Tag Archives: Alumni

Art Center Visioning Update from President Buchman

Dear Art Center Community:

I am writing to update you on Art Center’s planning process and to outline the next steps to completion. As many of you know, we designed the entire process to consist of two major phases of work: the visioning phase and the strategic planning phase. The midpoint and fulcrum of the process took form by way of a retreat of the Board of Trustees (on June 23 and 24) in which the Trustees heard the work completed by the visioning task force committees to date, focused their priorities and set the course for the final strategic phase to be concluded by the end of the calendar year.

Art Center students, alumni, faculty and staff convened for visioning brainstorming sessions in January.

The Board, I believe, was energized by what they heard and were compelled by the fact that hundreds of participants representing a cross-section of the community were involved at various points in the deliberations. They were engaged during the retreat in a thoughtful and rewarding dialogue that included the chairs of the visioning task force committees as well as representatives from the Chairs’ Council, Faculty Council, Art Center Student Government (ACSG) and senior staff. The effort was inclusive and courageous.

The work of the retreat coalesced the findings of the task force committees into a cogent statement of educational purpose, a statement serving at once as a tribute to the heritage of the College as well as to a dynamic vision for the future.

Continue reading →

Ego, Destruction and Facebook

Untitled (Wrestler), by Salomón Huerta

Illustration alum Salomón Huerta is known for revealing identity by obscuring it. He has painted collections of finely detailed portraits of the backs of heads, florid but unemotional masked lucha libre wrestlers, and unassuming suburban homes stripped of individuality.

He’ll be giving a free lecture tonight at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), presented by Zócalo Public Square.

Huerta has exhibited at the Whitney Biennial, the Gagosian Gallery and LACMA. He will discuss his creative methodology and his notions of art, ego and creativity.

Salomón Huerta:
Ego, Destruction and Facebook
Wednesday, July 14, 7:30 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
250 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA

Castriota Named Saab Design Director

Transportation Design alum Jason Castriota has been named director of design for Saab.

From Inside Line: “Saab Chairman Victor Muller said the acquisition of Castriota means the automaker ‘will be making landmark cars for the foreseeable future.’ Castriota will report to Saab Automobile CEO Jan Ake Jonsson and will lead Saab’s push to expand its product lineup.”

Read more:
Saab Names New Design Chief (Inside Line)
Saab’s Future Can Be Found in Saab’s Past, Says Its New Designer (NYT)

Summertime Is Showtime

A number of our students and alumni are exhibiting work this summer in galleries around the country. A few current exhibits:

  • Photography and Imaging student Chase Koopersmith has work in the group show Inspired, opening at the Steven Kasher Gallery in New York on July 14.
  • Advertising alum Ed Mell’s solo exhibit, Ed Mell: Paintings of the New West, is currently on display at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.

We’re sure there are some we’ve missed. If you know of any student or alumni shows, let us know.

(Pictured: Outside AB Tool Crib: Matt, Mike, Carey, Steven, John, Mel and Karl by Sharon Lockhart.)

Catching up with Wendy MacNaughton

Excited about the new iPhone? Check out this clever illustration by Fine Art alum Wendy MacNaughton.

MacNaughton stays busy—she illustrated the July cover for San Fran’s 7×7, and sits down for an interesting Q&A with the publication as well. She’s also currently featured on Jen Bekman’s 20×200.

You can buy MacNaughton’s 7×7′s cover art as a poster, or purchase other work by her at 20×200. Also, check out our online profile on her. Good work, Wendy!

ART from the Ashes Inspired by Station Fire


Public Programs managing director and Art Center Photography and Imaging alum Dana L. Walker’s work is currently shown in ART from the Ashes, a group exhibition themed around last year’s Station Fire. Pieces are inspired by, and created out of debris from, Glendale’s Deukmejian Wilderness Park after the fire.

ART from the Ashes is a nonprofit organization of artists and volunteers who create art crafted from materials collected from fire site locations. Debris that would otherwise be cleared and dumped into landfills is gathered and transformed into one-of-a-kind works of art. The organization hosts charity exhibitions showcasing the work created from the reclaimed fire site materials. A portion of the proceeds from each exhibition is donated to a local or national charity chosen by the business or individuals impacted by the fire.

The exhibit runs through July 24 and will feature a host of events in addition to the installation of works of art from a fantastic collective of artists.

ART from the Ashes Gallery
216 S. Brand Boulevard (across from the Americana at Brand)
Glendale, CA 91205
Gallery hours: Tues-Sun, Noon to 6 pm

Outer Circle is Here!

The latest issue of Outer Circle, our biannual online alumni magazine, is here!

The 80th anniversary issue of Outer Circle shares alumni memories and photos from the last 80 years, outlines a new direction for Alumni Relations, remembers faculty member and alumnus Norm Schureman, checks in with alumni fundraising group Legacy Circle, and much more. The gorgeous cover was created just for us by Illustration alum Andrew Holder.

Check it out: artcenter.edu/outercircle.

In Case You Missed It

As you know, there’s always something going on when it comes to Art Center alumni, students and faculty. Some of the latest:

  • Linkin Park 8-Bit Rebellion!, a new game for iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone, pits players against an evil company planning to ruin gaming with HD graphics. Illustration alum and band member Mike Shinoda designed avatars for each of his bandmates and oversaw the new app’s writing, story and gameplay. Wired Game Life
  • The home is a castle for some, but for artist and Product Design alum Roy Mercer, it’s a live-in art gallery. Victoria Times Colonist
  • Illustration alum Mark Ryden’s latest show, The Gay 90′s: Old Tyme Art Show, features works inspired by the 1890s. Paul Kasmin Gallery
  • MFA alum T. J. Wilcox introduces three new films for his May 2010 exhibition at Metro Pictures. artdaily.org
  • Photography alumna Livia Corona documents an interesting twist on the wild world of Mexican bullfighters. Vanguard
  • Pasadena Weeky illustrator and Illustration alumna Ching Ching Cheng will have two paintings displayed at the Louvre in June. Pasadena Weekly
  • Art Center will will host a gathering of leaders and innovators in imaging, technology, media and education at the first-ever Imaging DNA conference in July. Art Center Press Release
  • Call to artists: Pasadena ARTWalk is taking applications for its October event. ArtWalk 2010
  • Illustration alumna Cecilie Starin uses her fine art background in both fashion design and her recently launched interior design business. San Francisco Gate

Albert and Trudy Kallis Foundation Endows Illustration Scholarship

Albert and Trudy Kallis

Advertising alumnus Albert Kallis, with his wife Trudy, recently established an endowed scholarship to support Illustration students with a gift from the Albert and Trudy Kallis Foundation. In addition to helping students receive an education at the College, they hope to inspire fellow alumni to participate in the tradition of helping the next generation.

Widely recognized as a founder of International House of Pancakes, Kallis is best known for his work as an illustrator and art director for American International Pictures. Many of his posters have become collector’s favorites. Prior to his association with AIP he illustrated album covers for Capitol Records, and worked with Saul Bass in film advertising.

In 1973, Kallis left motion picture advertising, and with his wife created the Albert and Trudy Kallis Foundation, which funds and produces documentaries to educate and inform audiences in unique and entertaining ways through a broad range of subjects including art, music, history, science and spirituality.

The Albert and Trudy Kallis Foundation Endowed Scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall to a new or continuing Illustration student who demonstrates academic merit and financial need. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 626.396.2215.