<p><span>Our Meet an MFA series continues today with recently graduated PATP actor Taylor Jones!</span></p>

<p>Below is the full text of UW Drama PATP alum Sunam Ellis' (MFA '15) keynote speech at the UW Drama 2019 Graduation Ceremony. We feel sure you will find it as funny, wise, and inspirational as our graduates did. Happy graduation! </p>
<hr /><p>Thank you faculty, guests, families, friends, and graduating class of 2019 for having me here today. I am truly humbled.</p>

<p>Each year, the University of Washington recognizes 100 students from across all three campuses. The <a href="https://www.washington.edu/husky100/about/">Husky 100 website</a> says that these students connect activities inside the classroom and beyond to make a difference at the UW, in communities, and into the future.</p>

<p>It is the fifth year of the Seattle Art Fair. School-affiliated people are involved with the fair as well as having work shown at Seattle-area exhibitions during the fair.</p>
<p>This news post will continue to expand as more information becomes available.</p>
<h2>Seattle Art Fair</h2>
<ul><li>August 1–4, 2019</li>

<p>During the first part of June, Artist Trust announced the 2019 recipients for some of their major awards. Congratulations to everyone!</p>
<h2>Irving and Yvonne Twining Humber Award</h2>

<p>The Spring Quarter will start off packed with exciting events for the UW Department of Dance as it takes part in the international celebration of Merce Cunningham’s Centennial. In collaboration with the<a href="https://www.mercecunningham.org/activities/calendar//"&gt; Merce Cunningham Trust,</a> the dance departments of <a href="https://www.cornish.edu/news/release/cornish_dance_department_announces… College of the Arts</a> and the University of Washington will host a two-week teaching residency for Merce Cunningham Dance Company alums, Douglas Dunn and Holley Farmer. The two acclaimed artists will guide composition students in both schools through an immersion in Cunningham’s innovated and influential practices in chance operations. Farmer and current MFA candidate in dance at the UW, Brian Lawson will also teach technique classes in Cunningham technique.</p>
<p>Students will showcase their original work created over the course of the two weeks at the informal performance, “<a href="/events/2019-04-13/exploring-creative-legacy-merce-cunningham">Exploring the Creative Legacy of Merce Cunningham,” at the Henry Art Gallery on April 13th  at 2PM.</a> Traditional residencies usually involve company members setting choreography that already exists on students. Unique to this residency is that students will explore some of Cunningham’s most innovative and famous dance making structures, investigating first-hand methods to generate unexpected dances in the moment. In addition, the documentary, <a href="/events/2019-04-11/if-dancer-dances-seattle-film-premiere">“If the Dancer Dances,”</a> by former MCDC member Lise Friedman and Maia Wechsler, about the restaging of Cunningham’s work “Rainforest”, will be premiered<a href="/events/2019-04-11/if-dancer-dances-seattle-film-premiere"> at the Henry Art Gallery on April 11th at 7PM</a>.</p>

<p>Last winter, the Department of Dance hosted two dance artists, Ella Mahler and Erica Badgeley through the bst Residency. This Spring, the bst Residency is supporting two additional artists: Angel ‘Moonyeka’ Langley and Jessica Jobaris.<br /> <br />bst is a residency offered by the UW Department of Dance designed to support local dance artist by offering the gift of space and time in our coveted spacious studios when formal classes are not in session. bst offers the opportunity to experiment, make mistakes, revise ideas, and remain focused on the creative process without the pressure that accompanies commissioned works or performance deadlines. <a href="/body-space-time-residency">(Learn more about bst here)</a><br /> <br /> <br />About the 2019 Spring Recipients:<br /> </p>

<p>The Spring Quarter will start off packed with exciting events for the UW Department of Dance as it takes part in the international celebration of Merce Cunningham’s Centennial.

<p>Last winter, the Department of Dance hosted two dance artists, Ella Mahler and Erica Badgeley through the bst Residency. This Spring, the bst Residency is supporting two additional artists: Angel ‘Moonyeka’ Langley and Jessica Jobaris.<br /> <br />bst is a residency offered by the UW Department of Dance designed to support local dance artist by offering the gift of space and time in our coveted spacious studios when formal classes are not in session.

<p>The biennial Anne Focke Arts Leadership Award is offered by the School of Art + Art History + Design at the University of Washington to recognize individuals who pave the way for art, art history, or design to enliven and strengthen our community through their visionary and active leadership.</p>
<h2>2019 Award</h2>