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Don Cheadle in blue suit steps down stairs while high-fiving audience members

From Meisner to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: A Conversation with Don Cheadle

When Don Cheadle (Theater BFA 86) stepped from the stages of the Mod Theater and E400 to the sets of Hill Street Blues and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the late 1980s, CalArts was a very different place—or was it? Recent graduate Jo Siri (Theater BFA 22) talked to Cheadle for The Pool about…

Agency in Action: CalArtians’ Conservation in Joshua Tree

When Anthony McCann, director of CalArts MFA in Creative Writing, approached School of Critical Studies Associate Dean Mike Bryant with the idea of participating in a desert-focused climate change initiative, it sounded like a...

Group walks on trail surrounded by Joshua trees with cloudy blue sky overhead

Food for Thought

A large kiddie-sized pool filled to the brim with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Cardboard cut-outs celebrating a quinceañera. At first, they don’t seem to have much in common. But both connect to themes that run...

Gallery space with pool of Hot Cheetos on the floor and walls papered with hot cheeto bags

Don Cheadle’s Prolific Career (So Far)

Upon graduating from CalArts, Don Cheadle (Theater BFA 86) scored supporting roles in such decade-defining television series as Fame, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Night Court, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well...

Don Cheadle as Miles Davis, in a black tank top, standing against a brick wall.

Jasmine Sugar wears pink opera gloves, a large pearl necklace, and bright pink drag makeup

Building the Haus of Sugar

Dancer and choreographer Jasmine Sugar (Dance BFA 18) has forged her career by taking on both commercial and concert work. Her efforts have led to projects with A-list stars—from dancing under the direction of Solange Knowles (with the developed work featured in Solange’s art book In Past Pupils and Smiles) to dancing at the 2020…

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

There are a few constants that CalArts has come to love during our first 50 years in Valencia. Of them, change may be the most important. After all, constant change drives the relentless creative experimentation at our core. Almost instinctively, we know that we’ll learn, transform, and push closer to truth and understanding only by…

President Rajan in navy tuxedo standing outside Main Building

FROM VISUAL ESSAY

CalArts: Based on a True Story

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From In Memoriam

Ashley Bickerton (1959-2022)

Ashley Bickerton (Art BFA 82), whose mixed-media oeuvre encapsulated consumerist parody and fantastical imaginings...

Chris Ledesma (1958-2022)

Chris Ledesma (Music 77), former longtime music editor of The Simpsons, passed away on...

David L. Emerson on bleachers of sports arena, wearing headphones and standing next to camera equipment

David L. Emerson (1957-2022)

Born on Oct. 31, 1957 in Finlay, Ohio, artist and CalArts alumnus David L....

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From Class Notes

Gary Schwartz in costume uniform performs for crowd

Gary Schwartz (Film/Video 81)

Gary Schwartz shares, “Performed a Cantastoria ‘Cranky’ at the Detroit Cantastoria Fest 2022. CRANKY...

David Bossert stands against bookshelf holding book '30 National Parks Like You've Never Seen Them Before'

David A. Bossert (Film/Video 83)

David A. Bossert recently hit a professional milestone with his 10th book being published....

Cynthia Pepper stands in painter smock next to easel with painting of blue figure surrounded by flowers

Cynthia Pepper (Dance 84)

Cynthia Pepper says, “Loving the art making! I’ve been teaching world dance forms and...

Blue-toned image of hand holding vibrant pink flower with text 'Hold onto Hope, Curtis Macdonald' on top

Curtis Macdonald (Music 86)

Curtis Macdonald writes, “School of Music BFA 1986, released the contemporary New Age instrumental...

Eric Adkins looks over shining volcano model

Eric Adkins (Film/Video 87)

Eric Adkins checks in: “Worked to supervise the live action plate photography for animation...

Lynn Becker (Film/Video 88)

Lynn Becker’s picture book, Monsters in the Briny, illustrated by Scott Brundage, was named...

John Dubiel (Film/Video 89)

John Dubiel notes, “On Nov. 13, 2022, the Company of Angels (CoA) theater in...

Alyse Korn and Robert Kyle's duo album cover for 'Tuesday's Child' featuring the artists smiling at a piano bench

Alyse Korn (Music 92)

Alyse Korn shares, “New duo album of all original compositions. Alyse Korn, piano, vocals,...

Graphic poster for 'Love Outshines the Moon'

Jeudi Cornejo Brealey (Film/Video, Theater 95)

Jeudi Cornejo Brealey says, “The past few years have been a great ride. I...

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FROM THE BUZZ

The Fall and Rise of the Animation A-Block

A-Block, the wing of CalArts’ Main Building that has been the stomping grounds for decades of storied animation artists—including such highly accomplished filmmakers as Tim Burton, Lauren Faust, Jorge Gutierrez, Pete Docter, John Lasseter,...

Rendering of studio block with large windows and modern stations and furnishings

Adriano Pedrosa Named Curator of the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia

December was a banner month for museum director and CalArts alum Adriano Pedrosa (Art-Critical Studies MFA 95). The board of La Biennale di Venezia and its President Roberto Cicutto named Pedrosa—currently the artistic director...

Adriano Pedrosa stands smiling in gallery setting featuring hanging paintings

Mindy Johnson Honored for Animation History Discovery

This past February, the 50th Annual Annie Awards honored author, historian, filmmaker, and School of Film/Video faculty Mindy Johnson with one of their highest distinctions: the June Foray Award. Named for voice actor June...

Stacks of papers featuring pencil-drawn walk cycles of two male characters

CalArts Alums Named 2023 United States Artists Fellows

In January, United States Artists (USA)—a Chicago-based national arts funding organization—announced its 2023 Fellows from 10 creative disciplines. CalArts alums Antoine Hunter aka Purple Fire Crow (Dance 02) and Kite (Music BFA 14) were...

Gray horizontal graphic featuring colorful array of shapes with text "2023 USA Fellows Artists Making Now" superimposed on top

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