11 13 21 25 Otis prepares diverse students of art and design to enrich our world through their creativity, their skill, and their vision. Art and Design Education that Matters Founded in 1918, Otis is L.A.’s first independent professional school of visual arts. Otis’ 1170 students pursue BFA degrees in advertising design, architecture/landscape/interiors, digital media, Through art and design education, Otis pre- Over its 90-year history, Otis has devel- fashion design, graphic design, illustration, interactive product design, painting, photography, pares talented students to enrich our future. oped this pedagogical approach as an organic sculpture/new genres, and toy design. MFA degrees are offered in fine arts, graphic design, public Communication Arts, highlighted in this issue, response to its context – the unique phenom- practice, and writing. Otis has trained generations of artists who have been in the vanguard of exemplifies this mission. Kali Nikitas, Depart- enon that is Los Angeles, the most futuristic of the cultural and entrepreneurial life of the city. Nurtured by Los Angeles’ forward-thinking spirit, ment Chair, sums it up well in describing the all American cities. The characteristics described these artists and designers explore the landscape of popular culture and the significant impact new MFA Graphic Design Program: “Otis is an above, innate to Otis, are gaining widespread of identity, politics, and social policy at the intersection of art and society. institution that prides itself on reaching out to recognition in both higher education and the community and advancing culture through employment sectors as essential factors for art and design. (The curricula) speak directly success in any field. Otis is proud to be a leader to educating conscientious individuals who in defining an art and design curriculum for the believe that design has the power to contribute 21st Century. 2008 Vol.4 In This Issue: to and shape our world.” (see p. 4) The more we understand the past, the An Otis education combines the vision, further we can advance. As Otis contemplates values, and skill sets that enable our graduates its future, the College and its faculty unabash- 02 Communication Arts 19 College News to excel and make a difference in the 21st edly embrace new technologies and emerging Ave Pildas Paul Vangelisti and Antonio Riccardi century. First and foremost, Otis students disciplines. At the same time, historical know- Kali Nikitas on Communication Arts Alex Coles on DesignArt President Samuel Hoi with designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo become artists and designers with a personal ledge and time-honored practices continue to at Otis’ “Inside the Designer’s Studio,” March ‘08 John White on Advertising Nancy Chunn’s Media Madness voice. Essential to their artistic preparation are anchor teaching and learning. On campus, I am JT Steiny on Illustration Rich Shelton on Collecting Plastic elements of a well-rounded and contributing always heartened to see students being equally Alumni in the Professional World “Transforma: New Orleans” life. These include delighted by and adept at bookbinding and Students Re-invent the Book Scholarship Funding Expands • a commitment to community well- computer graphics. being on a local and global scale At Otis, art and design matters, and innova- • a conviction that art and design matters tion springs from tradition. Otis Monitor Alumni Around the World socially, culturally, and economically 14 24 • a fundamental appreciation of and Robert Irwin at San Diego’s MOCA Sabine Dehnel in Berlin ability to navigate fluidly and resource- –Samuel Hoi, President Alison Saar’s Harriet Tubman Sculpture Alex Donis in Sri Lanka fully in a complex and diverse world Meg Cranston on the Venice Biennale Berton Hasebe in The Hague • the capacity to communicate Nothing Moments and collaborate Editor: Margi Reeve, • a hunger for experimentation and Communications Director 28 Class Notes innovation Co-editor: Sarah Russin, Alumni Director Photography: Kelly Akashi (‘06), Brooklyn Brown (‘07), Meg Cranston, Mara Thompson, Ave Pildas Staff Writer: George Wolfe © Otis College of Art and Design Creative: Intersection Studio Publication of material does not necessarily Cover: Ave Pildas Design Direction: Greg Lindy indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint Deep Space 2002 Design: Brooklyn Brown (‘07) by Otis College of Art and Design Otis College of Art and Design FEATURE FEATURE (That's “Dave” without the “D”) Ave Pildas has taught at Otis for 26 years, and served as Chair of the Ave Communication Arts Department from 2001 to 2007. In July, he will become a Professor Emeritus. Alumni Relations Director Sarah Russin and Com- munications Director Margi Reeve asked him some questions about his time at Otis, and the ensuing discussion included comments on topics ranging from baseball to Dizzie Gillespie, and Mt. Washington stories to “The Wire.” What got you started in the art and design field? photo and type skills to represent aphorisms After high school, I enrolled in architecture at like “the early bird catches the worm.” The University of Cincinnati. The program was very conservative and not very creative, so What are some of your favorite places in the I switched to design. Design seemed to me world? like a team sport. I felt comfortable with that; I like to go on “camera safaris” and have visited Pildas I had started playing baseball when I was six, China, Argentina and Peru recently. I would like and had always believed in the importance of to return to China to explore the Silk Road, and team sports. Understanding the importance of to take my camera to India, Brazil (Brasilia, in the team developed my ability to direct people particular), and the underground churches of and projects. central Turkey. Nearer home, I love Death Valley, Stinson Would you tell us about a current project? Beach, Nipomo Dunes, the last-century tourist The solar house I built in Santa Monica will attractions near Barstow and other little towns be ten years old next year; I’d like to build on Route 66. another house using current sustainable mat- erials and methods. This one will be a duplex Everyone in L.A. is writing a screenplay. What’s with newer technology—solar energy and a on your plate? grey water system. I own some property in Mt. Washington and have had very colorful tenants over the years. I saw you with your camera last week in the I’ve saved correspondence and notes about midst of Chris Burden’s “Urban Light,” an them, and would like to write a sitcom installation of 202 street lamps at LACMA’s new screenplay about these experiences. I like BCAM. Tell us about some of the photography interwoven stories, like the current television work you have been doing. series “The Wire.” Last summer, I shot a series of photographs at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (at left) of Do you keep in touch with former students? people on the escalators in the new addition. Constantly. They are colleagues and friends. I am particularly interested in serial imagery Recently I went to the House of Blues with that combines people with ladders and stairs, Ray Sanchez, Turner Johnson, and Henry Escoto and I am continuing this investigation utilizing (all ‘99) to see G.Love, a blues/rap/reggae group. local sites. I loved the new Chris Burden piece I am a gym rat, so I see alumni at the gym. as soon as I saw it, and have done a number of Or at galleries. shoots there. My Hollywood Blvd. star series and Century City series are other examples of What advice do you give to young designers sequential imagery that I did some years ago. and artists? As a stringer for Downbeat magazine in the I believe that a design education doesn’t have 1960s, I did a series of portraits of jazz musi- to result in only making design. Design is a cians, including Dizzie Gillespie (at far left), Joe process of collecting, organizing, and dissemi- Williams and Gerry Mulligan. Michael Solway of nating information, and this process can trans- Solway Jones Gallery is producing a portfolio of late into other fields. The links between design ten of these in an edition of 40. This portfolio will and commerce are unlimited for someone be exhibited at the Gallery later this year. I con- with an entrepreneurial spirit. Sitting behind tinue my “California Christmas” series, which a computer all day may not pay enough to may become a book or another publication. get your kids into college. In your long career as a teacher, what was your Editors’ Note: During the 90th homecoming favorite class? weekend Oct. 10-12, join alumni in celebrating That would be PhotoGraphics, Photography and Ave’s many years of teaching. ● Typography, in which students combined their OMAG 02 3 OMAG FEATURE FEATURE Kali Nikitas became Chair of the Communication Arts Department 3 majors: in August 2006. Special Initiatives Launch of MFA in Graphic Design 4 Student Travel Excursions 1 Beginning in summer 2008, a new MFA will be offered in In San Francisco and New York City, students visited top design studios, ad agencies, illustrators, and Graphic Advertising Graphic Design. Running for three consecutive eight-week museums and galleries. Two upcoming trips include Illustration summer sessions in residence and two spring sessions of Design (added 4 years ago) London and Minneapolis. mentored off-campus independent study, this 2 1/2 year program provides a rigorous and challenging academic and studio environment for candidates interested in enhancing their current professional practice. Community Collaborations Curriculum 5 With AIGA/LA This program has three individual themes or tracks from which students “180 degrees: U-turns from the Intersection Courses that are offered with multiple sections are taught elect to study: typography and type design, social responsibility of the art- of Design and Culture.” In summer ‘08, Dutch type simultaneously, offering collaboration, team-teaching, and ist in society, and advancing the discipline through theory and innovation.