Monthly Archives: November 2009

Haring Tribute Tonight

Don’t miss tonight’s Keith Haring tribute reception at 6 pm at Art Center’s James Lemont Fogg Memorial Library at Hillside Campus.

In 1989, prolific artist and social activist Keith Haring visited Art Center to paint an interior mural which still hangs at Hillside Campus. Painted over the course of two days, the mural was intended to be a “permanent memorial to members of the art community who have died of AIDS, and also serve as a symbol of hope and compassion.” Haring passed away two months later from AIDS-related complications.

In recognition of Haring’s lasting contribution to the College, and in celebration of World AIDS Day, faculty member Ramone Muñoz asked students to take visual themes from the mural and use them in creating educational about safe sex and the tragic loss of life due to this disease. The posters will be exhibited on campus beginning the week of Nov. 30 with a reception honoring Haring and celebrating World AIDS Day.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, read the press release or call 626.396.2338.

Ad Legend Visits Campus

Last week Art Center welcomed advertising superstar Lee Clow, chairman and global director of TBWA\Worldwide, to speak about his work and ideology. Student Chris Gilbert was there and provides this first-person account:

“Whereas old-school advertising had the tendency to err towards the condescension of ‘talking down to’ or ‘talking at’ their consumers, Lee spoke of the need to instead engage and stimulate the minds of the consumers, and the need for ads to be clever and he emphatically reiterated the fact that ‘creativity [in advertising] is now an imperative.’”

Read more and check out Chris’ great blog at chrisgilbertdeisgn.com.

Fisker Karma Wins Accolades

The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric car has received the 2009 Spark Design and Architecture Award, a competition promoting great design and designers and encouraging creativity.

The Karma is the first luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and the first vehicle released by Fisker Automotive. The company’s CEO and design director is alumnus Henrik Fisker, acclaimed designer of iconic cars such as the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Congrats to Henrik and his team! Read more at autoevolution:  Fisker Karma Wins 2009 Spark Design and Architecture Award and Fisker Automotive: The Karma

A Day in the Life: Safe Agua Chile

AshokaTech is following 12 Art Center students who travelled to Chile for the Safe Agua Chile collaboration with Un Techo Para Chile. The latest installment has our students learning what it is like for the local people from campamentos, with no running, potable water.

“The students are starting to understand the issues affecting the lives of these families. They are now wondering: What if students could design a new system through which water is delivered? What if these families could actually have a running water system? What if there was a way to minimize the number of steps to their daily tasks? What if there was a way to bathe indoors? The students will have to work on these questions and find out how possible it is to make it a reality.”

Follow along with us at AshokaTech!

Youngkin Tribute Tomorrow

Please join us for a tribute and reception honoring the beloved longtime faculty member, alumnus and artist Ted Youngkin, PROD ’54. Tomorrow’s event will include a tribute, panel discussion and film followed by a reception.

Youngkin, who died last year, was one of Art Center’s most revered faculty members, educating and inspiring generations of students with his fierce crits and high standards. He taught with intensity and perfection that expressed the very soul of the College, and that spirit continues to this day.

His daughter Heidi wrote this touching tribute to her father, a must-read. 

To RSVP for the event, contact Alumni Relations at alumni@artcenter.edu or 626.396.2386. 

Ted Youngkin Tribute
Nov. 21, 6:30-10:30 pm
Ahmanson Auditorium
Art Center Hillside Campus

Exploring Bauhaus

There’s no question that Art Center was profoundly influenced by Bauhaus. That’s why this recent New York Times article on the movement and the new MoMA show, Bauhaus 1919-1933: Workshops for Modernity, caught our eye.

Nicolai Ouroussoff writes: “A big surprise is how much of the school’s mission still feels relevant, from the effort to come to terms with mind-bending technological advances to the desire to serve an audience beyond the usual cultural elites. It’s true this mission was pursued with an optimism that would be hard to conjure today, but if the show has a message, it’s that a little naiveté can be productive.”

Read more about it: Finding a Bit of Animal House in the Bauhaus.

Meet Orlando Sanabria

Graphic Design student Orlando Sanabria says that Art Center’s experienced instructors have made a huge difference in his time here.

“The projects I’ve worked on have challenged me, and helped me to develop my skills as a designer,” he says. “The high level of networking with working professionals has exposed me to the different fields within graphic design. And critiques with instructors have shown me how to fully utilize my creativity.”

Read more about Orlando’s time here, as well as how a class project led to his involvement with his neighborhood council, in this great interview.

Niero’s Elle Among Best Designs of the Year

Environmental Design alumnus John Niero’s Elle is a finalist in the fourth annual Interior Design Best of Year Awards in the Seating: Contract/Lounge Category.

The Best of Year Awards is the preeminent design competition recognizing superior interior design projects and products in over 50 categories. More than 600 products were entered in this year’s competition. The awards ceremony will be held Dec. 3 in New York.

Earlier this year, Elle was awarded Best of NeoCon 2009 in the Seating: Sofas and Lounge category at the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair in Chicago.

Congrats, John!

A Day in the Life: Safe Agua Chile

AshokaTech is following 12 Art Center students who travelled to Chile for the Safe Agua Chile collaboration with Un Techo Para Chile. This installment has the students arriving in Santiago, ready to spend 12 days living among the area’s poorest families in the slums.

“The excitement and incertitude are overwhelming. All they need to do now is focus on one question: How can they work with people living in Chile’s campamentos to develop new tools for using, storing and transporting water in order to help improve the quality of life?”

Follow along with us at AshokaTech!

Celebrating World AIDS Day with a Tribute to Keith Haring

In 1989, prolific artist and social activist Keith Haring visited Art Center to paint an interior mural which still hangs at Hillside Campus. Painted over the course of two days, the mural was intended to be a “permanent memorial to members of the art community who have died of AIDS, and also serve as a symbol of hope and compassion.” Haring passed away two months later from AIDS-related complications.

In recognition of Haring’s lasting contribution to the College, and in celebration of World AIDS Day, faculty member Ramone Muñoz asked students to take visual themes from the mural and use them in creating educational about safe sex and the tragic loss of life due to this disease. The posters will be exhibited on campus beginning the week of Nov. 30 with a reception honoring Haring and celebrating World AIDS Day.

The Haring tribute reception will take place Monday, Nov. 30 at 6 pm at the James Lemont Fogg Memorial Library at Hillside Campus. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, read the press release or call 626.396.2338.