Spirit Magazine

Patriot Pressure Results in Record-breaking Men鈥檚 Basketball Season

Katarina Benson — Wed, 21 May 2025 20:53:51 +0000

Patriot Pressure Results in Record-breaking Men鈥檚 Basketball Season Katarina Benson Wed, 05/21/2025 - 16:53

George Mason鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball had its best season in the program's Atlantic 10 history, with accolades that cement this season鈥檚 team in university history.聽聽

With 15 A-10 league victories the Patriots set a new university record and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history. The Patriots also locked up a double bye in the A-10 Tournament for the first time and reached a conference title game for the first time since 2009. Additionally, they won their first-ever A-10 regular season title (shared with Virginia Commonwealth 麻豆国产), achieved the program鈥檚 first National Invitation Tournament victory since 2004, and earned a university record-tying 27 overall victories this season.聽聽

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of 麻豆国产 Branding

The Patriots also swept their A-10 home schedule (9-0) for the first time and won five straight A-10 road games for the first time in program annals. The team's 11-game win streak from January 8 to February 18 was the second longest in the nation at the time.聽

Head coach Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, has quickly established himself as one of the top young head coaches in the nation. In addition to being named the 2024-25 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Skinn is a national finalist for the Ben Jobe Award and the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, which recognizes a Division I head coach who wins with integrity both on and off the court.聽聽

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of what we鈥檙e built over these two years, most importantly because of where we鈥檝e built it,鈥� Skinn says. 鈥淕eorge Mason gave me an opportunity 20 years ago, and without it, I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today. It means the world to have reestablished the championship culture we took so much pride in as players here. I appreciate the continued support of [President] Washington and Marvin Lewis as we navigate this new college basketball landscape and position ourselves on the national stage.鈥�聽

In March the university extended Skinn鈥檚 contract through the 2029-30 season.聽

George Mason鈥檚 elite Patriot Pressure defense ranked in the Top 25 nationally this season, and the Patriots led the nation in field goal defense. Skinn has been instrumental in the development of dynamic players who have brought his Patriot Pressure vision to life.聽聽

Senior Jared Billups became George Mason鈥檚 first conference Defensive Player of the Year since 2001 and is a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award, given to the nation鈥檚 top defensive player.聽

Jalen Haynes earned NABC All-District First Team honors and was just the second All-A-10 First Team pick in university history. Additionally, Darius Maddox earned NABC All-District Second Team accolades and a position on the All-A-10 Third Team. Both Haynes and Maddox garnered A-10 All-Tournament accolades after shining on the national stage.聽聽

George Mason alumna makes a career of bringing talent into the spotlight

Colleen Rich — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:34:39 +0000

George Mason alumna makes a career of bringing talent into the spotlight Colleen Rich Mon, 05/12/2025 - 16:34

From her small hometown of Ruther Glen, Virginia, to the bright lights of New York City, Gilda Squire, BA Communication 鈥�95, has forged a career that defies convention. It is a journey that has led Squire from the federal government through Wall Street, into book publishing, and finally landing as a powerhouse publicist and talent manager for some of entertainment鈥檚 brightest stars, including Angela Bassett, Bebe Neuwirth, and ballet icon Misty Copeland.聽

Gilda Squire with one of her clients Wendell Pierce. Photo provided

With a larger-than-life career requiring confidence and flexibility to thrive, Squire credits George Mason 麻豆国产 for providing the bold foundation for a dynamic life鈥攔ight next to the spotlight.聽

For Squire, George Mason was a strategic choice that aligned with her plans to work in an industry with culture and creativity at its core. 鈥淚 liked the idea that it was just outside of D.C., and I really loved that there was such an international population of students there,鈥� Squire said. 鈥淚 felt like that was an introduction to the world without leaving the D.C. area.鈥�

Her path into the university was anything but traditional. Postponing her education after her mother鈥檚 passing, Squire eventually enrolled at George Mason at the urging of a work supervisor and tackled the challenge of working and studying full time.聽

The university became her gateway to global learning, offering friends and experiences that opened doors to new cultures and perspectives. 鈥淚t was interesting because their cultures were front and center, as was mine,鈥� said Squire. 鈥淲e enjoyed learning about each other, and not many universities can offer that organically.鈥�

Squire would take that zest for learning into a role at Goldman Sachs, where a corporate communications job led to her creating cultural programming that remains at the organization today. An eventual position at HarperCollins Publishers provided an opportunity to champion underrepresented voices in literature and eventually led to Squire launching her own talent management firm, Squire Media & Management.

A chance encounter with ballet dancer Misty Copeland ignited Squire鈥檚 determination to bring her into the spotlight. Struck by the lack of mainstream recognition for a Black dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Squire felt compelled to share a story the world needed to hear鈥攖he extraordinary rise of a young Black woman from an impoverished background to one of the world鈥檚 most prestigious stages.聽

With a major media push that landed features on shows like 60 Minutes and CBS This Morning, Copeland quickly moved from small roles to being cast as the lead dancer in Stravinsky鈥檚 Firebird, a coveted role that had only been danced by a Black woman once before.

For Squire, this was proof that the power of storytelling could do more than change one career鈥攊t could influence the world. 鈥淎t that point, I said, oh, this is it. This is what we鈥檝e been working for,鈥� said Squire. 鈥淧eople are going to get a chance to see her dance.鈥澛�

And Squire鈥檚 work did more than elevate Copeland鈥檚 career鈥攊t brought more diverse audiences into the world of ballet.聽

From helping Copeland make history to playing a role in actress Angela Bassett finally bringing home an Oscar, Squire has had a hand in some significant cultural moments. Her next challenge is representing former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Squire draws a clear line connecting her success and her time at George Mason. 鈥淚t was at Mason that I realized the world is a wide-open space where I can do whatever I want to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven if nothing else happened, the life and career I鈥檝e had is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed.鈥澛�

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Start your own journey studying Communications

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CVPA: By the Numbers 2023-2024

Lynden Tennyson — Mon, 12 May 2025 19:05:30 +0000

CVPA: By the Numbers 2023-2024 Lynden Tennyson Mon, 05/12/2025 - 15:05

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Spirit Magazine

Spirit Spring 2025

The State of the Arts

Katarina Benson — Tue, 06 May 2025 16:38:41 +0000

The State of the Arts Katarina Benson Tue, 05/06/2025 - 12:38

For decades, George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 Center for the Arts has been integral to the cultural life of Northern Virginia. With a new campaign, it鈥檚 heading toward its next big premiere: a reimagined facility.

Rick Davis, dean of George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), says people have told him that there are two eras of university history鈥攂efore the Center for the Arts opened its doors and after.

Since its debut in 1990, the center has brought award-winning artists and performing groups from around the world to the Fairfax Campus, where they have engaged with students and the community. The facility also supports the creative work of George Mason students in a variety of arts fields and has become a central spot for special events and annual degree celebrations.

In February, after three and a half decades of service and 6.5 million visitors, CVPA announced plans to renovate and modernize the Center for the Arts to improve and enhance the venue鈥檚 ability to support the needs of artists, audiences, and George Mason faculty and students.

A rendering that shows a concept for the reimagined Concert Hall.

This $35 million fundraising effort, called the Give Voice initiative, is part of Mason Now: Power the Possible, the university鈥檚 first $1 billion comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship.

鈥淔or decades, our Center for the Arts has been a beacon for talent and innovation, a proving ground for students learning their craft and pursuing their passions, and home to world-class performances as the cultural hub of our region,鈥� says George Mason president Gregory Washington. 鈥淭he Give Voice initiative will ensure that the arts remain a front door to the university.鈥�

More than a Renovation, a Reimagining

Davis strongly believes that the arts create community, and for many, the center has served as a hub for that experience.

Dean Rick Davis introduced the Give Voice initiative during its public launch in February. Photo by Cable Risdon Photography.

鈥淭hose four words鈥攖he arts create community鈥攔eally do encapsulate the entire mission of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and indeed of most artistic endeavors on every level in every culture,鈥� says Davis, who joined George Mason in 1991 and was appointed dean in 2015. 鈥淭he Center for the Arts has done so much to create that community, but it is no longer a match for the growth and evolution we have experienced鈥� and for what we envision. 麻豆国产 community鈥檚 dreams are bigger, bolder, and brighter than ever.鈥�

The center has been a prime performance space in Northern Virginia, and as the region and the university have grown, the demands for use of the center鈥檚 space have increased. It has also become an important academic asset.

When the center first opened, university events, including student performances, accounted for a small portion of the programming. Now, Davis says, George Mason鈥檚 use of the facility accounts for more than 50 percent of the activities. Davis says the planned space will have a more traditional concert hall shape, as well as a reconfigured balcony that brings the audience closer to the stage.

He adds that some George Mason students have not been able to perform in the Concert Hall. 鈥淚t鈥檚 too big and too dry acoustically, so it doesn鈥檛 support young voices,鈥� says Davis. 鈥淚t is also not great for choral or chamber music. We need a concert hall that will support students who are still learning but who deserve to be on a professional-caliber stage.鈥�

The renovation includes plans to:

reshape and redesign the Concert Hall to improve acoustics, sight lines, aesthetics, and accessibility, including the creation of center aisles
remodel the lobby to create new spaces for performances and gallery exhibitions, as well as enhanced caf茅 and bar services
update the ticket office and reception area
build a new donor lounge
add new studio, classroom, and community spaces
modernize technical equipment

A significant feature of the redesign is the addition of center aisles, which will improve audience access to the seats and has long been on the wish list for performance attendees.

鈥淲e are in the process of making sure that the Center for the Arts will be a first-class university asset for the next 30 or 40 years,鈥� Davis says.

Renderings show a concept for the reimagined Concert Hall. Rendering by Quinn Evans.

Donors Make It Happen

How does such a big dream become a reality? Through philanthropy.

The Give Voice initiative quietly began with a $10 million gift from Barry Dewberry and Arlene Evans, which was announced in April 2022 as part of George Mason鈥檚 50th Anniversary celebration. Their transformative gift set the stage for the reimagining of the Center for the Arts for future generations. When the renovation is complete, the center will be renamed the Barry Dewberry and Arlene Evans Center for the Arts in recognition of their support.

鈥淢y father, Sid Dewberry, was one of the founding fathers of George Mason, and he had a special fondness for music,鈥� says Barry Dewberry, whose parents are the namesake of the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music at George Mason. 鈥淭oward the end of his life, Arlene and I saw the need to pick up the baton and continue supporting George Mason and Mason Arts. We recognize the important role the Center for the Arts plays and what this renovation will do to heighten the experience for students, visiting artists, and the public. Arlene and I are honored to make the lead gift for the Give Voice initiative, and we look forward to seeing the exciting results.鈥�

CVPA has also secured two gifts totaling $6 million from the Peterson Family Foundation. In May 2024, the family announced a $5 million gift to support enhancements to the center鈥檚 Concert Hall, and in 2022 they committed $1 million toward the lobby. These spaces will be renamed the Peterson Auditorium and the Peterson Family Lobby, respectively.

With the Dewberry/Evans and Peterson gifts, along with other instrumental philanthropists who have pledged their support, Give Voice had raised $18 million of its $35 million goal, as of March 2025. An additional $35 million toward the reimagination is anticipated to come from the university.

Making Arts a Priority

The Give Voice initiative launch in February also brought awareness to additional Mason Arts fundraising priorities, including creating more student scholarships, expanding facilities for the growing Film and Video Studies and Computer Game Design Programs, and bolstering the recruitment and retainment of outstanding faculty with endowed chairs and professorships.

In addition to the Give Voice initiative, philanthropic support for Mason Arts is led by the college鈥檚 annual benefit event, ARTS by George! Since 2006, the fundraising dinner and student showcase has raised more than $4.6 million to support student scholarships in CVPA鈥檚 seven academic units and for Mason Arts community programs.

鈥淲e launched a film program and a computer game design program around 2008 without dedicated spaces for them, and they have thrived,鈥� Davis says. 鈥淭hey now need dedicated spaces so these programs can grow with demand.鈥�

CVPA hosts the only serious game institute on the East Coast of the United States and just launched a second institute last fall at Mason Korea. 鈥淲e are now a major player in the game industry in that part of the world,鈥� Davis says.

Fundraising continues for the $15 million Hylton Performing Arts Center Endowment Fund, which will enable the Hylton Center to bring artists and programs of even greater renown to its stages, as well as strengthen the portfolio of community programs including the Education and the Veterans and the Arts Initiatives.

The Hylton Center opened in 2010 on George Mason鈥檚 Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, Virginia. It was built through a partnership between the university, local governments, and private donors. The center is named for the Cecil and Irene Hylton Family Foundation, which donated $5 million in 2005 to the project and has continued to support the Hylton Center for the past 20 years.

The university is also developing a concept plan for an art museum to protect, preserve, and display George Mason鈥檚 impressive art collections. A plan has also been developed to add sculptures to campus, particularly in the concentrated area of Mason Arts facilities, which will be known as the 鈥淎rts District.鈥�

鈥淭he Arts District is a vision that actually puts the Center for the Arts literally at the center of it all,鈥� says Davis.

In addition to CVPA鈥檚 academic programs, Mason Arts includes seven community arts programs, galleries on three campuses, and multiple performance venues鈥攂oth physical and digital.

Annual Visitors

200,000+
Mason Exhibitions

90,000+
Hylton Performing Arts Center

137,000+
Center for the Arts

Power the Possible

Art in the Open

Katarina Benson — Tue, 06 May 2025 16:23:46 +0000

Art in the Open Katarina Benson Tue, 05/06/2025 - 12:23

Thanks to the generous donors and visionary artists, George Mason鈥檚 campuses are home to a treasure trove of sculptures, paintings, and installations that inspire and engage the George Mason community and visitors alike.

In addition to being Virginia鈥檚 largest university, an accredited arboretum, and a living lab where faculty and student researchers test new ideas, George Mason is also a vibrant open-air museum that anyone can experience.聽聽

Scattered across its four campuses, the university鈥檚 public art鈥攚hich includes work by student artists鈥攔eflects its commitment to creativity, inclusivity, and community engagement.聽聽

The public art at George Mason serves several functions: It enhances the aesthetic appeal of the campuses, promotes intellectual curiosity, provides experiential learning, and offers an opportunity to engage with art outside traditional museums. These works transform common spaces into cultural landmarks and reinforce the university鈥檚 identity as a place where a variety of ideas and disciplines converge.聽聽

Consider one of the Fairfax Campus鈥檚 iconic landmarks鈥� the George Mason statue. Each May, right around Commencement, students in caps and gowns gather around the 10-foot-tall bronze George Mason to have their graduation photos taken with him. Sometimes there is even a line of people waiting for their turn. Students also rub the toe of his right shoe for good luck throughout the year.聽

Like most of the artwork on the university鈥檚 campuses, George was a gift. When people talk about donors giving their time, talent, and treasure鈥攖his is the literal treasure.聽聽

鈥淕iving is more than a transaction鈥攊t鈥檚 an investment in the future,鈥� says Trishana E. Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the George Mason 麻豆国产 Foundation. 鈥淲hether people give their time, talent, or treasure, their generosity fuels innovation, expands opportunities, and transforms lives. 麻豆国产 donors are the cornerstone of progress, making it possible for institutions like George Mason to thrive and inspire the next generation.鈥�聽

In the Beginning聽

George Mason the bronze is one of the most popular guys on campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell.

George the statue, sculpted by artist Wendy M. Ross, was a gift of the George Mason Arts Gala Committee, which was led in the 1980s and 1990s by then-first lady Joanne Johnson, wife of George Johnson, the university鈥檚 fourth president. The committee commissioned the sculpture in August 1995, covering 93 percent of its $159,000 cost. When the statue was dedicated with the Johnson Center in 1996, it was the first 3D depiction of George Mason in U.S. history.聽

The Arts Gala Committee was behind the acquisition of several items on display around the Fairfax Campus including Cross Cottage by Mason Pond. Each year, beginning in 1983, Joanne Johnson led a group of women in crafting an item they would later auction off to fund the performing arts and cultural projects at George Mason. Often the auctioned items were donated back to the university. One of the more visible items produced is the Mason Heritage Quilt from 1984, which is on display in the Center for the Arts lobby.聽聽

Cross Cottage, constructed by Cross Builders in 1988, was assembled in sections inside the Patriot Center (now EagleBank Arena), where the Arts Gala was held, so attendees could tour the small structure. The cottage soon found its home beside Mason Pond, along with some other sculptures.聽

The Arts Gala Committee played a critical role in the fundraising efforts for the Center for the Arts. It took 10 years of fundraising and three years of construction to make the center a reality. And the last names of those early arts patrons are still present at the university today: Dewberry, Peterson, Hazel, and Toups, among others.聽聽

The statue on Wilkins Plaza has a twin on the other side of the globe. In 2019, Mason Korea installed its own George Mason statue in Songdo. Created by sculptor Kim Tae Jin at Yebon Artworks in Korea, the installation of this George was supported by Mason Korea鈥檚 parents association.聽

The 麻豆国产鈥檚 Art Collection聽

The university鈥檚 art collection, managed by 麻豆国产 Curator Don Russell, encompasses paintings, photographs, prints, and sculpture from across time periods and world regions. The collection has grown over the years to include more than 3,000 objects, including 240 works of African art and around 70 plaster casts on loan from New York City鈥檚 Metropolitan Museum of Art.聽

The university received its first donations in the early 1980s, including lithographs by the surrealists Salvador Dal铆 and Joan Mir贸, and the 1 Cent Life Portfolio that contains 62 original lithographs by renowned masters of pop art and hard-edged or biomorphic abstraction such as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.聽

As a part of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Mason Now campaign priorities, Mason Arts is seeking support to develop conceptual plans for a university museum. A dedicated art museum would build on the university鈥檚 robust Mason Exhibitions programs鈥攊ncluding seven galleries on all three Northern Virginia campuses and allow for the collection to be shared with the public under high curatorial standards. A museum would also provide valuable research, teaching, and educational opportunities for the George Mason community.聽

The Story of the Plaster Casts聽

If you鈥檝e taken classes on the Fairfax Campus since 2000, you have probably encountered one of the plaster casts on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The collection includes casts of sculptures from the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Greece, a relief from Orsanmichele church in Florence, and a block from a Parthenon frieze from the British Museum, among others.聽

Carol Mattusch, then Mathy Professor of History and Art History, led the acquisition of the Met鈥檚 plaster casts, which were not in the best condition after being stored in a Bronx warehouse for more than 70 years. Mattusch, now Professor Emerita of History and Art History, saw the cleaning and researching of the casts as a hands-on opportunity for students.聽

In 2006, when George Mason students Anna Zacherl, BA History 鈥�06, and Lucy R. Miller, BA Art History 鈥�06, learned that several additional plaster casts from the Met鈥檚 collection were available for purchase, they headed to Sotheby鈥檚 auction house in New York City, where they bid on and bought the casts on behalf of an anonymous donor. Thanks to their efforts and private support, the 19th-century casts of famous works will grace George Mason鈥檚 campuses for years to come.聽

Communitas by Azriel Awret stands near the Center for the Arts. Photo by Evan Cantwell.

Communitas and Other Sculptures聽

After the George Mason statue, Communitas, the bronze depicting three figures on the Holton Plaza beside the Center for the Arts, is probably one of the most recognizable sculptures on the Fairfax Campus. Installed in 1993, it is the work of Polish artist Azriel Awret and one of several of his works on campus. Others include The Cello Player and Two Musicians in the Center for the Arts lobby.聽

George Mason alumni might remember Awret鈥檚 Woman in a Hammock, which was installed in the breezeway between Robinson Halls A and B. The sculpture was removed during the construction of Horizon Hall and now reclines in the courtyard between Horizon and Harris Theatre. Awret鈥檚 sculptures were donated to the university by his brother, Charles, who was president of the Maywood Building Corporation in Springfield, Virginia.聽

Many people enjoying the grove of cherry trees by Mason Pond have encountered one of the university鈥檚 most distinguished outdoor sculptures. Antecedent by artist Lila Katzen is on extended loan to the university from the National Gallery of Art.聽

The cast bronze Bill of Rights Eagle by Greg Wyatt is in front of Hazel Hall at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira.

Mason Square聽

Fairfax isn鈥檛 the only George Mason campus with sculptures. Mason Square is home to two sculptures by internationally renowned artist Greg Wyatt. The 4,300-pound bronze Bill of Rights Eagle sits outside of Hazel Hall and shows a bald eagle standing on top of the U.S. Bill of Rights, protecting the document with its seven-foot wingspan. This bronze was donated to the Antonin Scalia Law School in 2017 by the artist and the Newington-Cropsey Foundation.聽

Wyatt returned to campus in 2018 for the dedication of his bronze statue of law school namesake U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, with an audience of 400 that included five U.S. Supreme Court justices.聽

Science and Technology Campus聽

In 2017, the Science and Technology Campus also received a bronze. The statue of Charles J. Colgan, created by Waynesboro artist Robert Brickler, was unveiled on the former state senator鈥檚 90th birthday outside the building that bears his name. Colgan, a World War II veteran who served 40 years in the Virginia Senate, was instrumental in helping secure the land that became the SciTech Campus.聽聽

At the dedication, Mary Finnegan, Colgan鈥檚 daughter, said, 鈥淭his statue will immortalize Dad, sitting in front of a building that bears his name on the site of the university he so loved. It doesn鈥檛 get any better than that.鈥�聽

The campus was also the first home of the Hilde Vogel-Michalik Art Collection. Since 2005, Harold C. Vogel has donated more than 2,000 pieces of his wife鈥檚 artwork, as well as some of his own. The collection can be found displayed in many university offices and buildings, including Fenwick Library. A sculpture garden is being planned for the SciTech Campus that will include Vogel鈥檚 sculptures.聽

Faculty Gifts聽

George Mason faculty members have also shared their collections of art and other items, such as books, maps, and papers, with the university.聽聽

Mason Exhibitions team member Sophie Bae, MA '23, installing one of the Haitian paintings in Enterprise Hall. Photo by Duane Bailey.

In 2019, Professor Emeritus of Management David A. Kravitz began sharing his collection of Haitian paintings with George Mason. Kravitz鈥檚 father, the late Boris Kravitz, assembled the collection and founded the Haitian Art Company in Key West, Florida, which he ran until 2009.聽

Working with Mason Exhibitions, the Costello College of Business has some of the paintings from the David A. Kravitz Collection on display in the dean鈥檚 office in Enterprise Hall. The Haitian collection is moving to the Writing Center in the Johnson Center this summer as a part of an ongoing program to enrich learning environments with art.聽聽

Students in art history professor Michele Greet鈥檚 ARTH 495/595 Curating an Exhibit class also had the opportunity to work with the Kravitz collection. Their exhibit La Vie Quotidienne in April 2022 showcased 29 paintings and two sculptures by 23 artists from Haiti in the Art and Design Building鈥檚 Gillespie Gallery of Art, which is named for School of Art patrons Gardner and Stevie Gillespie.聽聽

Some faculty member collections, like the historical postcard collection of Associate Professor Emeritus of History Randolph H. Lytton, are a part of the 麻豆国产 Libraries鈥� Special Collections and Research Center and can be explored online.聽

Gallery and Exhibition Spaces聽

Mason Exhibitions, directed by Russell, manages and curates seven gallery spaces across George Mason鈥檚 three campuses and the Potomac Science Center in Virginia. These include the Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery, Fenwick Gallery at Fenwick Library, and the Gillespie Gallery of Art on the Fairfax Campus, as well as the Buchanan Partners Art Gallery in the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the Science and Technology Campus.聽聽

Founders Gallery is inside Van Metre Hall at Mason Square, and Mason Exhibitions Arlington is located a short distance from the campus.聽

Imagining an Arts District聽聽

As a part of CVPA鈥檚 Mason Now priorities, university planners are not just reimagining the Center for the Arts, they are also envisioning the center and its environs as a destination. Through the creation of an arts district that encompasses the center, Mason Pond, and beyond, George Mason will become a destination for experiencing the arts across a variety of disciplines鈥攑erforming and visual鈥攖o benefit those on campus and the community at large.聽

An illustration of the Arts District. Provided by CVPA.

Rick Davis, CVPA dean, says some of this is happening naturally with the placement of artwork in the areas surrounding the center, and more donations of sculptures and other art are underway.聽聽

Davis says he foresees a day when people attending an event at the center would have the opportunity to wander through a sculpture garden before or after the performance. Or perhaps guests could attend an outdoor performance beside Mason Pond.聽

Davis emphasizes the importance of integrating art into the fabric of campus life. 鈥淧ublic art is a way of embedding creativity into our daily routines. It allows us to see the world through different lenses, interrupting our headlong rush through the day and sparking conversations that may not otherwise happen,鈥� he says.聽

Visit some of George Mason's art galleries

The Art of Giving

Katarina Benson — Mon, 05 May 2025 15:05:10 +0000

The Art of Giving Katarina Benson Mon, 05/05/2025 - 11:05

Long before there was a Center for the Arts, a group of community members worked diligently to help make the arts an integral part of George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 burgeoning campus life. George Mason donors play a vital role in both sustaining the arts and helping ensure its accessibility to all. They serve as advocates, championing creativity and cultural expression in ways that strengthen communities, widen perspectives, and inspire future generations. Here we highlight a few of the donors playing a role in the Mason Arts priorities in the Mason Now: Power the Possible campaign.聽

Jonathan Goldman and Susan Aitel. Photo Provided.

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Susan Aitel and Jonathan Goldman聽

Susan Aitel and Jonathan Goldman, PhD Education 鈥�20, support George Mason for straightforward reasons: its proximity and distinguished faculty. However, their deepest motivation for giving lies in their love for music and dedication to students. Together, Aitel, a retired federal employee, and Goldman, director of IT and security in the College of Engineering and Computing, support several endowments. The Grace Aitel Endowed Award was established in honor of Aitel鈥檚 mother, a pianist who taught her children to play. The Goldman Family Scholarship supports students studying wind instruments, classical guitar, and musical theater.聽

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Ruth Altheim. Photo Provided.

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Ruth Altheim聽

In her personal blog, Creative Everyday, Ruth Altheim describes her introduction to music studies when she registered for a music appreciation course at George Mason in 2021. 鈥淚 found the basic material so difficult that I made a commitment to do the work.鈥� Following a distinguished career in business, Altheim has committed to 鈥渁 magnificent retirement plan鈥� and taken more than 30 classes at George Mason in music and the humanities. She will support scholarships in both the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences through a planned gift.聽

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Penny Barrows. Photo Provided.

Penny Barrows聽

Penny Barrows, a longtime supporter of the Hylton Performing Arts Center, is an ardent supporter of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative since the early days of its inception in 2014鈥�15 and has been instrumental in nurturing the program. Her 鈥渨ork ethic to go out and make it happen,鈥� noted by her son, John Barrows, himself a strong proponent for veterans鈥� businesses and programs, facilitated the vital gathering of resources鈥攂ridging arts and community. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the initiative, which has served more than 16,000 military-connected individuals, offering free hands-on workshops and concerts for veterans, servicemembers, and military family members. Barrows鈥檚 continued support of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative builds on a lifetime of her accomplishments in art therapy and counseling to amplify people鈥檚 strengths.聽

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Louis Delair Jr. Photo Provided.

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Louis Delair Jr.

An alternate address for Louis Delair Jr. could be the Center for the Arts鈥攜ou might find him there on any night in one of the two seats he has reserved every season. He has supported the Friends of the Center for the Arts since 2013. When he sees CVPA dean Rick Davis, they don鈥檛 converse鈥攖hey duet! In his life as a U.S. Department of State foreign service officer, Delair sometimes performed in productions as a hobby. He supports the arts because he loves them and believes a financial 鈥渟hot in the arm鈥� is sometimes needed to keep arts institutions going and growing.聽

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Didlake Inc.

Didlake Inc., a Virginia organization dedicated to providing employment and community engagement opportunities for individuals with disabilities, has been a longtime partner of the Hylton Performing Arts Center. At the Hylton Center, as well as at the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus, Didlake has been instrumental in creating a welcoming performing arts experience for people with disabilities. Services are available for patrons of all George Mason performing arts centers and include differently configured musical instruments; providing closed captioning, American Sign Language, and open captioning for performances; sensory friendly lighting; advanced disability awareness training for ushers; and sensory-friendly kits for theater guests. In recognition of their contributions, the Hylton Center鈥檚 Didlake Grand Foyer is named in their honor.聽

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Tony and Trisja Podesta聽

Supporters of the arts throughout the region, Tony and Trisja Podesta of Washington, D.C., have generously given or loaned photographs, paintings, video art, and sculptures to museums and universities including the Guggenheim Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and American 麻豆国产. Now they have entrusted George Mason with gifts of artwork from their impressive collection. Pieces from the Podesta Collection may be viewed on the Fairfax Campus, many in Buchanan Hall.聽

Power the Possible

George Mason sends three to NCAA Wrestling Championship

Katarina Benson — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:18:06 +0000

George Mason sends three to NCAA Wrestling Championship Katarina Benson Thu, 03/20/2025 - 14:18

Three members of George Mason 麻豆国产 men's wrestling team will be competing at the NCAA Division I Men鈥檚 Wrestling Championship, held March 20-22 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.聽

The student athletes headed to the championship.

The Patriots DJ McGee, Kaden Cassidy, and Malachi DuVall earned bids to compete. McGee and DuVall are returning to the championship, having competed last year as well. McGee heads to the tournament as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Champion, while DuVall and Cassidy earned third place finishes.聽

McGee is slotted as the No. 17 seed, while DuVall is 21, and first-time NCAA qualifier Cassidy goes into the tournament in the No. 27 slot. The junior battled his way through wrestle-backs with four straight wins to finish third in the conference.

The three qualifiers were a major reason George Mason finished the season with a 12-6 record, its best finish in the MAC (6-2). This is the team鈥檚 third consecutive season with double-digit wins. After back-to-back 11-win seasons, the Patriots won 12 this season. It is the most wins in a season since the 2007-08 season when they finished with a 13-5 record.

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George Mason women鈥檚 basketball wins in A-10 Championship

Colleen Rich — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 14:50:38 +0000

George Mason women鈥檚 basketball wins in A-10 Championship Colleen Rich Mon, 03/10/2025 - 10:50

The George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball team delivered a performance for the ages, claiming their first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship with a 73-58 victory over Saint Joseph's at the Henrico Sports and 麻豆国产 Center in Virginia. With the win, the Patriots secured their first NCAA Tournament berth in program history, cementing themselves as a rising power in the conference. 聽

Photo by Art Pittman/Athletics

From the opening tip, George Mason set the tone with suffocating defense and efficient shooting. Led by a stellar 23-point performance from Paula Su谩rez and a commanding 19-point, 8-rebound effort from Zahirah Walton, the Patriots executed their game plan to perfection. A pivotal third quarter, in which George聽Mason outscored Saint Joseph鈥檚 26-12 while shooting an astonishing 90.9% from the field, broke the game wide open and left no doubt about the outcome.

The final buzzer signaled not just a championship but a new era for George Mason basketball. With their ticket punched to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, the Patriots are poised to make even more noise on the national stage. For George Mason fans, this victory is the culmination of years of dedication, resilience, and the unwavering Believing聽BIG that their team was destined for greatness.

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George Mason Women's Indoor Track and Field crowned as 2025 A-10 champions

Katarina Benson — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:47:44 +0000

George Mason Women's Indoor Track and Field crowned as 2025 A-10 champions Katarina Benson Mon, 03/03/2025 - 13:47

George Mason 麻豆国产 has been crowned the Atlantic 10 Women's Indoor Track and Field Champions, claiming the title over VCU at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The men's team placed second in the championship behind Rhode Island.聽

The Patriots clinched the championship in dramatic fashion, securing three additional medals on the final day of competition. Senior Abby Weening captured gold in the high jump, delivering a pivotal performance that helped George Mason maintain its lead over VCU. She was also named the Most Outstanding Field Performer, recognizing her stellar meet, which included two gold medals in the pentathlon and high jump. Junior Olamide Enajekpo earned bronze in the shot put, while sophomore Susan Adenitan placed third in the 200m race.聽

Women's Indoor Track and Field A-10 Championship team. Photo by George Mason Athletics

With the championship hanging in the balance, the 4x400m relay became the deciding event. Holding a slim 2.5-point advantage over VCU, the Patriots needed to outpace the Rams to secure the title. The relay team鈥�Chairely Bido, Simone Hamlar, Helena Santacana, and Ay'rianna Moore鈥攄elivered in dominant fashion, sealing the long-awaited victory for George Mason.聽

"Overall, an outstanding weekend of competition for both genders but, especially for our women. It was just a tremendous effort spread across all event groups," said Head Coach Andrew Gerard. 鈥淚t really is not an exaggeration to say that we continue to have the best combined men's and women's program in the conference and that is 100% credit to the team of athletes we have assembled and the awesome staff that helps get them onto the line, circle and runway."聽

This victory marks a historic achievement for George Mason, as the Patriots have claimed their first A-10 Indoor Championship since 2014.聽
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The men's team placed second, only behind Rhode Island who have won the Atlantic 10 Championship for the fifth consecutive year.聽聽

The men鈥檚 60m hurdles were swept by the Patriots. Freshman Davian Burke won bronze, junior Albert Asare placed silver, and graduate student Joshua Sutton won the gold. Senior Paul McClain earned the gold in the 500m race, and a gold was also won in the 4x400m relays with a young team of Mason Samuels, Lance Koontz, Max Karen, and Jordan Tuck. Sophomore Abdurrazzaq Hassan got the bronze in the heptathlon.聽

Head Coach Andrew Gerard and his staff were honored as the Coaching Staff of the Year.聽

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Engineering professors develop human-AI colorization tool for cartoonists

Shayla Brown — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:28:34 +0000

Engineering professors develop human-AI colorization tool for cartoonists Shayla Brown Mon, 03/03/2025 - 12:28

George Mason 麻豆国产 professor Sungsoo Ray Hong has always been a huge fan of cartoons, comics, and animations. By combining his passion with his research area of human-computer interaction, he has created a new tool for cartoonists, ShadowMagic.聽

Hong, his colleague Yotam Gingold, and their PhD students published a paper, 鈥�ShadowMagic: Designing Human-AI Collaborative Support for Comic Professionals鈥� Shadowing,鈥� elucidating the need for the tool, which aims to boost product quality and designer productivity through study-informed human-AI interaction.聽

The team worked with professional cartoonists to find common workflow of colorization that is shared within the industry as a reference point for their research, which examines the evolution of designing technology as cartoonists transitioned from using PCs in the 1980s to artificial intelligence, said Hong, who is an assistant professor at the Department of Information Sciences and Technology.聽

Creating a comic book is a team effort as there are many roles throughout the process including story drafting, sketching, colorizing, editing, and sending to a production company, said Hong.聽

鈥淧rofessional cartoonists are sometimes producing content every other day,鈥� said Hong, who is also director of George Mason鈥檚 Alignment Lab. 鈥淵ou cannot commit to these kinds of deadlines doing everything by yourself. That's why the colorization industry is so helpful to professional cartoonists.鈥�聽

Colorization is a sequential process of line drawing, flatting, base colorization, shadows and/or lighting, background and other special effects. The tool stems from a previous project, FlatMagic, another AI-driven tool designed to improve the creative process for digital comic professionals.聽

鈥淭his is a fairly standardized process, especially in South Korea and growing throughout the United States as well,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he solutions to these network visualizations should be contextualized, but we have the limited resources. We can鈥檛 build everything for everybody. That鈥檚 my motivation here.鈥�聽

Gingold also specializes in human-computer interaction and 鈥渉as always been interested in sketching and how computers can help us express ourselves,鈥� said the Department of Computer Science associate professor.聽

Yotam Gingold (left) and Ray Hong in Research Hall, presenting their colorization tool. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of 麻豆国产 Branding.

鈥淲e looked at artistic challenges, usually tedious things that aren鈥檛 so fun for the artists and break down those problems, so that they can focus more on the creative parts of it,鈥� said Gingold, who is the director of George Mason鈥檚 Computational Reality, Creativity, and Graphics Lab.聽

There are millions of pixels in an image, and if an artist wants to move or change the color of a building for example, they point at one pixel among the millions. The artist wants the rest of the pixels to follow along naturally so the rest of the building should also change, he explained.聽

鈥淭he computers will do the math where we can write formulas to update all the other millions of pixels. Another example would be keeping lines parallel and corners perpendicular, and that鈥檚 where a lot of my research comes in,鈥� said.聽

While a doctoral student at George Mason, Chuan Yan, PhD 鈥�24, was recruited by Gingold for this project and conducted research on sketching and painting. Yan鈥檚 area of expertise encompasses computer graphics fundamentals and sketch-related computer vision techniques, which he had learned extensively from Gingold, he explained.聽

The ShadowMagic tool was built as an Adobe Photoshop plug-in, and since its release, the team 鈥渉as garnered significant interest from artists inquiring about updates and expressing a strong desire for a tool that could free them from the labor-intensive flatting process,鈥� said Yan, who is currently a postdoc researcher at Stanford 麻豆国产.聽聽

鈥淭his response is both exciting and humbling. It confirms that our research is addressing a real need in the industry yet also highlights the remaining challenges in making [the tool] ready for widespread adoption.鈥�聽

Yan believes that as more sophisticated generative AI systems continue to emerge, AI-human collaboration will become increasingly vital.聽聽

鈥淚 am excited to witness and contribute to this transformation, helping to shape a future where AI acts as a powerful tool that amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it,鈥� he said.聽

Discover more Artificial Intelligence research from George Mason

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In This Story

Sungsoo Ray Hong

Yotam Gingold

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