ISSUE 21 FALL/WINTER 2014 The Alumni Magazine of Columbia College Chicago Interior Architects design inside the lines Carlos Javier Ortiz photographs the devastation and hope of urban life Photo by Jon Tyler Core YOU ARE INVITED: COLUMBIA ALUMNI NIGHT AT THE 50TH CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Friday, October 17, 2014 Reception 5:30–7 p.m. Reception and screening of ANIMALS with special guest, Presenting Partner director and producer Collin Schiffli (BA ’09) Lucky Strike Chicago 322 E. Illinois St. ANIMALS tells the story of a young couple that exist somewhere ANIMALS Screening between homelessness and the fantasy life they imagine for 7:30–10 p.m. themselves. Though they masterfully con and steal in an attempt AMC River East 21 to stay one step ahead of their addiction, they are ultimately 322 E. Illinois St. forced to face the reality of their situation. Post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers. To learn more about the film, visit animalsthefilm.com RSVP BY OCTOBER 15 AT: colum.edu/AlumniNight Questions? Email [email protected] or call 312.369.7420 CT ON ENTS DEMO ISSUE 21 FALL/WINTER 2014 8 34xx FEATURES PORTFOLIO SPOT ON DEPARTMENTS 8 TOP-SHELF LABEL 26 SHe’S A RAINBOW 34 Jimmy Odom (’12) drives local 3 Vision With 20 years, 220 releases and 70 S usan Alexandra (BA ’07) brings joy business by launching a tech-based Questions for President Kwang-Wu Kim artists under its belt, Nan Warshaw’s with her vibrant hand-painted jewelry. Chicago delivery service startup. (MA ’93) Bloodshot Records has left By Megan Kirby 4 Wire its whiskey-stained mark on the Chicago 36 Shannon Lengerich Suffoletto News from the Columbia community music scene. (MA ’02, GLCMA ’07, MPAC ’13) By Hannah Lorenz (’16) W29 EyE ITNESS combines her passion for psychology 42 Alumni News & Notes By documenting the ravages of and dance as a dance movement Featuring class news, notes 18 INSIDE JOB youth violence, photographer therapist and wellness director. and networking Interior architects Michael Bonomo Carlos Javier Ortiz (’02) captures (BA ’99), Stacey Cohen (BA ’96) and communities’ devastation, resilience 38 Jay Bonansinga (MA ’88) 48 Upcoming Events Michele McMinn (MFA ’06) master- and hope—and wants to spark brings The Walking Dead to life with What’s happening on campus mind the spaces in which we live, work conversations to curb the brutality. spin-off novels. and play. By William Meiners (MFA ’96) 49 Backstory By Audrey Michelle Mast (BA ’00) 40 Precious Davis (BA ’13) Kyle Cogan’s (BA ’12) graphics light embraced her gender identity and up NFL Jumbotrons. found her voice—which she uses to empower LGBT youth in Chicago. ON THE COVER: Nan Warshaw (MA ’93) celebrates 20 years as the co-founder and co-owner of stalwart Bloodshot Records. Story, page 8. Photo: Jacob Boll (BA ’12) GET YOUR DEMO COLUMBIA ISSUE 21 FALL/WINTER 2014 GEAR. DE mo MAGAZINE STAff Editor-in-Chief Kristi Turnbaugh T-shirts, Editorial Assistants Megan Kirby hoodies, caps, Hannah Lorenz (’16) baby gear, gifts, Joshua C. Robinson (’15) accessories, Alumni Content Manager Cynthia Vargas (MFA ’13) and yes, Researcher Amy Wilson books too! Class Notes Editor Michael Bogart (’14) Creative Director Ben Bilow Senior Designer Susannah Kim Staff Photographer Jacob Boll (BA ’12) Design Intern Morgan Garleff (’15) columbia.bkstr.com COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO 624 S. MICHIGAN AVE. | CHICAGO, IL 60605 | 312.427.4860 Chair, Board of Trustees Richard P. Kiphart President Kwang-Wu Kim, DMA Vice President of Development Jonathan S. Stern and Alumni Relations Assistant Vice President Mary Forde for Creative Services Associate Director of Cynthia Vargas (MFA ’13) Alumni Events and Programs Director of Alumni Relations, Sarah Schroeder (BA ’00) West Coast DEMO (volume 9, number 2) is published by Columbia College Chicago. DEMO is mailed free of charge to alumni and friends of the college two times per year. The ideas and opinions expressed are those of the writers alone and do not necessarily reflect those of Columbia College Chicago. © Columbia College Chicago 2014. Columbia College Chicago’s Email [email protected] to CONTACT US: For address changes or deletions, email your first and last name, mailing student and alumni art schedule an appointment address, city, state, zip code and phone number to [email protected] and specify if your boutique. Accepting artist to submit your work. request is an address update or a request to stop receiving DEMO. For other inquiries, submissions year-round. email [email protected], call 312.369.1000, or mail DEMO magazine, Columbia College Chicago, 600 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605. shop.colum.edu 623 S. WABASH AVE. | CHICAGO, IL 60605 | 312.369.8616 Become a fan! DEMO G magazine is on Facebook. colum.edu/demo 2 fall/winter 2014 DEMO VISION QUESTions for PRESIDENT KWANG-WU KIM DEMO: What’s new for alumni? PRESIDENT KIM: One of the big appeals to alumni right now will be this idea of [joining] a network … not only of mentors, but living, breathing role models. We don’t have as many Photo: Juan Alejandro (BA ’14) Juan Alejandro (BA Photo: obvious pathways for students. We’re not preparing students for medical school or law school. I think that the more they can see President Kim meets Kristy Markovik (BA ’11), Ari Jamali (BA ’07) and Sanaz Jamali at a Naperville/Aurora alumni event. different versions of [alumni] success in the real world, the better for our students to begin imagining their life paths. People seem to have really powerful positive memories with their experiences here. It’s always about the faculty that they got to work who we were. He knew about us more from the “People seem to have with. I want to connect [students and alumni] school that we were maybe in the ’70s. I’ve got back to that experience. to get out there and make sure that people are really powerful positive aware of who we are now. memories with their DEMO: What are your hopes for the next year? DEMO: What do these plans mean for alumni? experiences here.” PRESIDENT KIM: My big focus in year two is making sure that by the end of this next year PRESIDENT KIM: I would like to be in a we have a complete strategic plan. Also: I hope position to offer more opportunities for alums. that at the end of this year, there’s a sense We’ve got to think about how we would do that more people are talking about Columbia that—new career training, skills training. College Chicago. I had a great meeting with If I succeed at this work, hopefully one of the the deputy mayor of the city recently. He was fringe benefits to all of our alums is that over very excited to hear about us, but I was very time, they are going to see the value of their aware that he really didn’t have a clear sense of Columbia College Chicago degrees go up. DEMO fall/winter 2014 3 WIRE News from the Columbia community Faculty-Focused Ad Campaign Hits the Streets Stanley T. Wearden Michelle Gates Jonathan Stern The latest phase of Columbia College Chicago’s Administrators Join Columbia Staff image campaign, launched in July, focuses on faculty, with ads on billboards, bus shelters and Key college hires arrived on campus over the summer. Stanley T. Wearden, PhD, became Columbia magazines. The dynamic series of photographs College Chicago’s senior vice president and provost, the chief academic officer for the institution, highlights faculty members from across on July 1. Formerly dean of the College of Communication and Information, and professor of Columbia’s creative academic community. journalism and mass communication at Kent State University, Wearden will work with President The research-based campaign, which and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim, DMA, to lead Columbia College’s academic affairs enterprise. launched in September 2013 with ads highlight- Michelle Gates began her duties as vice president of business affairs and CFO on July 14. Formerly ing students, went through an extensive the senior associate vice president of financial affairs at Emerson College in Boston, Gates has brand review with global public relations and extensive experience in financial posts at higher education institutions. communications firm Burson-Marsteller to Jonathan Stern is Columbia College Chicago’s new vice president for development and alumni focus appeal to key audience groups including relations. Stern, who started on Aug. 4, comes to Columbia from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, prospective students, parents and high Ind., where he served as the dean for advancement, overseeing all aspects of fundraising, alumni school guidance counselors. and parent relations. President Kim’s Vision Paper Focuses on Fulfilling College’s Potential In his first vision paper, Redefining Our “We must strengthen our sense of commu- Greatness, President Kwang-Wu Kim discusses nity and raise the bar of our collective how the college will re-embrace its mission and aspiration, setting our sights on nothing less commit to changes, allowing the institution than achieving our full potential as an to achieve its full potential. Released in May, educational innovator, a generator of student the paper reflects on President Kim’s first year success and an incubator of new creative of the presidency and focuses on a future full process,” writes Kim. The full vision paper is of improvements and ambition. available at colum.edu/president. 4 fall/winter 2014 DEMO WIRE Columbia Named a Top Film School MEET & GREET In its Aug. 8 issue, The Hollywood Reporter named Columbia College Chicago as one of this year’s Top 25 Film Schools in the United States.