combines innovation and creativity to transform contemporary dance. The company performs at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Lied Center.
1301 West 24th Street (785) 842-5111
DANCE
KU alum flips at chance to return
BY ALISON CUMBOW alisonc@kansan.com
Sixyears ago, Jun Kurtibayashi, a Lawrence native and 2004 graduate, was what KU students refer to as a "towne." Now, he travels across the country to perform difficult stunts, flips and catapults as a feature dancer with the dance theatre Pilobolus.
Tonight, hell show his hometown and his alma mater what he can do when Pilobolus performs at 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center.
"I saw a Pilobolus performance here in 2002," he said. "That's really insane to be performing on the stage where I was oo-ed and aw-ed on the audience side."
Pilobolus, a non-traditional and modern dance theatre, uses collaboration and improvisation in its choreographic approach, according to the press release. Tonight's show marks the second Pilobolus performance at the Lied Center. Dancers perform stunts such as flips and contortionist movements, resulting in a six-piece program that Karen Christilles, associate
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GALACTIC Spoonfed Tribe
GRANADA
The Steepwater Band
Thursday March 4
Wed February 10
GOV'T MULE
Thursday March 4
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Saturday March 27
Patty Griffin
Buddy Miller
LIBERTY HALL
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Jason Castro Caitlin Crosby
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GREAT
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Sat February 6
TWILIGHT HOURS
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Wed Feb10 LATE SHOW Gov't Mule Afterparty--free
BRODY BUSTER BAND
Thurs February 11
TREVOR HALL
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director of the Lied, said is both innovative and creative.
Making the performance look easy, though, involves a bit of acting, Kuribayashi said.
"Not only do you have to lift me with one arm over your head, you have to look like you're enjoying it and that it's like nothing," he said.
In looking forward to his second Pilobolus performance at the Lied, Kuribayashi said his experiences as a student in the University's dance department helped him transition into his career as a professional dancer.
"They put up with me," he said. "Ultimately, it came down to them not trying to mold me in the image of what a professional dancer should be."
Kuribayashi's previous professors and many current dance students will be in the audience to support one of their own.
"It's always wonderful for students to see graduates of their degree program be so successful," said Janet Hamburg, professor of dance. Hamburg had Kuribayashi in four of her classes during his time at the University and said she is very proud of him.
It is this support and pride that Kuribayashi said he looks forward to when he returns to Lawrence.
"I hear back from all my teachers," he said. "You feel a sense of community here."
Edited by Sarah Bluvas
PILOBOLUS DANCE
THEATRE
7:30 p.m. tonight at the
Lied Center.
Cost is $15-$30
JUN'S LAWRENCE FAVES
JUN'S LAWRENCE FAVES
RESTAURANT: Jade Garden
BAR: In 2004, The Granada
PLACE: Open gym at Lawrence Gymnastics Academy
HOW TO CATAPULT:
1. Three people
2. Two people side-by-side with hands together
3. Third person jumps into linked hands
4. Two people lift third into the air
5. Third person rolls off.
JUN'S FIRST PIECE OF THE SHOW TONIGHT
HOW TO CATAPULT:
NATIONAL
5. ) Third jumps and rolls
Earthquake rattles Northern California
SAN FRANCISCO — Residents of Northern California's Humboldt County were rocked by a magnitude-5.9 earthquake Thursday, but officials said there were no immediate reports of major injury or damage from the second large temblor to hit the area within a month.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake struck at 12:20 p.m. about 35 miles northwest of the community of Petrolia and nearly 50 miles west of Eureka.
The shaking was felt within a 150-mile radius, as far north as southern Oregon and as far south as Sonoma County, according to the USGS Web site.
Local officials and residents reported feeling a rolling sensation that caused items to fall from walls and shelves. Many said the movement didn't feel nearly as severe as the magnitude-6.5 quake that struck the same region Jan. 9 and caused more than $40 million in damage and one serious injury — an elderly woman who fell and broke her hip.
Associated Press
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