As Black History Month comes to a close next week, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the many organizations that encourage and promote the work of African American artists and designers in our community throughout the year. Some of the most notable include:

Image courtesy of California African American Museum.

The California African American Museum (CAAM) is located at the “crossroads of the Los Angeles community,” alongside the California Science Center, Natural History Museum, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena in Downtown Los Angeles’ Exposition Park. The California African American Museum researches, collects, preserves and interprets for public enrichment the history, art and culture of African Americans.

Located inside a fully operational Macy’s store at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, The Museum of African American Art is believed to be the only museum of its kind in the nation. The Museum is a nonprofit cultural and educational institution dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of art by or about people of African descent and their contributions to world culture. (Macy’s. Who knew?)

Watts Towers Arts Center, located in the heart of Los Angeles’ Watts community, is the curator of the Watts Towers structure, consisting of seventeen major, historic sculptures. The Watts Towers Arts Center provides diverse cultural enrichment programming through tours of the Towers, lectures, changing exhibitions, and studio workshops for both teachers and students. [Art Center has close affinity for the Watts community, having recently collaborated on the Watts Art? project under the aegis of our Designmatters and Fine Art programs.]

Image courtesy of Watts Towers Arts Center.

Beyond these major cultural organizations, there are a number of smaller gallery and exhibition spaces throughout Los Angeles, which highlight and champion African American artists and designers. One such example is the Tilford Art Group (T.A.G.), which is devoted to promoting the emerging artist from the United States and abroad, while providing a sacred space for artistic discussion, education and celebration. In doing so, T.A.G. endeavors to continuously recognize the Master artist, particularly those of the African Diaspora and Latin America, from whom many of the young and emerging artists have drawn their inspiration.

Los Angeles is also home to The Pan African Art and Film Festival, which is considered America’s largest and most prestigious Black arts and film festival. The festival presents and showcases the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images, help to destroy negative stereotypes and depict an expanded vision of the Black experience in an effort to foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles.

Closer to home, the Jackie Robinson Center in Pasadena, which organizes the City’s Black History Parade and Festival, is a multipurpose social service delivery center that provides assistance to a culturally, economically, and socially diverse population in the Northwest area of Pasadena. In addition to a number of health and wellness services, the center offers educational programs and recreational and cultural activities throughout the year.

In the words of Golden Globe Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, “Black history is American history” and we’re fortunate to live in a region wherein the art and culture of African Americans is a constant presence.

In an effort to get increased exposure for students, alumni and faculty, Art Center launched its own branded network on Behance, the world’s leading platform for creative professionals to showcase and discover creative work online.

Much of that effort has been spearheaded by Art Center students Youmna Chamcham and Kevin Wansa. As official Behance Student Ambassadors, they have had the opportunity to work as an extension of the Behance Team and gain professional and leadership experience.

What’s next for Youmna and Kevin? You can help send them to New York to rep Art Center at the 99% Conference. All you have to do is sign up and create your own Behance profile–and it’s completely free! The more folks they get to sign-up, the better their chances at going to New York. (Don’t tell anyone, but Pratt Institute is currently in the lead!)

Go directly online to create your Behance profile or meet Youmna on Wednesday, February 22 at the South Entrance to sign-up in person. Youmna can answer all your questions, and she also has discount cards for those of you that want to try out the advanced features on Behance’s ProSite.

Want more info about Behance and how it can benefit you as an up-and-coming creative? Check out this video produced by Kevin and Youmna!

Art Center alumnus Emerson Terry.

It wasn’t the end of World War II, new job opportunities in the defense industry or the region’s cultural awakening that drew him to Los Angeles in the mid-1940s. It was the weather. “After I was discharged from the Navy, I went home to Ohio and then on to Detroit to work on the assembly line,” 86-year old Pasadena resident and Art Center alumnus Emerson Terry (ILLU ’53) recalls. “It was cold in Detroit, so my brother and I decided to move to Los Angeles.

“We arrived in Pasadena on New Year’s Eve in 1946. It was something, driving down the boulevard with people lined up along the street and banners flying in the air. Neither of us had heard of the Rose Parade before and we felt that spirit of celebration.” [ed. note: Art Center didn’t move to Pasadena until 1976.]

In 1948, when Terry was taking art classes at Los Angeles City College, a former classmate told him he had enrolled at the Art Center School (as the College was then known) and invited him to visit. “I was blown away by the quality of the students’ work,” Terry says of visiting the school’s Third Street campus in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. “I realized that type of artwork was what I really wanted to do, and I wasn’t going to learn it at City College.”

Having been admitted under the strength of his portfolio and the G.I. Bill, Terry began taking classes. “The Art Center experience was unlike anything being offered by other colleges or universities at the time. It really was a school where the instructors were all industry professionals. That in itself made the learning very concise. And I dare say, it was a different experience than learning from people who had only gone to school, matriculated and started teaching.”

Emerson Terry at Art Center's Third Street campus in 1953.

Terry was among the first African-American students to attend Art Center. In fact, one of his fellow classmates, Bill Moffit, was both a friend from his earliest days in Los Angeles and also the first-ever African-American student admitted to the school. But according to Terry, the dearth of African-Americans on campus didn’t affect his experience. “I made new friends at Art Center and didn’t feel out of place. I was able to compare my abilities to other people’s abilities. That’s where we acknowledged each other’s differences: the quality of our work.”

While Art Center prided itself on providing its students a professional working environment, the real world was a bit different. “It was one thing to get into school with government money and a decent portfolio,” Terry stated. “But when it came time to take my portfolio and knock on the doors of studios and agencies—that’s when segregation and racism reared its ugly head. This was before the Civil Rights movement of the ‘60s. It was before Martin Luther King and sit-ins and fighting for inclusion.

“By the time I finished Art Center I felt I was a very capable artist. And while my instructors said I would do quite well, they failed to realize what circumstances I would face. It was very difficult for me to see my Caucasian friends walk right into job openings that I knew I was qualified for.”

Despite the challenges of the time, Terry went on to work with a number of prominent companies. His first full-time job was with aerospace firm Douglas Aircraft Company. “I used a lot of what I learned in Hamilton Quick’s perspective drawing class on that first job,” Terry recalls.

Terry produced award-winning work for defense industry contractor General Dynamics.

Other companies Terry worked for throughout his illustrious career include: Revell, a leader in plastic model kits; defense industry contractor General Dynamics; The Film Designers Division, and NBC’s print media department. He also served a stint as Treasurer of the Society of Illustrators, during which he created significant work for the United States Air Force Art Program.

Terry also worked at some of the top agencies of the ‘50s and ‘60s, including Stephens Biondi deCicco, Diener/Hauser/Bates, and Group West Studios alongside top-notch illustrators Ren Wicks and Art Center instructor Joe Henninger.

In part, it was his Art Center network that provided him jobs. “I had a lot of Caucasian friends with whom I got along with quite well. There have always been some people that have never had that racial bias or that racial hostility. They accepted people for who they were. When they got into positions at studios or companies, they gave me the work I wouldn’t get otherwise.”

At the same time, Terry started what would become a successful freelance career.  “I was freelancing all the time,” he said. “Technical illustrations, exploded drawings, production design, book covers, small paintings. When you’re out there hustling, you take what you can get and you make the best of it. Eventually, through my freelance work, I was able to get better employment opportunities. When I look back, I did a lot of extraordinary things.”

"Inside Hollywood" book cover for Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books.

Terry’s enthusiasm for learning is still strong. “All this new technology is fantastic. A few years ago, I signed up for computer classes at Glendale Community College. I’m learning how to build websites and eventually want to start drawing and painting on the computer. I’m just sorry I didn’t get into it sooner.”

While still learning, Terry already has a couple of websites under his belt: a portfolio site he continues to update with previous and current work; and a site dedicated to the history of African Cowboys, which features his own art prints and reproductions about notable African-American men and women of the Old West.

In addition to his interest in history and websites, he works with his daughter Sharon Terry, who also attended Art Center, on a line of greeting cards. “When I see a student that has talent, or the possibility of talent, including both of my daughters, I tell them to learn to draw. Once they learn to draw, they can concern themselves with the bigger questions about where they want to study or what type of job they want after college.

“Sharon got a scholarship to attend Art Center’s Saturday High program, and that was really the beginning of her career. That type of access—access to classes and quality instruction—is the best thing for students today.”

And Terry is particularly proud that both his daughters have successful careers in art and design. “I was able to guide both of my daughters through some of the doors that I had to break down on my way up. Of course, I didn’t realize I was breaking down doors at the time. I just wanted to find a job as an artist.”

Art Center’s 120 Group, an ethnically diverse, alumni-based organization was recently established to promote educational and career opportunities in art and design for underrepresented minority populations. Its members seek to create a diverse, inclusive, culturally- and ethnically-rich global community of artists and designers.

The group’s founding members include Art Center alumni, staff, faculty and students. The group is led by current president Tyrone Drake (GRPK ’96), who himself is both alumnus and faculty member, as well as Creative Director at Natsun America.

What’s the group’s ultimate goal? “Our goal is all about connection. We encourage all alumni to come back and get involved with this very passionate group,” Drake says. “Together, I believe we can make a difference and become a valuable resource for the entire Art Center community.”

120 Group serves Art Center College of Design and the greater art and design community through three key areas: Diversity and Inclusion, Outreach and Accessibility, and Mentoring and Support.

Although its members are primarily committed to increasing diversity at the College, they also seek to create awareness and opportunities for underrepresented minority students, faculty, staff, and alumni interested in studying, teaching or working in art and design related fields.

Artist Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. in conversation at Art Center College of Design.

In addition to mentoring and outreach efforts, 120 Group seeks to bring a diversity of creative voices to Art Center. In November 2011, 120 Group, in conjunction with Art Center’s Archetype Press and the Southern California Chapter of the American Printing History Association, co-sponsored a lecture and workshop series with guest artist Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. The artist is a letterpress printer and bookbinder based in Gordo, Alabama. At age 40, unsatisfied with his comfortable, middle-class life, he abandoned the traditional American Dream to follow his own. He traded in his computer for a printing press, his white collar for overalls, and is now a self-proclaimed “humble negro printer” whose letterpress work raises emotionally charged questions about race and individuality.

The founding members of 120 Group invite interested Art Center alumni to assist in their mission by becoming part of this valuable network. Please contact Dana L. Walker at dana.walker@artcenter.edu or visit the group’s website to join today and get more information.

Continuing a volunteer initiative launched in celebration of the College’s 80th Anniversary in 2010—and in support of the National Day of Service inspired by the life of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.—Art Center is proud to bring back “Art Center Takes Action: A Day of Service in Pasadena”.

“Art Center Takes Action: A Day of Service in Pasadena” will kick-off at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18 on the rooftop of the College’s South Campus. Volunteers will have breakfast with College leaders and representatives from participating organizations. From there, teams of Art Center volunteers will grab a boxed lunch and be dispatched to locations around the city to take on such tasks as collecting food, facilities improvement, environmental clean-up, beautification projects and special activities.

The "Art Center Takes Action" poster was originally designed by Advertising student Ray Allan David.

The local organizations that Art Center volunteers will engage with this year include: AIDS Service Center, which develops and delivers services, advocacy and education tailored to improve the quality of life for those impacted by and at risk for HIV/AIDS; Arroyo Seco Foundation, which promotes the preservation and promotion of one of Southern California’s greatest natural treasures; The Boys & Girls Clubs of Pasadena, whose goal is to improve the lives of children by helping them build self-assurance and develop leadership skills while reinforcing positive values; and Villa Gardens Retirement Community, a premier retirement community steeped in tradition, culture, caring and a love of life.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, friends and family are all encouraged to volunteer. Sign-up now using the online registration form to volunteer with your organization of choice or visit the CSE office at Hillside Campus to sign-up in person. For more information, please call 626.396.2323 or email cse@artcenter.edu.

*** You must sign-up prior to the event to ensure we’re best prepared to serve our community and that we can provide enough meals for volunteers.

Art Center volunteers beautify the courtyard at The Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena in 2010.

In town for the EcoStilleto salon, three senior execs from Ford Motor Company’s Design and Sustainability team recently made a special trip to Art Center for an informal–and insightful–chat with a number of students and faculty.

Carol Kordich, Global Fabric Strategy/Sustainable Materials Lead Designer; Susan Svek, Group Chief Designer, Color and Material Design; and Anthony Prozzi, Senior Interior Designer, discussed the use of sustainable materials in auto manufacturing, the psychology of color and materials, and the ways in which history and culture influence design.

As summarized on the Ford Social website, “The interaction between the students and working professionals brought insight to both groups, and gave them a window into the ideas, philosophies and priorities of each other.”

This week, Art Center officially welcomes the Spring 2012 incoming class with a number of orientation activities, which is organized by Art Center’s Center for the Student Experience to help students get the most out of their education, both inside and outside the classroom.

Dean of Students Jeffrey Hoffman, says, “New student orientation sets the stage for the success of our students during their time at Art Center. As the first few weeks of college set the tone for their experience, helping students feel connected to each other and the College is critical.”

Students relax on the lawn before the Spring 2012 term officially begins.

Tuesday, January 10
Art Center President Lorne Buchman, Dean of Students Jeffrey Hoffman and Admissions Vice President Kit Baron welcome our new students before they head off to campus tours and lunch with their peer mentors.

Wednesday, January 11
On Wednesday morning, we have a special orientation program for our international students and a financial literacy seminar for those domestic students receiving state and federal aid. In the afternoon, a round of sessions take place for all students to learn about everything from campus sustainability to educational technology to campus safety and more.

Thursday, January 12
After learning about the services provided by our Career Development and Alumni Relations offices, an exciting panel discussion takes place with our current students. Current students will give the inside scoop on all things Art Center to help incoming students get involved, stay engaged and find support. Next, our Provost gives a lesson on the famous Art Center critique! Following lunch, the afternoon is all about registration and the library, with a special peer mentor activity planned just for fun.

Friday, January 13
On Friday, we welcome parents, spouses, partners and other family members to an informal breakfast hosted by Legacy Circle. Then, family members get an orientation of their very own while students meet with their Department Chairs. Orientation concludes with an optional tour of Pasadena to explore the city we call home.

Reminder
Classes officially begin Saturday, January 14. We wish everyone a happy start of term!

The creative energy and anticipation around campus is in high gear as we prepare for our series of Fall graduation events.

Students complete final projects in the Technical Skill Center.

Thursday, December 15

If you’re lucky enough to be on the invite list for Graduation Show Preview, you’ll get a sneak peak at the work of the next generation of artists and designers. From 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., Graduation Show Preview gives potential employers, alumni, donors and industry professionals an opportunity to preview the Graduation Show and meet our graduating students.

All guests are invited to a reception hosted by Alumni Relations immediately following Graduation Show Preview to officially welcome our graduating students into the alumni family.

Students prep the hallways for the Fall 2011 Graduation Show.

Saturday, December 17

Join us from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. as we celebrate the accomplishments of our newest graduating class, and present the Art Center Alumni Awards to three outstanding alumni.

• Lou Danziger ADVT ’48 will receive the Lifetime Achievement Alumnus Award in recognition of significant professional and creative achievement
• Wendy McNaughton FINE ’89 will be awarded the Outstanding Service Alumni Award in honor of her impact on humanitarian issues
• Jonathan Jarvis GMD ’09 will be recognized with the Young Alumni Innovator Award for his innovative professional and creative work

Can’t join us at Hillside Campus for the graduation ceremony? Watch our live online webcast.

After the ceremony, Graduation Show opens to the public from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. so everyone can check out the work of our newest Art Center graduates.

Let the celebration of our creative community begin!

The tent is up and we're getting ready for the Fall 2011 Graduation ceremony.

In March of this year, Art Center President Lorne Buchman announced Create Change, a strategic plan that lays the groundwork for Art Center not only to retain its competitive edge, but to become the foremost art and design college of the 21st century.

Among several initiatives, the plan recognizes the need for Art Center to create new programs that anticipate the future trajectory of our practices, which in turn will complement and enhance our existing programs. Faculty and College leaders conducted research on emerging markets, evaluated student demand, business feasibility and curricular relevance of several proposed new programs. Three of those programs will launch in Fall 2012:

Interaction Design (B.S.)
Whether designing a mobile app or a gestural interface for an exhibition, a new consumer electronics product or a rich informational website, Interaction Design students at Art Center learn to think deeply about the user’s experience, apply technology creatively and invent new approaches to interaction and design.
http://www.artcenter.edu/ixd

Environmental Design (M.S.)
The new Graduate Program in Environmental Design considers the relationship between individuals, materials, space and emotion, challenging students to design spatial experiences from the first moment of encounter to the last moment of interaction. Tracks in Spatial Experience and Furniture and Fixture Design enable students to specialize and obtain advanced knowledge on theory and practice.
http://www.artcenter.edu/gradenvl

Transportation Design (M.S.)
The new Graduate Transportation Design program will help change the thinking of the automotive industry and the wider field of transportation and personal mobility. Through two tracks—Vehicle Design and Transportation Systems—students will create inspired vehicles and transportation systems that will impact the world.
http://www.artcenter.edu/gradtrans

Graduate Media Design (M.F.A.) is also launching the new Media Design Matters track, which allows students to work at the intersection of social issues, media infrastructure and communication technology in a real-world context. The track is run in collaboration with Designmatters, Art Center’s social impact department.
http://artcenter.edu/mdp

Each of these new offerings will attract to Art Center a diverse new group of students who will learn to create and influence change in our world.

Applications are now being accepted for Fall; we encourage students, faculty and staff to refer those who are interested in learning more to the links provided here and to Admissions.