The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts celebrated five of its alumni during Homecoming Week 2022. These alumni, who are making an impact in their respective fields, spent the week talking to students, giving lectures, and performing. They were recognized on Friday, October 14, during the University’s annual Alumni Day Honoree Luncheon.
David Midell
School of Theatre and Dance ’06
Independent Spirit/NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker David Midell began his career drawing inspiration from working as a therapist for children and adults with disabilities in Chicago. As a filmmaker on the autism spectrum himself, his work asks important questions about how society treats its most vulnerable citizens, including those with disabilities and mental health challenges, communities of color, and those living in poverty.
Enrico Natale
School of Theatre and Dance ’05
Independent Spirit Award-nominated filmmaker Enrico Natale has decades of professional experience as a writer, director, producer, actor, and editor. He has produced 21 feature films and countless other projects that can be seen on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sony, NBC, Warner Bros., and more. He prides himself on being a jack-of-all-trades. In his latest film, The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (executive produced by Morgan Freeman), Natale produced, edited and co-starred in the film.
Amber Ginsburg
Wonsook Kim School of Art ’06
Amber Ginsburg teaches sculpture at the University of Chicago and creates site-generated projects that insert historical scenarios into present-day situations and engage present-day histories to imagine alternative futures. Working collaboratively, her craft extends into the fields of biology, legal scholarship, activism, and speculative fiction. Shows include the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, The Thailand Biennale, and the Koran World Ceramics Biennale. Ginsburg recently published Remaking the Exceptional.
Dennis Tobenski
School of Music ’04
Dennis Tobenski is a composer, singer, and die-hard advocate for living composers. As a composer and performer, he embraces emotional complexity and honesty and never shies away from vulgarity or a good laugh. As founder of NewMusicShelf, he lifts his colleagues up and works to build structures and communities he wished he’d had as a young musician. Tobenski lives in New York City with his husband, Darien Shulman, and their cat, Pistachio.
Alex Zarek
Creative Technologies ’16
Alex Zarek is a music video director and cinematographer currently residing in Lombard but working with artists around the country. Operating from a DIY mentality, Zarek provides a unique balance of high-end music video production with budget-friendly price points. In addition to video work, Zarek also functions professionally as a photographer and designer, often working with clients on projects across multiple mediums. Zarek has created work for notable artists across various genres including pop-punk bands Real Friends (Pure Noise Records), Meet Me At The Altar (Fueled By Ramen), Belmont (Pure Noise Records), Lucky Boys Confusion (Elektra Recordings), and other acts like Marshmello, Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox, and Nonpoint. Zarek’s career is exemplary of how valuable it is to be skilled in more than one medium and how it helps you become a more important asset to a client.
