David Rosenboom steps down as dean of The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts after 30 years. The Pool pays tribute to Rosenboom’s multidimensional career as both an acclaimed performer-composer and innovative educator with two stories penned by Julian Cowley and Mark Swed, two prominent music journalists. Overseeing and directing a school of 300 students, three programs, and twelve specializations…

“Okay, Okay, Okay, Okay. Challenge accepted.” Composer Ellen Reid (Music MFA 11), recipient of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Music, is making me a playlist. She closes her eyes and sways while spinning records in her head, blurting out ideas and enthusiastic reasoning for her choices. Ellen isn’t the kind of composer I learned about…

During the fall of 1989, when I was in the final year of my MFA Art program at CalArts, I was Michael Asher’s TA for Post Studio Art. Each week we met in Michael’s office to discuss all kinds of things, mostly art related. The best part of being his TA was exactly that: the…

Many CalArts alumnx are finding unique ways to apply their artistic training as entrepreneurs within the food industry, in particular within Los Angeles’ booming foodie scene. The five profiled here are among those grads finding support for and synergy with their creative practice through experimentation and innovation in the search of new flavors. Archie Carey…

Amanda Yates Garcia talks witchcraft with Ravi Rajan “I wear all sorts of spiritual hats, only some of which are tall and pointy,” says self-proclaimed witch, Amanda Yates Garcia (Critical Studies and Film/Video 06). She writes, performs, leads workshops, and conducts private sessions with clients, coaching them on life’s most pressing personal and professional challenges. Her toolbox…