PRESIDENT
Ravi S. Rajan
VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT
Natalie Farrar Adams
VICE PRESIDENT
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Ann Wiens
The Pool is the alumnx/alumni magazine of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), a nationally recognized visual and performing arts college located in Valencia, California. The magazine is published by the CalArts Office of Marketing and Communications.
This issue of The Pool (#12) commemorates the 50th anniversary of CalArts in Valencia with tidbits and stories found in the archives or heard in the hallways over our five decades.
As always, the mission of the publication is to inform and entertain readers; to engage alumni and friends with feature stories and short items that profile CalArtians recognized for excellence in their fields and métiers. In this online edition, find a robust section of Class Notes includes all written submissions and selected images of alumni and their work.
To request a printed copy of the 50th anniversary issue, please email:
communications@calarts.edu.
Credits
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Christine N. Ziemba
ASSISTANT EDITOR (ONLINE EDITION)
Taya Zoormandan
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Gregory Houle, Stuart Smith – Creative Direction (Art MFA 02)
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FOR THE POOL (#12)
Rose Andersen (Critical Studies MFA 18), Katie Dunham, Juliet Bennett Rylah, Jo Siri (Theater BFA 22), Adam Smeltz
VIDEOGRAPHY
Nicolas Savignano (Film/Video MFA 15)
INSTITUTE PHOTOGRAPHY
Rafael Hernandez (Art BFA 11)
WEBSITE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
Daniel In
COPY EDITOR
Caroline Pardilla
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN FOR PRINT ISSUE
Handbuilt Studio, Los Angeles
ABOUT HANDBUILT STUDIO
The 50th anniversary issue of The Pool (print edition) was designed by Handbuilt, a Los Angeles-based graphic design practice, with an eye toward developing interdisciplinary collaboration, founded in 2001 by Juliette Bellocq (Art MFA 00). Handbuilt has been recognized for its design work in publications, exhibitions, environmental design, competitions, as well as self-initiated projects. Brooke Irish (Art BFA 14) joined the firm in 2019 and, most recently, Handbuilt welcomed Makena Janssen (Art MFA 22) to their team.
This collaborative of three CalArts alumnx from three different decades, offers a distinctive collective perspective on the Institute over many years. Handbuilt also works with diverse groups of individuals from a variety of professions, including educators, architects, artists, designers, chefs, and policymakers. They design for paper, screen, and space, as well as teach and lead workshops that engage the community with artistic experiences.
Handbuilt seeks to intertwine their practice with themes that interest them personally. Subjects ranging from such things as how food is distributed throughout Los Angeles, access to art for all communities, as well as pedagogy have all served as creative drivers for Handbuilt.
ABOUT FISK
The CalArts 50th anniversary logo was designed by FISK, a Portland, Oregon-based graphic design studio that focuses on the enhancement of art and design in our daily lives. FISK utilizes graphic design, websites, objects, and physical spaces to visualize their ideas.
Founded by Bijan Berahimi (Art BFA 13) in 2009 while he was still a student at CalArts, FISK works with clients to make long-lasting, thoughtful design systems, campaigns, and experiences. Its goal is to express the nuanced feelings of their multifaceted collaborators through typography, image-making, and world building. By creating a practice that champions the wide ranging ethnicities, voices, and backgrounds of their team, clients, collaborators, artists, and consumers, FISK is able to appreciate and begin dialogues within their local and global communities.
Contributing writers, photographers, and graphic designers for The Pool and thepool.calarts.edu are often CalArts alumni and/or Institute faculty and staff. Additional contributors are drawn from a community of talented freelance creative professionals conversant in specific areas of content.
To contact The Pool editorial team or submit story ideas, please email thepool@calarts.edu.
