Tandem Alumni Newsletter

In
Tandem

Alumni Newsletter
Fall 1997

New design: please click the photos for captions and enlargements.

[ Pg. 1 | Newsbriefs | Spotlight On | From the Board ]

[ Pg. 2 | Alumni Notes ]

[ Pg. 3 | 1997 Alumni Reunion ]

[ Home | Online Form | Contact ]

Dear Alumni,

The beginning of the 1997-1998 year at Tandem also marks the beginning of the first 25th year class reunion! It is a milestone John Howard and Duncan Alling dreamed of in the school's early years. A look through these pages will reveal just what a vital and thriving community Tandem has been and continues to be. Alumni are starting new businesses, travelling to Croatia and Brazil, working in theater, film, and music, and starting new families. Current students play sports, perform on stage, start senior projects, chair the student Senate, and develop independent study courses.

A new What's Inside feature [not needed in the web version] should help you navigate the pages of the newsletter a little better. As requested by alumni, the newsletter contains more information on events and happenings at Tandem, fundraising information, and a letter from a current Tandem Board of Directors member and alumnus. I am most excited about the addition of a "past faculty & staff" feature to the Alumni Notes. A big, warm, "thanks" to Inger Kretsinger for promptly volunteering to be the first Tandem staff representative. Photos of a great summer reunion round out this edition of In Tandem. Enjoy!

NEWSBRIEFS

Sian Richards '93 was stunning in the role of Sally Bowles in the August Live Arts Theater Production of Cabaret. Evening performances were sold out from opening night to closing. C'Ville Weekly's Barbara Rich reviewed the show: "Richards is a revelation in the part. Her voice is clear and sexy; her every movement mesmerizing. Richards is Sally Bowles." Lila Fenton '94 also got to flex her dramatic muscle in the role of Mausy, one of the Kit Kat girls. Her fire engine red patent leather pants stole the last scene. Alumna Corey Lloyd '92 was again on hand as the Live Arts wardrobe mistress while Brooke Plotnick '91 and Penny Ward '89 served dinner to the theater goers who chose table seats and a catered meal to accompany their night in the infamous Kit Kat Klub.

On Saturday, May 3, The Daily Progress reported that the Downtown Mall's former Advance Auto store had recently become art space with the opening of a senior show by studio art major Dolly Joseph '92 (not to be confused with sister Polly '74). Dolly's work was featured on the front page of our local newspaper.

Both The Daily Progress and The Charlottesville & Albemarle Observer covered the story of Tandem alumnus Andrew "Drew" Murray '73. Drew wants to open his family's Panorama Farms to mountain bikers. His idea is to use the farmland for recreational purposes, to maintain open space, rather than to sell it off to land developers. Murray plans to create 15 miles of mountain bike trails to be used for sport, recreation and even competition.

"Simona Holloway-Warren has broken up the boy's club" according to The Daily Progress. On June 23 of this year, the paper carried a front page article on the involvement of women in auto sales. Simona is the only woman in Charlottesville who has been selling cars for 11 years. She discussed gender equity in pay, as car salespeople generally work on commission, and her per month sales figure of 12 to 15 cars, well above the national average of 8.2.

Richard Spurzem's smiling face graced the cover of the May 6-12 issue of C'ville Weekly. Inside was a feature article detailing the ups and downs of owning Waynesboro Village outlet mall. Spurzem and past Tandem parent Ludwig Kuttner (Fabian Kuttner '94) bought the mall in 1994 and, despite initiatives designed to lure both shoppers and retailers to the complex, have yet to see growth in the number of shoppers that visit the complex annually. The article highlights all the right reasons to visit Waynesboro Village over Potomic Mills. For example, "golf carts ferry tired shoppers around the outdoor complex" versus "too crowded and full of vulgarians." Hmm, guess which is which?

The Washington Post featured a late Spring article on the D.C. area's "Film Biz Happy Hour," a monthly event for area film and video professionals. Meredith Cole '88 was interviewed for the piece. She enjoys the monthly get together for the chance to reestablish old friendships and mingle with creative people in a city where, according to Meredith, it's "still easy to get lots of people excited about making a film..."

One of downtown's Charlottesville's favorite java joints, Higher Grounds, featured new graphite-on-paper collages by Tandem alum Steve Ingham '88 in early October. C'Ville Weekly noted that the show, "'Devil Dogs' tends to dwell mostly on Ingham's canine aesthetic. As usual, he churns them out and sells them for low prices."

[ Pg. 1 | Newsbriefs | Spotlight On | From the Board ]

[ Pg. 2 | Alumni Notes ]

[ Pg. 3 | 1997 Alumni Reunion ]

[ Home | Online Form | Contact ]

Spotlight on... Chris Ashley '90
Okay, so maybe I wasn't calling from Premiere, Variety, or even The Daily Progress, but I wanted an interview. So what if it was 4 o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday; who ever said my working hours were regular? Before he even said "hello," I heard TV noises and the unique sounds that could only be made by a two year-old buzzing around in the background. Despite the interruption, the young screenwriter, director, and father gladly took the chance to speak with me about his upcoming project.
By the time this newsletter goes to the printers, the film will have been shot and Chris Ashley will be submitting it to several film festivals. The 30 minute feature is the first in a longer three part story that Chris originally told in photos and drawing. "I was an Art major," he noted, citing the film's "theatrical" and "staged" qualities. Though hush on the details, Chris explained that this story of friendship, specifically among two men in their mid to late twenties, is not told in the typical emotional dramatic style. The characters find themselves in situations in which they react as they never expected they would. For Chris, it is subject matter that must be treated with a "soft touch." But don't expect your "typical talky angst-ridden" 20-something film, he warned. His work has a "fantasy" almost "fairy-tale" quality to it. He admits that the situations in which the characters find themselves may not seem realistic; however, he offers them as a metaphor for the issues we wrestle with in life.
Chris has worked in New York City, but returned to Charlottesville to develop and shoot the film . To make the picture in New York would have been too expensive. His $25,000 budget is extremely modest even by low-budget film standards. The availability and pricing of Charlottesville locations (for example: $200/day site fee for Albemarle High School vs. $4,000/day in NYC) makes it possible for him to use higher quality technical services, such as a Hollywood lighting truck for the major location shoots. This will give the film a visual quality that will disguise its tiny budget. Aside from the Albemarle High School location, additional scenes were shot at Escafe, Live Arts Theatre Space, a local fraternity house, and the home of Jay Holloway '90 in Albemarle. The crew took a road trip, for the last day of shooting, to New York's Central Park.
Chris ultimately hopes that his 30 minute film will be among those featured in the Virginia Film Festival, held here in Charlottesville each Autumn. He looks forward to the opportunity to show off some local talent. The film is heavy with it. Chris will be staring in the film. Sian Richards '93 and Lila Fenton '94 are among the cast members, as is local theater talent Larry Emmons. Patrick Huddleston '93 joined the production as technical support. And last but not least, Tandem students were featured as extras in the scene shot at Albemarle High School.
The film is entitled "Reflection Free." Keep an eye out for it at the Virginia Film Festival in late October.

Do you want to put the spotlight on an alumnus/a that you know?
Contact Alumni Affair with your ideas!

[ Pg. 1 | Newsbriefs | Spotlight On | From the Board ]

[ Pg. 2 | Alumni Notes ]

[ Pg. 3 | 1997 Alumni Reunion ]

[ Home | Online Form | Contact ]

From the Board
It seems that only a few years ago I was a member of the Tandem community as a student. Now I'm returning as a member of the Board of Directors. The quality of the faculty and students remains outstanding and the cooperative efforts embedded in the idea of community remain. Yet, changes have come to Tandem in the form of new development. As a student, I remember that Tandem lacked indoor athletic facilities, but we made up for that lack of facilities with extra enthusiasm and confidence. With the addition of the Field House, I am confident that the student body will retain this spirit, enhanced by new, expanded facilities.
As always, the strength of Tandem remains its students, who infuse the place with energy and forward-looking confidence. As a member of the Board, I hope to contribute my efforts to help further academic achievement and to utilize new strategies in contributing to the personal growth of the members of the Tandem community. In many ways, Tandem is the place where I grew up. I am encouraged to see others growing and achieving through community efforts and extensive cooperation.
Thank you, Tandem, for the opportunity to once again be part of this unique community. I look forward to the challenges ahead and I see a bright future for Tandem. I salute the outgoing members of the Board for their exemplary efforts on behalf of Tandem. Finally, I hope that, in the future, more alumni will have the opportunity and the privilege to serve as members of the Tandem Friends Board.
-Ken Brown '91
Note: Blair Williamson '83, is also an active member of the Tandem Friends Board.

This winter, help give us a BOOST! Join the Alumni Affairs Coodinator, Alumni Council Members and other interested alumni, to help plan 1998 reunion. Keep your eyes open for information on a late December planning meeting to which all alumni are invited. We want your input. Look for dates and times in a Dember alumni mailing.

[ Pg. 1 | Newsbriefs | Spotlight On | From the Board ]

[ Pg. 2 | Alumni Notes ]

[ Pg. 3 | 1997 Alumni Reunion ]

[ Home | Online Form | Contact ]

Please Continue to Page 2

Alumni Affairs
Tandem Friends School
279 Tandem Lane
Charlottesville, VA 22902
(434) 296-1303

To the Tandem Friends Home Page

To the Alumni Home Page

You may contact me with comments & suggestions about the web version.
My web page is LaPage.com - Kitchin '81

To contact Tandem Alumni Affairs, visit http://www.tandemfs.org.