Monthly Archives: December 2010

Awards Honor Exceptional Alumni

Each December, the College and Office of Alumni Relations present the Art Center Alumni Awards to three outstanding alumni.

The winners, chosen by the Art Center community, are recognized during the Fall Term graduation ceremony.

Photo by Lara Warren

We are honored to announce the following Art Center Alumni Award winners at Saturday’s commencement:

  • Doyald Young ADVT ’55, awarded the Lifetime Achievement Alumnus Award in recognition of his dedicated work as an educator and lifetime of legendary work in typography, logotypes and alphabets.
  • Stephanie Sigg GRAD ID ’98, awarded the Outstanding Service Alumni Award in honor of her humanitarian design impact through her work with various NGOs, nonprofits and cause-related campaigns.
  • Geetika Agrawal GRAD ID ’05, awarded the Young Alumni Innovator Award in recognition of her passion and accomplishments in social media, digital culture, physical interactive art and new technologies.

Congratulations to our alumni for these well-deserved marks of distinction!

To Draw Is to See: Norm Schureman’s Sketches

To Draw is to See: The Sketchbook of Norman J. Schureman is now available for purchase at blurb.com. Edited by faculty member and alumnus Fridolin Beisert, the sketchbook features more than 100 of Schureman’s master drawings.

This stunning collection showcases his talents as a designer and teacher. From birds to dinosaurs and from tanks to insects, every page is an inspiring example of his legacy.

All proceeds of this book go to his two sons, Milo and Kian. Preview the book online.

Art Center Students Help Launch Watts Art?


Watts Art? is a collaborative art project created by Art Center students, Watts House Project and St. John’s United Methodist Church in the historic Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts. The goal is to encourage community derived creative projects and to facilitate new artistic commissions at St. John’s. Watts Art? was born from the Designmatters studio Case Studies for Social Change, led by Edgar Arceneaux, Dave Bailey and Alexandra Grant this term.

On Sunday, Dec. 19, the inaugural exhibit of the collaborative project, 34,830 Watts, will be presented at St. John’s near the historic Watts Towers from 3 to 6 p.m. More than 20 local and community artists will show work, a site-specific light work will be unveiled, a dance performance and more are planned for the day. 34,830 Watts aims to highlight the uniqueness and rich cultural legacy of the Watts neighborhood.

Saturday High Fashion Show Tomorrow

Photo © Steven A. Heller / Art Center College of Design

Flashbulbs pop and the audience applauds wildly as models gracefully sashay down the catwalk.

The featured fashions push the boundaries of creativity, ranging from elegant, traditional ensembles to futuristic cocktail gowns.

Are we on the runways of Milan? Actually, we’re at Art Center’s South Campus, and the designers are … high school kids.

The much-loved annual Saturday High Fashion Show will be tomorrow, December 11, at Art Center’s South Campus, featuring the work of Saturday High students. Two shows will be held, at 6 and 8 p.m.

This annual show features more than 40 pieces, designed by more than 25 Saturday High students and worn by dozens of models. A “behind the scenes/making of the show” video montage and celebratory post-party with live music will follow.

“We are thrilled to present the fifth installment of this remarkable fashion show,” says Director of K-12 Programs Paula Goodman.

Photo © Steven A. Heller / Art Center College of Design

“Our fashion show is a wonderful way to showcase our students’ hard work and recently acquired skills.”

All fashions are created in Saturday High classes and along with the show are a sort of “final project” for students.

Saturday High participants, teens in grades 9 through 12, spend their Saturdays learning how to design, conceptualize and ultimately create their final piece, learning theory and some sewing skills along the way.

Many of the students envision a future for themselves in the fashion industry.

Tickets to the fashion show are $10.  For more information, email saturdayhigh@artcenter.edu.

Fifth Annual Saturday High Fashion Show
Saturday, December 11, 6 and 8 p.m.
South Campus
Tickets are $10

Special Campus Visitors: Adorable Deer

Anyone who has spent time at Art Center’s Hillside Campus knows that we aren’t up in these hills alone. We share it with countless birds, coyotes, rabbits, deer and even snakes. It’s one of the things that make it a unique and special place. But how’s this for cute: Five little deer pay us a visit—and take their time crossing the road while they’re at it. Guess they aren’t in a rush to finish up any final projects.

Distinguished Filmmakers Series: David Gale

Film Department instructor Lee Rosenbaum will host a discussion with MTV Films founder David Gale about current trends in new media today at 12:30.

Under Gale’s visionary leadership, MTV Networks became a leader in the creation and distribution of new media content. He is currently executive vice president of MTV New Media.

Gale’s producing credits include Beavis and Butthead Do America, Varsity Blues, Election, The Original Kings of Comedy, Orange County, Jackass: The Movie, Couch Carter, The Longest Yard, Aeon Flux and many more. The event is open to all Art Center students, faculty and staff.

Distinguished Filmmakers Series: David Gale
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 12:30 p.m.
L.A. Times Media Center

Three Boys From Pasadena Opening Tonight in NYC

Tonight is the New York opening of Three Boys From Pasadena: A Tribute to Helmut Newton, featuring the photographs of Art Center alumni Mark Arbeit, Just Loomis and George Holz. The exhibit will run through Jan. 30 at Clic Gallery in New York.

Helmut Newton (1920-2004), a native of Berlin, was known for his provocative and erotically charged black-and-white photography, especially of female nudes. His shocking and later much-imitated style was a constant in the pages of US Vogue and Vogue Paris.

Arbeit, Holz and Loomis first met Newton in 1979 while students at Art Center. Eventually all three became Newton’s assistants during one of the most exciting and prolific times in his career. For 30 years, they kept in touch, sharing their personal work with Newton and his wife, June.

In June of this year, Three Boys from Pasadena, curated by June Newton, premiered at the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin. The exhibit consists of each photographer’s individual work, as well as several memorabilia panels consisting of never-before-seen snapshots, handwritten notes, journal pages, contact sheets and other souvenirs of Newton’s life. Three Boys from Pasadena is an exceptional memorial to one of the 20th century’s most iconic photographers, and an unusually revealing look at personal and professional relationships among artists and protégés.

The accompanying book, published by Factory/LeJoker, is available as well. There will be a book signing at tonight’s event.

Three Boys from Pasadena: A Tribute to Helmut Newton
Dec. 7, 6 to 8 p.m.
Clic Gallery, New York

Public Programs: The Gift That Lasts a Lifetime

It’s that time of year where many of us agonize over finding those perfect, unique gifts for our loved ones. Don’t fret—we’ve got the perfect idea for you.

Photo © Steven A. Heller / Art Center College of Design

Did you know that you can buy them a gift certificate for Art Center at Night, Saturday High or Art Center for Kids?

Perfect for those interested in exploring a creative passion, learning a new skill, or taking their current practice to the next level, a gift certificate for one of Art Center’s Public Programs courses will teach skills that will last your loved one a lifetime.

  • Art Center at Night is for adults of all levels and experience interested in acquiring new skills, developing portfolios, personal enrichment and more.
  • Saturday High offers a variety of engaging courses that explore art and design as well as career opportunities for teens in grades 9 through 12.
  • Art Center for Kids features unique art and design courses for children in grades 4 through 8 that foster new ways of thinking, seeing and doing.

To purchase a gift certificate, stop by the Art Center’s Public Programs office, located at Art Center’s South Campus, before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 21.  Registration for Art Center at Night’s Spring Term is now open. Saturday High registration opens Jan. 4, and Art Center for Kids begins Jan. 24.

Art Center’s Design Office Work Among Year’s Best

Art Center’s in-house Design Office has been featured in Print magazine’s Regional Design Annual 2010, with two pieces included among the best American designs of the year.

TOOLS brochure

The most comprehensive survey of graphic design in the United States, entries are divided by region (ours falling into the “Far West.”)

The winning entries are Art Center’s Williamson Gallery TOOLS exhibition brochure (page 65), designed/art directed by Graphic Design alumna and Winnie Li, and the Spring 2010 Art Center at Night Catalog (page 67), designed/art directed by Li and illustrated by Miguel Ramirez.

They’re in good company – the entries from this region ranged from a TEDIndia brochure to (RED)NIGHTS benefit posters to editorial illustrations for The New York Times Magazine.

Art Center at Night Spring 2010 Catalog

“Good design makes the ordinary extraordinary,” said Lucille Tanazas, judge for the Far West category.

“Good design is smart and thoughtful. Good design is provocative. Inventive. Good design enlightens and enhances our understanding of the world; has the capacity to elevate the spirit. A good designer is a catalyst; he or she makes all of the above happen and is able to inspire others to do the same.”

Congrats on a well-deserved honor!