Art Center Garden Makes Its Debut

Erik Molano, Heidrun Mumper-Drumm and Linda Estrada at the ribbon cutting

There was plenty of goodwill sown at the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Art Center Food Garden.

Speaking to the assembled crowd, instructor Heidrun Mumper-Drumm said student group EcoCouncil first approached her a year ago with the idea of creating a garden for the College. She was enthusiastic about the project, but acknowledged there were some setbacks initially.

“We tried and we tried, but we just couldn’t get it going,” she said. “But then, we found out that collaboration was the secret ingredient that had been missing.”

That collaboration meant EcoCouncil teamed up with Art Center Student Government, the Facilities department and individuals from the Technical Skills Center to move the project forward.

Art Center’s Vice President of Real Estate and Operations George Falardeau was on hand to do the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon. Falardeau, along with Mumper-Drumm, thanked many individuals who helped make the garden a reality, including Art Center President Lorne Buchman (“He was a big proponent of the garden”), Art Center Student Government President Erik Molano (“Erik has taken this garden on as his own personal mission”) and Environmental Design student Carlos Vides (“He came up with the original sketches for the garden”).

“Art Center as a whole is very proud of this garden,” Falardeau said before cutting the ribbon.

For more information and to reserve a plot within the Art Center Food Garden, visit the garden’s Facebook page.

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A Student Perspective on Formula E

Here’s a fun video for a Monday afternoon: a documentary on Art Center’s annual Formula E races made by Grad ID student Hugo Giralt.

Department Chair Andy Ogden writes about the event on the Grad ID blog:

“At the end of every summer term for the last 6 years, teams of Grad ID students have been running on the sidewalks of Art Center’s campus chasing Radio Controlled cars propelled by 16 feet of rubber band. That scene is the culmination of a term long project in which the students go on a journey through the phases of conceiving of and then developing unique race vehicles that go far beyond the typical theory, visualization, model making and presentation activities that make up most of a design education experience —to developing, producing, testing, integrating technical systems and deploying an invention that actually has to work—in a high visibility forum,”

Read more.

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Graduation and Grad Show Tomorrow!

Photo by Lara Warren

Tomorrow is Summer Term 2011 graduation!

Join us as we welcome the newest graduates into the Art Center family, and check out the work of graduating students afterward at Graduation Show. Can’t join us at Hillside Campus tomorrow? Watch our live online webcast starting at 5 p.m. PST (note that the time has changed this year).

 After graduation, check out the work of the newest Art Center graduates at Graduation Show from 7 to 9 p.m. at Hillside Campus.

Congrats, graduates!

Summer 2011 Graduation
Saturday, Aug. 20, 5 p.m. PST
Hillside Campus

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Saturday High Fashion Show Sunday

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.

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

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

The much-loved annual Saturday High Fashion Show will be Sunday, August 21 at Art Center’s South Campus, featuring over 40 outfits worn by dozens of models and designed by 40 high school students involved in the program. Tickets are $10.

This year’s show brings the work and talented young fashion designers to the forefront of an exciting show. Focusing on a “white” theme for their designs, the Saturday High students will present an eclectic mix of outfits and garments that range from the traditional to the avant-garde. The show is a unique event that brings together young talent, families and educators in a setting that is lively yet professional.

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

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.

Beyond the innovative fashion elements, the fashion show exemplifies the tremendous impact of Art Center’s Saturday High program, which enables young artists to cultivate their creative talents and produce work in an educational, professional and community-based context. Saturday High students not only have access to the institution’s exceptional instruction and facilities, they also gain exposure to Southern California’s vibrant arts community.

“We are especially proud of our sixth annual Fashion Show,” noted Paula Goodman, Director of K-12 Programs at Art Center College of Design.  “Our talented, ambitious Saturday High students have leveraged hard work, innovation, and adventurous creativity to design and create wonderful, cutting-edge clothing,” says Paula Goodman, director of K-12 Programs at Art Center. “This gala event draws attention to these amazing students and also brings our community together in the name of beautiful fashion and the arts.”

Sixth Annual Saturday High Fashion Show
Sunday, August 21, 8:30 p.m.
South Campus
Tickets are $10

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Teen Art Park Unveiling Today!


Art Center, Armory Center for the Arts, Flintridge Center, Learning Works Charter School and more than two dozen other community-based organizations have collaborated to develop the installation and creative programming of a “Teen Art Park” that fosters safe, artistic expression for at-risk youth in Pasadena.

Large scale, interactive installations designed under the guidance of Art Center’s Designmatters and Environmental Design Departments will be unveiled at a fun, open house-style community event today at 4 p.m. Educators, youth advocates, artists, community members and teens are encouraged to attend the event, which in addition to the unveiling of the Teen Art Park structures, will have graffiti battles, a live DJ, pizza, art projects and more.

Beyond a safe haven for at-risk youth to practice their craft, creative programming developed as part of the Teen Art Park seeks to provide workshops in a variety of visual, applied and performing arts; develop skills that easily transfer into the classroom and the workplace; deepen connections with community resources; and serve as a public space for performances and exhibits. Detailed information about the Teen Art Park collaboration, installation concepts and creative programming can be found on the Designmatters website.

“Teen Art Park has been a deeply transformative project for all of us at Art Center—an opportunity to engage with our partners, Flintridge Center, the Armory and Learning Works in a bold vision that sets forth new creative spaces for learning and community,” says Designmatters Vice President Mariana Amatullo.

“I cannot thank Art Center enough for envisioning what teens might want when searching for safe places to hang out, be with friends and express themselves as individuals,” says Mikala Rahn, executive director of Learning Works Charter School. “With community involvement and support, Teen Art Park would transform Pasadena into a better, youth-friendly city.”

The Teen Art Park unveiling will take place at Art Center’s Hillside Campus today.

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Making It Happen: A Conversation with Art Center at Night’s Dana L. Walker

Open House 2010, Photo by Lara Warren

Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you need to add a valuable skill to your art and design practice? Or perhaps you’re interested in applying to Art Center College of Design’s full-time degree program and need to build a portfolio? Stop dreaming about the possibilities and make it happen with Art Center at Night (ACN).

Managing Director of Public Programs and Director of Art Center at Night Dana L. Walker took a break from preparing for tomorrow’s Open House to talk to us more about the program and its offerings for fall.

Dotted Line: What is the value of a continuing studies program like Art Center at Night?
Dana L. Walker: There are no single career paths in today’s world. Jobs are taking on more and more skills and responsibilities due to consolidated workforces, increased freelance opportunities versus staff positions, and a variety of other reasons. Art Center at Night (ACN) helps those trying to add to their design skill set, as well as those wanting to take their careers into a different direction. For instance, technology might have changed since you began your design career, and now you need to get up to speed quickly. There are ACN classes for that.

But I also find that there are a number of people who started out in digital careers coming to ACN get the full range of design foundation that they may have missed in their studies. They want to understand everything that came before digital—use of typography, color theory, visual communication and such. Sometimes they want a tactile experience where they’re not designing on a computer monitor. We’re seeing a growing desire for these sorts of experiences, making things by hand.

Dotted Line: How does a program like ACN adapt to the changing economic climate?
Walker: We’ve developed smaller, shorter‑term classes as well as some online and weekend intensives. A full term is 14 weeks, but we are offering many 7-week courses and one-day seminars. These can be easier for many students because it’s less of a commitment, in both time and money.

Dotted Line: What type of student attends ACN?
Walker: The program is for anyone age 18 or over—students looking to develop their portfolios for acceptance into Art Center’s degree programs, working professionals, retirees—and everyone in-between searching for a way to explore their creative side. We have classes tailored for all of these people.

Continue reading →

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Connecting With Art Center Alumni In Israel

Front, from left: Tally Kelner-Gazit, Cecilia Vitas-Kasher, Lorne Buchman, Leon Botner. Back, from left: Dan Porges, Dori Regev, Micha Reshef, Zev Harari

Guest Post by Advertising Alumnus Zev Harari

When I learned that Art Center President Lorne Buchman was coming to Haifa, Israel, I was excited. It’s a great and rare opportunity to arrange a meeting with Israel-based Art Center alumni—many of whom I was not even acquainted with. I only knew of one or two fellow alums here, and set out to find more our tiny country.

A 1976 Advertising graduate myself, I contacted Leon Botner PHOT ’74, who I first met when I was majoring in Advertising at Art Center’s Third Street campus (I graduated two years later at Hillside Campus). Back then, in the mid- ’70s, there were two other Israeli students at Art Center, but as far as I know they settled in the U.S. after graduation. Leon helped me to locate two of his photography colleagues: Dan Porges PHOT ’72 and Micha Shelef PHOT ’69. I contacted an alumna I hadn’t met: Avital “Tally” Kelner-Gazit, GRPH ’85, and she directed me to two more alums: Avidor “Dori” Regev TRANS ’87 and Cecilia Vitas, ENVL’98.

So now there were seven of us, and we were excited to meet Art Center’s president and each other.

We met at the Dan Carmel Hotel, located atop Mt. Carmel overlooking the beautiful port of Haifa. After getting acquainted, we decided to go to a restaurant in town for our informal meeting. While walking to our destination, we found that we were speaking with each other and Lorne like old friends—the immediate connection and camaraderie we felt was amazing! It felt so much like our past at Art Center—while much time has passed and things are much different in our lives today, Art Center was connecting us, and naturally we shared memories and mutual experiences.

Continue reading →

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80 for 80 Initiative A Success!

Art Center is proud to announces the successful completion of its “80 for 80” scholarship initiative, raising more than $3 million to support students in the College’s undergraduate, graduate and Public Programs. At the conclusion of the 18-month initiative, the College raised a total of $3,121,730 for annual and endowed scholarships, exceeding its $2 million goal by 56 percent.

As part of the College’s 80th anniversary in 2010, the College launched the “80 for 80” fundraising initiative to secure the equivalent of 80 $25,000 scholarships. By its completion, the initiative had raised the equivalent of 124 $25,000 scholarships. The College’s commitment to ensure access to students through scholarships and other forms of financial aid continues to be a priority and is outlined in Art Center’s strategic plan, Create Change.

“I am delighted with the level of support generated by the ‘80 for 80’ initiative,” says Art Center President Lorne Buchman. “We launched 80 for 80 in direct response to the pressing financial needs of our students and we are grateful to the broader Art Center community for helping us exceed our goals. It’s an important step as we strive to make Art Center accessible and affordable to talented artists and designers regardless of their background.”

An important part of Art Center’s “80 for 80” fundraising efforts was an anniversary gala, Art Center at 80: Celebrating the Creative Spirit, the proceeds of which supported scholarships for undergraduate, graduate and public program students.

All money raised for scholarships between January 2010 and June 2011 was counted toward the final total. For more information about ways to donate to Art Center, visit artcenter.edu/giving or call 626.396.4216.

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Mystery Photo: Can You Help?

Guest post by Art Center Archivist Robert Dirig

This photograph of Art Center Photography and Imaging students comes to us from the collection of Lorraine Streeter, who served as director of the department from 1956 to 1993. During her tenure, she collected images of students, photo shoots and student work. Streeter passed away in 2004, and her wonderful collection of 81 photographs was generously donated to Art Center’s Archives in 2006.

We know that this mystery photo shows a group of Photography and Imaging students, but that is about all we know about this image. We don’t know the names of any of the students, the photographer or the year it was taken. Do you recognize anyone? If you know any information about this photo, please let us know!

In addition to archiving Art Center’s collections, the Archives also accepts donations of papers, photos, video, publications, and objects related to the College. Do you have any Art Center materials that you would like to donate to us? If so, please contact Archivist Robert Dirig at 626.396.2208 or robert.dirig@artcenter.edu.

To visit the Archives or to donate materials, contact Art Center Archivist Robert Dirig at 626.396.2208 or robert.dirig@artcenter.edu.

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