Presidential Perspective: the Blog of Nazareth College's Daan Braveman

Presidential Perspective: the Blog of Nazareth College's Daan Braveman

Welcome to the blog of President Daan Braveman, Nazareth College's ninth president.  Founded in 1924, Nazareth College is a co-ed college with undergraduate and graduate studies in the liberal arts and sciences, and professional programs in health and human services, education, and management. The College is located near Rochester, New York, and currently enrolls approximately 2,800 students. For more information on the College, visit www.naz.edu.

Nazareth in New York City

Last week I was in New York City and had the opportunity to see Garth Fagan Dance Company at the Joyce Theater. Garth Fagan Dance is a world-renowned company that is based in Rochester and has performed regularly at the Nazareth College Arts Center for more than three decades. Each year it also spends a week performing at the Joyce.

The works Garth Fagan Dance performed in New York City were outstanding and received very favorable reviews in the New York Times. One of the dances that the company performed in New York City—indeed, a dance that a reviewer said was one of Mr. Fagan’s finest works—was first performed at the recent opening gala at our renovated Arts Center. I was most proud of the fact that Nazareth College received some attention in the Joyce Theater program which specifically noted that the dance was commissioned for our Arts Center opening. For the entire week, capacity crowds at the Joyce Theater enjoyed “our” dance. As I watched a wonderful performance, I could not help but reflect proudly that Nazareth College’s commitment to the arts is impacting even the prestigious arts scene in New York City!

The Benches are Delivered

On a very warm day this past August, we announced the Benches on Parade project, a community arts project that will provide functional art designed by local artists. Next spring these benches will be displayed throughout the area, in parks, on streets and at businesses. After the benches have been on parade, they will be auctioned off and the proceeds will benefit the Nazareth College Arts Center and other non-profit groups in the community.

The other day was a bit cooler -- in fact, a much cooler fall day -- as we stood in front of the Democrat and Chronicle headquarters to announce that the benches have arrived! A truckload of about 15 of the more than 100 unadorned benches were on display. Over the next months, artists from throughout the region will have their opportunities to dress up the benches with all kinds of fun art.

In a few days we will have a session at our Arts Center for the artists to learn about how to work with the fiberglass benches. The art work will be completed by next summer when the benches will be displayed throughout the region. Nazareth College agreed to sponsor this project because it brings together the community, highlights the importance of art and culture in the Rochester region, and ultimately will benefit the Arts Center and nonprofit groups in the community. It’s an exciting project, and we’re very proud to take part.

Opening Night

What a weekend!! The opening of the new Nazareth Arts Center was billed as the “event of the season” for the Rochester community. In every respect it lived up to this billing. On Friday, September 25, 2009 over five hundred people - many more than the three hundred we expected - attended the opening of the new Art Gallery at the Nazareth College Arts Center. They were in for a real treat. The artwork by Bill Stewart and Nazareth faculty member Kathy Calderwood is spectacular. With its hardwood floors, curved walls and open ceiling, the gallery space itself is a perfect setting for displaying the art.    

The black-tie gala on Saturday night was an extraordinary evening. Six hundred guests filled the Jayne Summers Hall, the Lipson Lounge and the lobby off the Sands Pavilion. Musical entertainment throughout the building added to the enjoyment during the reception. Channel 10 televised live, interviewing a number of guests and bringing the gala into the homes of thousands in the area.

The program for the evening could not have been better. Rochester Children’s Theatre opened with a delightful recap of the Arts Center project from beginning to end. Following a showing of Channel 10’s production on the history of the Arts Center, Rochester City Ballet treated the audience to two beautiful pieces. The highlight was Garth Fagan Dance’s world premiere of a dance with live music by the Ying Quartet. Following the concert the artistic directors and performers joined the guests for a dessert reception.

Throughout the entire evening it was clear that the opening was a celebration not only for the College but for the larger Rochester community as well. Indeed, many local leaders joined the hundreds of local residents in recognizing the importance of the Arts Center to the area. Everyone who has seen the new Arts Center agrees that Nazareth now has the finest visual and performing arts venue in the region. This is wonderful for the College’s theater, music and art programs. And, it is equally terrific for the thousands of people in the area who will enjoy programs at the Arts Center for years to come. As Mayor Duffy shared in a note to me, “the Arts Center is a jewel for our community.”

Click here to see multimedia of the event, including photo galleries and local coverage.

The Rochester Arts Event of the Season

I just took another walk through the Arts Center to see the final touches being made. It is exciting to think that in only 12 days we will be celebrating the opening of the new Nazareth College Arts Center. Hundreds of people will be here on Friday, September 25, for the official opening of the new art gallery and to see a wonderful exhibit by Kathy Calderwood and Bill Stewart.

Then, the evening of Saturday, September 26, we will host the Rochester arts event of the season as we unveil the completely renovated Callahan Theater with performances by Garth Fagan Dance, the Ying Quartet, Rochester City Ballet and the Rochester Children’s Theatre. The evening’s highlight will be a world premiere performance by Garth Fagan Dance with music by the Ying Quartet. The evening will include receptions and opportunities to tour the entire Center, including the Sands Family Pavilion, the Wegman Family Sculpture Garden, the Jayne Summers Hall, the Lipson Patron’s Lounge, the Garth Fagan Fireplace Lounge, and the new art gallery. 

The celebration will continue through October 2. The public is invited to enjoy performances, lectures, and readings.

It seems like only yesterday that we started with a dream of renovating the Arts Center, which has served the College and the community for over four decades. Now that dream has become a reality as we prepare to open the premier mid-sized arts venue in the region. The new Arts Center will permit us to continue providing high quality educational programs to our art, music, and theatre students. The newly renovated Arts Center also will enable us to continue bringing top performers in the world to the greater Rochester community.   It is truly a time to celebrate!!    

(A note: to learn more about the Art Center, or to purchase tickets for any of the upcoming great performances, visit our website: http://www.naz.edu/artscenter)