Cheri Vasek

Cheri Vasek retired in 2018 from her position as Associate Professor of Costume Design and Technology where she taught a variety of courses at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.  Additionally, she mentored student designers, and designed UHM Theatre & Dance productions.  Vasek had designed costumes for UHM, University of Wyoming, University of Idaho, Idaho Repertory Theatre, Washington State University, Central Washington University, University of West Virginia, The Electric Theatre Company (Pennsylvania) and The Road Company (Tennessee). She has also worked as a costume craftsperson in several professional regional theatres throughout the United States, including The Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis) and American Conservatory Theatre (San Francisco). She served as the head Costume Dyer at the Santa Fe Opera from 2003-2005 as well as in 2008, and returned to the post in 2015 where she continues today.

Cheri Vasek’s primary research focus, the costume design process in the Indian Film Industry, has taken her on field research to India several times, through grants from USITT, The East-West Center and the J Watumull Fund.   In 2013 she curated the groundbreaking East-West Center exhibition:  Bollywood and Beyond:  Costume Design in Indian Film, featuring costumes, sketches and photographs from selected Indian films, and from some of the most well-respected and influential Indian film makers and designers today.  Vasek teams with long time research colleague Deepsikha Chatterjee (Hunter College CUNY), for much of her India research.  They continue to research and write on Indian film costume for national and international publications.