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ol.2 2006 V 25 Years Design of Fashion 25 Years Otis College of Art and Design Magazine Otis College of Art and Design Otis College of Art and Design 9045 Lincoln Blvd. Non-Profit Org Los Angeles, CA 90045 U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 427 Los Angeles, CA IN THIS ISSUE: A Green Room Grows in South Central • 200 Happy Meals Make a Misfit Diet What is iTunes U? • Life Beyond the Fifth Ring • “Living Design” in Dar es Salaam www.otis.edu 02 20 24 28 Excellence and Diversity At recent alumni gatherings in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, I spoke Otis prepares diverse students of art and design to enrich with Otis graduates from no fewer than seven decades. It was gratifying to hear our world through their creativity, their skill, and their vision. their consensus that the rigorous studies at Otis prepared them well for life after college. The vastly different journeys they have taken since Otis were also impres- Founded in 1918, Otis is L.A.’s first independent professional school of art. Otis' 1100 sive. Indeed, excellence and diversity, two defining values of Otis College of Art and students pursue degrees in architecture/landscape/ interiors, communication arts, digi- Design, are reflected throughout this issue of OMAG. tal media, fashion design, fine arts, interactive product design, public practice, toy Educational excellence at Otis is amply demonstrated by our renowned Fashion design, and writing. Alumni shape contemporary visual culture—from fine arts to the Design Program, which has just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Since the inception Hollywood screen, from the clothes we wear to the toys that engage our children. of the program, a stunning array of top professionals has come to the Otis studios to mentor our talented and hard-working students (see pgs. 4-5). Having learned to balance real world industry concerns with blue-sky creativity, our alumni become creative leaders who enjoy career success (see pgs. 8-9) and shape the fashion 2006 Vol.2 In This Issue: design landscape with their own paths and visions (see pgs. 10-13). Congratulations and kudos to Rosemary Brantley, Founding Chair of Fashion Design, and her dedi- cated faculty. Other departments throughout the College share this commitment to 02 Fashion Design @ 25 excellence (see College News beginning on pg. 24). Diversity at Otis goes beyond the standard racial/ethnic framework. Our goal is to foster a diverse educational environment where each student’s individual voice President Hoi with Betye Saar, former Otis faculty member. 14 Otis Monitor 20 Alumni Around the World can come into its own; in which creative individuals learn from each other, collabo- Otis honored the Saar family at a closing reception for rate, and contribute to a future of openness and possibility. Learning across discipli- Family Legacies: The Art of Betye, Lezley and Alison Saar A Green Room Grows in South Central Life Beyond the Fifth Ring nary boundaries and across the traditional divide between academic and real life (’81, MFA Fine Arts) at the Pasadena Museum of The Allure of Otis College of Art and Design Nordic Amnesia: An Introduction to contexts is increasingly important in preparing our students for a constantly chang- Contemporary Art in August. The exhibition traveled Watching the Great White Heron Rethinking Nordic Colonialism ing and more global future. Since the next generations of thinkers and makers carry to the San Jose Museum of Art. Living Design in Dar es Salaam Marking a Solemn Anniversary our hope for a better world, Otis has also become more mindful of teaching the Masami Teraoka: Passion is his Guide Sounds for the Grand Promenade, Athens impact of responsible art and design. Otis alumna and mentor Wanda Weller guides her students to consider the impact their action will have seven generations from now (see pg. 12). The world-bridging Tanzania project (see pg. 16) and the local 24 College News 28 Class Notes community-based Integrated Learning project at Ballona Wetlands (see pg. 19) are two other examples of Otis’ forward-looking curriculum. The diverse practices and 200 Happy Meals Make a Misfit Diet Award-Winners, Cool Designers, Soloists, achievements of our alumni around the world (see pgs. 20-23 as well as Class Notes Three Legged Legs and Exopolis win Entertainers, Alumni In Print, In Memorium Editor: Margi Reeve, Digital Awards Otis Connects, Designing Otis, Otis Gear on pgs. 28-30) are directly enabled by this unique education. Communications Director Co-editor: Sarah Russin, New Leaders in Design Alumni Director What is iTunes U? Photography: Marcie Begleiter, Commencement ’06 —Samuel Hoi, President Lee Salem, Ian Brooks, Krista Kahl (’07) What Did a Frenchman Tell us Skye Moorhead (’94) About America? Cover Image: Cirque de Soleil finale at Contributing Writer: George Wolfe, 2006 Scholarship Benefit Fashion Show Freelance writer, Founder/Editor Back cover (detail) and opposite: of The LaLa Times [lalatimes.com] Sandow Birk (’88, Fine Arts), Poster for (Fashion Profiles, pgs. 10-13, and pgs. 14-15) © Otis College of Art and Design Dante’s Inferno, a puppet-animated film Creative: Intersection Studio Publication of material does not necessarily with voices by Dermot Mulroney and Design Direction: Greg Lindy indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint James Cromwell. www.dantefilm.com Design: Mark Caneso (’04) by Otis College of Art and Design Otis College of Art and Design Perfect Fit “Perfect Fit,” the June 5, 2006, Los Angeles Business Journal’s profile of Fashion Design Chair Rosemary Brantley, tells the story of this Texas native who brought her keen understanding of fashion design to L.A. In her first 25 years as founder and chair of the department, Brantley has “molded the department into one of the @25 most influential in the country, churning out design talent for some of the country’s largest apparel companies.” After spending time in New York and London as a designer, Brantley accepted the challenge of starting a program on the West Coast. Dominque Lemieux of Cirque du Soleil acted as She sees L.A. now as “the home, the heart, the core of the contemporary market.” a design mentor in 2006, working with students to Brantley considers L.A.’s lack of rules one of the main factors in its fashion promi- create costumes based on Salvador Dali’s famous tarot card designs. nence—this freedom sparks originality and fresh approaches. OMAG 02 03 OMAG FEATURE The 2006-07 roster of mentors includes: Design Mentors Luba Azria for BCBG; Rod Beattie (’86) for La Blanca; Red Carter (’92), Natalie Chanin As juniors and seniors, students work with outstanding for Project Alabama; Francisco Costa for visiting designers each year. These designers, many of Calvin Klein Collection; Kristopher Enuke whom are alumni, donate their time to present a design (’84); Bob Mackie; Mandy Robinson direction, and work closely with students throughout for Billabong; Behnaz Sarafpour; Pamela the year. Among mentors since 1982 are: Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor for Juicy Abercrombie & Fitch Couture; Alan Shu and Susan Lee for Adidas Armani Exchange; Julie Ann Silverman Anne Klein Banana Republic (‘95) for Betsey Johnson Swimwear; and Barbie/Mattel Wanda Weller (’88) for Patagonia. Billabong Bob Mackie Cosabella Cynthia Rowley Diane Von Furstenberg DKNY GAP GUESS? Halston Hurley International John Varvatos Leon Max, Inc. Levi Strauss Yeohlee Michelle Mason Mossimo NIKE Ocean Pacific Oscar de la Renta 2006 Design Mentor Yeohlee Teng challenged her students to Pac Sun create garments with respect for limited global resources, without Perry Ellis the use of power machines or textiles by the yard. These garments Quiksilver were presented on the runway at the annual Scholarship Benefit Richard Tyler Roxy and Fashion Show. The kick-off party for the event, held at mentor Rozae Nichols Trina Turk’s mid-century modern home, was co-sponsored by Sean John ELLE magazine. Among the guests were “Project Runway” contest- Speedo ants Andrae Gonzalo (’99) and Daniel Franco (’95). St. John Target At the May Scholarship Benefit, Otis honored Joseph The North Face Abboud, Cirque du Soleil, and Roxy with creative vision awards. Todd Oldham Approximately 1,000 guests at the Beverly Hilton Hotel enjoyed Trina Turk the runway show featuring student designs produced with Vera Wang mentors Morgane Le Fay, Nicole Miller, John Varvatos, Isabel Volcom and Ruben Toledo, Dominque Lemieux for Cirque du Soleil, Lloyd Klein, Yeohlee Teng, La Blanca, Abercrombie & Fitch, Trina Turk, Volcom, James Perse, Pac Sun, Nike-Dance, and Speedo. The finale included acrobats, jugglers, and other members of the Cirque du Soleil troupe. $1.1 million was raised for student BURLAP EVENING GOWN LACE GOWN MADE FROM COCOON KNIT CAPE MADE BROWN OMBRÉ HALTER DRESS BLEACHED, RECYCLED BLACK scholarships. Special thanks go to Benefit Committee co-chairs WITH MOPHEAD CAPE AND FROM RECYCLED SWEATER, MADE FROM CURTAINS, AND BURLAP GLOVES MADE FROM VINTAGE BOAS LACE; AND FEATHER WRAP JACKETS AND SUEDE PANT CREATED CURTAINS SHRUG MADE FROM RECYCLED Joyce Arad and Lisa Janian, and all of the members of this group. CASHMERE SOCKS MADE FROM RECYCLED BOAS FROM RECYCLED JACKETS SUEDE JACKET 2006 Scholarship Benefit Runway Show OMAG 04 05 OMAG Rosemary Brantley, Alexis Montgomery Founding Chair Sarah Nichols Susan Baker Justine Parish Maribeth Baloga Deborah Patterson Pamela Banks Aaron Paule Aiko Beall Evelyn Poghosyan Eddie Bledsoe Sandy Potter Fashion Q&A Anne M. Bray Mitra Rajabi Leigh Cairo Karen Regoli-Arthur Doug Coulter Diane Sisko What advice do you give young designers who want to Gus DeGuzman Terri Slater What do you think of the statement: develop careers in fashion design? Jackie Doyle Francis Spitta “If it can’t get into a taxi, it’s not valid”? Pat Stiles Chair Rosemary Brantley credits her faculty • Be aware of cultural trends and other ways of thinking about Jane Engelman • Agree! Rosi Gabi Elizabeth Strozewski clothes.