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Culture Zohn: Cal Arts: The Wild West Is Alive
What do Sofia Coppola (director), Eric Fischl (painter), Mike Kelley (artist), Jim Lapine (director), Laura Owens (painter), Carrie Mae Weems (artist), Brad Bird (Incredibles, Ratattouille), John Lasseter (Pixar), Katey Sagal (actress), Tim Burton (director), Matt Mullican (artist), Andrew Stanton (Wall-E), Bill Irwin (performance artist), Don Cheadle (actor) and Julie Taymor (director) have in common?
It's not a trick question, but the answer should come easier to mind: they all went to Cal Arts, the Valencia, California based art school that pushes aside the word conservatory to make that sound fusty and old-fashioned. Instead, Cal Arts, says Steve Lavine, its warm and engaging and 24/7 president, is there to figure out "what's the frontier?"
The Call to the Post
Not a degree mill to help students find jobs, Cal Arts is instead meant to instill fearlessness. While that might not pay back your outstanding student loans or pay your rent, it will give you Attitude. Cal Arts students and faculty have been seminal in conceptual art, feminist art and animation, theater and dance. Originally a vision of Walt Disney's, the school has been a wild west of its own, a "post-studio" environment that encourages possibilities.
Its bottom up, student-centric philosophy made each film I saw at this year's Film Directing Showcase vivid and absorbing. Of the four programs within the School of Film and Video, the Film Directing program may be the most "conventional." Gone, I think, are the days when friends and family fund your first film and you end up with a exercise in theory. These films are narrative-driven, commercial and ready to be seen by studio d-girls, every bit as slick as the ones turned out by students at NYU and USC. But the choice of subjects was deep, political, social, engaging on every level, and poked and prodded at preconceptions.
Lavine says, Cal Arts students "are encouraged to be brats."
Though the films looked and were professional, their subjects ranged more widely than most studio fare: 29, the longest piece, by Simon Chung, was a biography of Pastor Kim Yoon Chan, who was incarcerated by the Russians in North Korea but survived 29 days of solitary starvation. The Call to the Post (seen Kentucky Derby weekend, it was particularly poignant) caught the heartbreak of a trumpeter who can't let go. He Said, She Said by Christina Castro Miserendino, is a mini love story with a gender twist; The Haircut, by Jai Young Choi, a glimpse at the self-expression of friends colliding.
The Character Animation show, one of the hottest tickets in town, was packed with industry big wigs--this is the Cal Arts signature program--and the hype is well deserved. This year's films had a whiff of nostalgia about them and little soupcons of Ludwig Bemelmans and japanese anime. It's no wonder so many well-known animators come through their unconventional halls.
Lavine insists the students "fight for what they are interested in [because there is] no right way" and reminds that characters and storytelling are what drives the students; what drives the faculty is listening to the students. There are no grades (though a High Pass sounds like a grade to me) and the year end showcases are juried. There is competition in the world -- and even Cal Arts students have to be mindful that they "add up to something," and "have something worth saying."
The Cal Arts students do have another very special something; Frank Gehry designed them a black box theater that sits in the corner of Disney Hall. It is a terrific space that hosts touring groups and will soon become one of the resident homes of the Wooster Group.
The Haircut
Lavine thinks the collapse of the economy will be good for the arts. "When you can't define yourself any longer by what you can buy, you suddenly have to look deeper for what life is about and I think that gives an opening for the arts that it hasn't had before, an opening for it to matter again."
Is Lavine a pollyanna? Having known him since he came from NY (he just had his 20th anniversary as president) I can say that he is one of the most resolutely optimistic, persevering fellows, unfailingly amiable and beloved by students, faculty and trustees alike.
The down economic years will be a collaboration: we have to be interested in the conversation and in the way human expression thrives. Cal Arts and Redcat are a way to keep up with the future, right this very second.
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I was an animation student in Jules program 1972-74. Those 2 years were pure golden and set a life devoted to animation. My animation company SKY-DAVID STUDIO was the highest grossing of its type in San Diego North County for the year 2007.
I first heard about CalArts when I was a high school kid in Wisconsin during the 70s, that Walt Disney conceived it as a haven for all visual and performing artists. Coming from a mill town I thought it sounded like Utopia. I ultimately wound up getting admitted to the Theatre performance program in 1984 and met and worked with actors, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, animators, artists and writers of an impressive caliber. It was amazing.
I'm grateful for the lessons learned, the rewarding work and the people. When you look at some of the amazing names to come out of CalArts, its obvious that this was and is a special place. But when all's said and done, the Arts is still a hard life choice, and while some folks may be able to pull off that "brat" thing that Steven Levine talks of, many of us who wanted jobs, families and healthy relationships had to learn to get along with others. I just hope that we as a nation can learn to value the Arts again, and appreciate not only some of us folks who were the benefactors of Disney's dream, but everyone who strives to push the creative envelope.
I am the first graduate of the MFA level composer/performer from CalArts on full scholarship. No other school could accommodate me; it was either a classical guitar performance major or classical music composition major. So a new major was created. How's that for keeping up with what is actually out there?
I continually run into people who have graduated from conservatories and universities who have majored in classical guitar and their knowledge and foresight into music and performance can be fairly good but they have no exploratory sense and just repeat the past.
CalArts fosters exploration in every discipline, the results may be shocking but this is the nature of art. I am very lucky to have graduated from CalArts.
My CALarts education and Calartian friends have paved the way for a full, amazing life that continues to push the envelopes inside myself to reach deeper and make a meaningful impact with my designs and installations. I was a farm girl from mid-coast Maine and still remember the feeling of arriving at my first day of school to an environment so rich with creative thinkers, I knew at once I had found my planet. "Fearlessness" is the key! Life will hand you bumps and roadblocks but the learned skill I embraced at CALarts has made me a better a designer, activist, mother, friend employee and business woman. www.madgirlworld.com The madgirl story on my website is a tribute to just HOW important my CALarts experience was! " "to go where no man(or woman) has gone before- BEAM me up Steven- Live Long and Prosper"
I was a student before Steve Levine's tenure began but his stewardship of the school and its complex legacy continues to impress me. When I consider the difficulty of his job -- raising considerable sums of corporate money to support the care and feeding of hopeful artists -- it's even more amazing.
I learned a valuable lesson at CalArts: You don't manage creativity. You unleash it. You pour gasoline on it and light a match. The artists mentioned in this article show how clearly that message took root early on. And they're just the tip on the iceburg -- the ones who "got famous". Of course they have talent. Of course they have craft. But they needed the freedom to explore their gifts. We need more places like CalArts. Places where energetic, imaginative people can play with matches.
Congratulations to Steve Levine for 20 spectaular years!
I am an alumnus of CalArts and damn proud to be counted as one. I chose to return to school in my late thirties and received my degrees proudly from Steven Lavine and the School of Art.
I am NOT a trust fund child. Never have been or will be. I am a middle class woman who was a single mother returning to school with a passion to create. I went to school on scholarship and student loans that I will probably be paying back until I die. (LOL!) And it is one debt that has been every bit worth the money. Cal Arts is responsible for giving me my voice as an artist and allowing me to become a true artist.
That "High Pass" is a grade....it is one that you treasure as you bleed mightly with your own sweat and tears, and passion to strive to do your best and push past the envelope that makes you an artist. Yes the teachers are your friends for life and it is the relationships that you make with other students and visiting artists while you are there that will support you for the rest or our lives.
It is magic and is the best education possible for an artist in any genre.
I agree with Steven and Paul ..EXACTLY.
I hope that my own children or grandchildren might want to be students there as well.
Did the article mention that we've got our own mafia? True story.
(the deadening conformity of many) public schools. Oops.
Artgurrl - The students I see there are not what I would call rich AT ALL. I would say that the majority are actually middle to lower economic class, white, black and brown. What they have in common is a love for the dramatic arts and a willingness to bond with each other and to give their all.
J. Scott - The California State Universities are the least expensive colleges around! (About $1,600 - $1,800 per semester; compare that to any other college or university around.)
The article is spot on - "Not a degree mill to help students find jobs, Cal Arts is instead meant to instill fearlessness." These are qualities that will stand them in good stead, no matter what line of work they decide to do.
The teachers are outstanding and it's obvious that they and their students will remain friends for life. I think that this is because their hard work is like going through a crucible. Creativity, openness, honesty and, yes, fearlessness break down barriers allowing the release of a real, unique human spirit - and when incorporated into a thought-provoking or philosophical or humorous script (or improvisation!), magic occurs.
Each student is treated with respect and is mentored to develop untapped talents and gifts - no matter what they might be. The students are not cliquey either.
MadHeart -
I think that creativity is also drummed out by too much TV, too much computer, too many organized activities and the deadening conformity of many
Yup I know CSU is a good value that's where I went instead, but it's changed a lot since 85
I didn't (more correctly my parents) pay that much back then, and graduated and I couldn't get student loans or scholarships, I was a full fare payer like a lotta students, yep taxpayers you're getting value for me I pay taxes and am not on welfare.
My artistic relationship with CalArts began in the summer of 1971, when I moved into the newly built dorm. As this new Multi-disciplinary School of Artistic Excellence opened its doors, some of the nations most talented Professional Artists, Performers, and Educators greeted some of the nations most talented students. All were inspired to higher ideals for the sake of Art, Music & Spirit.
I was fortunate enough to be awarded an Ensemble Associate position in the World Music program of the School of Music. My studies included private instruction with some of the world's most accomplished performers of W. African, Indonesian Gamelan, and from both North & South India, as well as performance memories with the African Music Ensemble & the Indonesian Gamelan, Dance & Shadow Play concerts. In exchange for tuition remission, I taught beginning piano & music theory, and participated in Master Classes with really Masterful musicians. The level of Western Music performers is still exceptional.
Of course, some of the original founders have passed on, but the replacement set is of the same exceptional quality. Yes, the Schools of Art, Design, Film, & Theatre are acclaimed because of the quality and excellence of CalArts alimuni and their work. But let us not forget that one of the goals of Walt Disney, who founded CalArts in his Visionary Imaginary Mental Conceptions, was to foster the interdisciplinary aspect of the arts, & throughout the years CalArts has & continues to encourage collaborations between artists of other cultures, artists of
These days the only people going to expensive art schools are trust fund kids. This leaves out the most creative in our culture that the arts historically had drawn from in the past: the working class kids.
Sorry, Artgurrl, you're talking through your hat.
My kids goes to CalArts and we're poor as church mice. We're working multiple jobs, borrowing, getting help from extended family, and combining that with scholarship and work-study, to scrape up the hefty price.
A lot of the other students there are in the same boat. Sure there are some trust-fund kids, but I won't discriminate against them for being born into wealth. I've yet to meet a Cal Arts student, rich or poor, that didn't bowl me over with unexpected talent in their field.
To us it's worth every penny to send our kid to a school that encourages creativity in already creative students. Yes, I wish the tuition was less and the scholarship was more, but we'll do what we can to provide the best launch pad we're able.
artgurrl, I'm still paying off my CalArts loans and I graduated in 97. You know what though? Worth it.
Actually, you kind of proved my point in a way. I went to a really expensive grad school in art in the L.A area so it's not like I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm glad you can scrape up enough money for the cost of Cal Arts but I still stand by my statement because I'm reminded of it everytime I talk to people graduating today from those private art schools.
Is this really journalism?
Yup I wanted to go there but the TUITION IS HORRIBLY EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But it's nice if your artistic and RICH!
My husband got his BFA and MFA at Cal Arts. He worked, got scholarships, and student loans. It can be done, because we are not rich.
Sadly, creativity is usually drummed out of kids by the time they're 10 or so, mostly by parents whose focus is on the bottom line; that is, pushing their kids to achieve the ultimate in accumulating wealth, not a full life. Another example of American life that emphasizes consumerism, not development and expression of the inner self. We become culture vultures, not creators.
"When you can't define yourself any longer by what you can buy, you suddenly have to look deeper for what life is about and I think that gives an opening for the arts that it hasn't had before, an opening for it to matter again."
Exactly.
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