At long last, VCS has moved to its new space on the expanded CCA campus. . .
And what a space it is!
From the H&S “Homeroom,” our perch on the fourth floor, we look out at several versions of San Francisco. To the east, there's the shiny new City as represented by Mission Bay. Look west and you'll see Portrero Hill with its old-school neighborhood vibe. Peer over the deck and you'll find walking paths and newly planted garden beds that bring to mind the Bay Area's natural beauty.
Inhabiting a new place has allowed for the creation of an inviting community—an atmosphere as much as a location. For the first time in many years, we're embedded in the larger CCA campus, which means on any given day we're bumping into all manner of creative folk.
This, in turn, is shaping our experiences of thinking, reading, and writing. It's shifting the intention, the spirit, and the boundaries for what is possible for us individually and together.
There's talk around campus of the need to “warm up” the new spaces on Double Ground. Over in H&S we're already plenty warm! We've hosted a community dinner, performance workshop, and Open Mic. In the month ahead, the new Homeroom will also be the site of the VCS Forum, with a visit by VCS rock star alum Elena Gross (Oct. 8). We'll close out the month with SF MOMA's Katy Siegel (Oct. 21).
I hope you're enjoying the space and beginning to feel truly at home here.
VERY GOOD NEWS
STUDENTS
Yunfei Hua (VCS Class of 2025) will be sharing her skills and passion for design with young students a mentor at iDO—providing guidance, oversight and encouragement as well as developing creative competencies and teaching the iDo curriculum.
Zedekiah Gonsalves Schild (MFA FA +MA VCS Class of 2026) will show his work in "Día de Los Muertos 2024: Bearing Witness," a group exhibition at SOMArts (Oct. 12-Nov. 3, 2024). He has also been selected for a Murphy Cadogan Award.
Narkita Wiley (MFA FA +MA VCS Class of 2027) published "The Oppositional Gaze of a Wayward Woman" in Art Journal Open (Jul. 11, 2024). Read it here.
Giorgie O'Keeffe DePaolis (VCS Class of 2025) is the Fall 2024 Director of PLAySPACE Program.
Vanessa Pérez Winder (VCS Class of 2025) is an Exhibition Fellow at Root Division as well as the incoming editor of CCA's Rewind Review Respond, which is a great space for all kinds of CCA writers, artists, designers, makers.
Chloe King (DD FA+ VCS Class of 2026) has been chosen for a Murphy Cadogan Award (2024); the ceremony takes place at SOMArts on Nov. 1, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM.
Badri Valian (DD FA & VCS Class of 2025) has an installation/display at the NUMU Museum in Los Gatos through October 6. "We Were Only Kids" is a large-scale painting-installation that reflects her childhood experiences in Iran during the tumultuous years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
FACULTY
Glen Helfand will be in conversation with Sarah Hotchkiss at the Romer Young Gallery in San Francisco this month. He'll deliver a lecture at the First Global Forum on Art Curatorial Education, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing. Glen also has a review of Trevor Paglen coming out in Artforum in December.
Congratulations everyone! Keep those successes--and news items!--coming!
PHOTO ALBUM
alumni INTERVIEW
WHY CCA?
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I initially chose CCA for its top ranking among art schools in the U.S., which offered a truly transformative experience. After completing my MFA, I decided to pursue the Visual & Critical Studies (VCS) program to enhance my writing skills and strengthen my foundation for a future PhD. The faculty’s expertise and supportive community helped me grow as an artist, curator, and writer. Being part of one of the best cohorts, with students from various disciplines, fostered a rich creative exchange. The VCS program, in particular, taught me to write about art in impactful ways, allowing me to express myself about crucial movements, such as the rise of Iranian women fighting for their stolen freedom. CCA’s interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach has been invaluable in shaping my skills.
ADVICE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS?
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My advice to current students is to embrace every opportunity CCA offers. Enjoy your classes to the fullest and make the most of the beautiful new space and the art facilities. You’re in an environment surrounded by talented peers and professors, so collaborate, share, and learn from them. Build connections with students from different majors—those relationships can lead to inspiring collaborations. Lastly, remember that this is a special time in your creative journey, so push boundaries and explore without fear.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?
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I’m now back in Los Angeles, entering the next stage of my art career. I’ve set up a home studio where I’ve started making art again, while actively job hunting for museum positions, where I envision myself thriving. Working in a museum setting is something I’m passionate about, as it allows me to engage with the public and support artistic communities. I’m also considering applying for a PhD to deepen my academic engagement with art history and curatorial studies. It’s an exciting time, and I look forward to where the following steps will take me.
bookshelf
An exuberant new book about Lorde's life and work, with inspiring reflections on what they can mean for us today as writers and thinkers.
