Richard Daskas ’90 Communication Arts
Visual Developer:  Dreamworks.  Upcoming Project: “Monsters vs. Aliens,” 2009

Joseph Santarromana ’90 Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Of Intricacy,” curated by John O'Brien, Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, L.A. March 22-April 26. Also includes Nena Amsler (’92).  Co-Curator and Artist: “The Long Weekend,” Installations and Performances, Phantom Galleries, Pasadena, March 28-30. PhantomGalleriesLA.com  Owner:  “System Yellow Inc” video art publishing/distribution business: http://system-yellow.com/santarromana.html

Joseph Santarromana Joseph in Ochre, 2008 c-print 42" x 65"
Vie in Brown, 2008 digital print, 42" x 65"

Raymond Zibach ’90 Communication Arts
Production Designer: Dreamworks.  Upcoming Project:  “KungFu Panda”

Mary-Austin Klein ’91 Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Collective Amnesia,” Metro Gallery, L.A., May 10-June 14. www.metrogallery.org

Chad Robertson ’91 Communication Arts
Exhibition:  “We are the Superlative Conspiracy,” Robert Berman Gallery, Bergamot station, Santa Monica, March 1-15.  www.wesc.com

Thomas McCall ’93 Communication Arts
Creative Director, Seagate Technology.  Award: "Best of CES" award for the top 28 booth designs (with Samsung, Motorola, Hitachi), Event Marketer Magazine.

Khoi Vinh ’93 Communication Arts
Design Director:  NYTimes.com.  Interview: “Web Design of the Times,” Steve Heller, Business Week.www.businessweek.com

Trine Wejp-Olsen ’94 Fine Arts
Santa Monica Airport Art Walk: Hangar Studios, 2900 Airport Ave, studio A, Santa Monica, March 29. http://arts.santa-monica.org/AirportArtWalk/AirportArtWalk.htm   www.trinewejp-olsen.com

Trine Wejp-Olsen The Vulnerable Happiness of A Cherry Tree, 2007, oil on canvas, 30" x 40"

Elisio Art Silva ’95 Fine Arts
Artist/Muralist. Recognition: “The Future of Our Community,” Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, April 26, 2008.

Sue Keane ’96 Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Functional Art & Artists,” LA Artcore, Union Center for the Arts, April 20-27. www.laartcore.org

Joseph Lee ’96 Fine Arts
Exhibition:  "HEF," Jail Gallery, Downtown L.A, March 29 - May 3. Also includes Bradley Greer (’85) and Mark Dean Veca (’85).

Joseph Lee, “The Killing Moon, 2008, collage, ink, wax, oil on canvas, 5x5.5

Sandeep Mukherjee ’96 Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Spell,” Nichols Gallery, Broad Center, Pitzer Art Galleries, Claremont, February 2-March 22. Review: Holly Meyers, LA Weekly, April 2.  
http://www.laweekly.com/art+books

Sandeep Mukherjee

Robert Acuna ’97 Fine Arts
Exhibition: “Las Vegas Diaspora:  The Emergence of Contemporary Art from the Neon Homeland, curated by Dave Hickey, Laguna Art Museum, March 9 – June 1.  Also includes Gajin Fujita (’97). 

Gajin Fujita ’97 Fine Arts
Exhibition: “Las Vegas Diaspora: The Emergence of Contemporary Art from the Neon Homeland, curated by Dave Hickey,  Laguna Art Museum, March 9 – June 1. Also includes Robert Acuna (’97).

Ruben Ochoa ’97 Fine Arts
Award:  Guggenheim 2008.  Exhibitions: “Phantom Sightings: Art after the Chicano Movement,” LACMA, L.A., April 6, 2008–September 1.  Also includes Patssi Valdez (’85), Juan Capistran (’99), Eduardo Sarabia (’99), Mario Ybarra (’99), Marco Rios (’97). “Whitney Biennial,” Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City through June 1.  Also includes Eduardo Sarabia (’99), Mario Ybarra (’99), and Patrick Hill (’00 MFA). http://whitney.org/www/2008biennial/www/?section=home Press:  “Lessness,” by Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, March 17, 2008.  www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/artworld/2008/03/17/080317craw_artworld_schjeldahl

Marco Rios ’97 Fine Arts
Exhibitions: “Phantom Sightings: Art after the Chicano Movement,” LACMA, L.A., April 6, 2008–September 1.  Also includes Ruben Ochoa (’97), Juan Capistran (’99), Eduardo Sarabia (’99), Mario Ybarra (’99), Patssi Valdez (’85).

Macro Rios and Ruben Ochoa Rigor Mortis

Juan Capistran ’99 Fine Arts
Exhibitions: “Phantom Sightings: Art after the Chicano Movement,” LACMA, L.A., April 6, 2008–September 1.  Also includes Ruben Ochoa (’97), Marco Rios (’97), Eduardo Sarabia (’99), Mario Ybarra (’99), Patssi Valdez (’85).

Juan Capistran

Eduardo Sarabia ’99 Fine Arts
Exhibitions: “Phantom Sightings: Art after the Chicano Movement,” LACMA, L.A., April 6, 2008–September 1.  Also includes Ruben Ochoa (’97), Juan Capistran (’99), Eduardo Sarabia (’99), Patssi Valdez (85), Marco Rios (’97). “Whitney Biennial,” Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City through June 1.  Also includes Mario Ybarra (’99), Ruben Ochoa (’97), and Patrick Hill (’00 MFA). http://whitney.org/www/2008biennial/www/?section=home  Press:  New York Times and New York magazine: www.nytimes.com  http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/03/eduardo_sarabia.html

Mario Ybarra ’99 Fine Arts
Exhibitions: “Phantom Sightings: Art after the Chicano Movement,” LACMA, L.A., April 6, 2008–September 1.  Also includes Ruben Ochoa (’97), Juan Capistran (’99), Eduardo Sarabia (’99), Patssi Valdez (85), Marco Rios (’97). “Whitney Biennial,” Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City through June 1.  Also includes Eduardo Sarabia (’99), Ruben Ochoa (’97), and Patrick Hill (’00 MFA). http://whitney.org/www/2008biennial/www/?section=home
Award:  2008 Creative Capital Grant for Visual Artists. www.creative-capital.org

Patrick Hill ’00 MFA Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Whitney Biennial,” Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City through June 1.  Also includes Mario Ybarra (’99), Ruben Ochoa (’97), and Eduardo Sarabia (‘99). http://whitney.org/www/2008biennial/www/?section=home

Jose Joe Macasocal ’00 Communication Arts
Exhibition:  "Greasers, Ghouls and Gals!,”  Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., L.A., March 2008.

Susan Horowitz ’01 MFA Fine Arts
Independent Curator, Phantom Galleries LA. Inaugural Project: Otis faculty member, Renee Petropoulos, Title Guarantee Building Public Art Window Space, Pershing Square/Title Guarantee Building Lofts, 411 West 5th Street Los Angeles, 90013, April 22- June 30. Pedestrian viewing 24/7.

Tony Bailey ’01 Communication Arts
Owner:  Thumbtack Press. Press: featured spotlight, Wired Magazine (page 80), March 2008. www.thumbtackpress.com

Steven Bankhead ’01 MFA Fine Arts
Solo Exhibition: “Battery,” Circus Gallery, L.A. April 5 – May 10. www.circus-gallery.com

Lee Clarke ‘01
Otis Faculty Member and Fine Artist.  Exhibition:  JK Gallery, 2682 South La Cienega Blvd., L.A., March 5 – April 5. www.leeclarke.ca

Shaun Gray ’01 Digital Media
Special Effects/3-D Modeler: Amalgamated Pixels, Westlake Village, CA, working on CG ride-movie for a casino in Macao, compositing for Get Smart and Nim's Island movies.

Colin Roberts ’01 Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “The Coffeehole" show, Monte Vista Projects, March 1. Review:  David Pagel, LA Times :
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment

Tofer Chin ’02 Fine Arts
International Outdoor Urban Art Exhibition sponsored by J&B. 15 selected artists create specific artworks to be exposed in 43 giant billboards across streets of Barcelona's metropolitan area, January 2-February 29.


Tofer Chin’s billboard

Lauren Lavitt ’02 Fine Arts
Collaborative performance: The Box Gallery, http://theboxla.com/exhibitions/past/lauren_lavitt/  http://www.infectedeye.com/lavitt

Robert Apodaca ’03 Environmental Design
Owner New Gallery:  Fifth Floor Gallery, Chinatown, L.A. Press: “Find,” Home section, LA Times last April 10.  www.fifthfloorgallery.com  www.fifthfloorgallery.com/LA_Times.html

Robert Apodaca’s 5th Floor Gallery

Laura Daroca ’03 MFA, Fine Arts
Cinematographer: "Westsider," a film by Charles Doran, screening at
Boston Underground Film Festival, March 22 and Cambridge Super-8 Film Festival, Cambridge, UK, April 24-26.  See trailer at: http://bostonunderground.bside.com/  http://www.cambridge-super8.org/

Laura Daroca film still

Nathan Fitch ’03 Communication Arts
Exhibition:  “Marks and Moments,” images by Matt Schwatz & Nathan Fitch, Woodlawn Community Center, Pawtucket, RI, opens April 11.

Ed Gomez ’03 MFA Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Esta loco, pero no es pendejo (He’s crazy, but he ain’t stupid,” Raid Projects, The Brewery Complex, April 5-26.  Also includes Luis Hernandez (’03 MFA).  www.raidprojects.com

Luis Hernandez ’03 MFA Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Esta loco, pero no es pendejo (He’s crazy, but he ain’t stupid,” Raid Projects, The Brewery Complex, April 5-26.  Also includes Ed Gomez (’03 MFA).  www.raidprojects.com

Amber Howard ’03 Communication Arts
Press:  Emerging Talents, Step magazine (number 18), spring 2008.
http://www.stepinsidedesign.com/STEPMagazine/Article/28833/0/page/18

Rachel Portenstein ’04 Fine Arts
Solo Exhibition:  “Sailing for Vengeance,” LMAN Gallery, Chinatown, L.A. April 26 – May 30.

Rachel Portenstein

Naomi Valdivia ’04 Communication Arts
Artwork featured on TV show:  “The Real World Hollywood,” airing April 16, viewable on Wednesdays, 10PM. www.beenznrice.blogspot.com  www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1583900&view=thumb

 
Naomi Valdivia

Jeanie Chong ’07 Communication Arts
Award: “Outstanding Achievement Award,” Student Category, HOW magazine’s Promotion Design Competition. This typeface is featured in the upcoming issue of OMAG, the Otis magazine.


Jeanie Chong’s “Jiberis”

Michael Brunswick ’07 MFA, ‘05 BFA
TV Interview:  Sun Valley, ID.  http://sunvalley.plumtv.com/videos/artist_michael_brunswick_mnn

Jonah Levine ’05 Communication Arts
Senior Designer:  “Neoganda,” theatrical marketing and film web site company.  Recent award:  FWA, favorite web site award for “Rambo”.  http://www.rambofilm.com/site.html

Hao Cui, ’06 Digital Media
Art Director, PS3 game called flOw. Award:  “Best Downloadable Game,”
Game Developers Conference, 2008.

Hao Cui Images from “flOw”

Joyce Lam ’06 Communication Arts
Web/Graphic Designer, Forever 21.

Laurie Nickerson ’06 Communication Arts
Art Director, RR Partners.   Award:  Local Gold Addy for Black Marker logo.

Laurie Nickerson Black Marker Logo

Margan Vayghan ’06 Fine Arts
Project:  “Overflow,” LA Art Girls recreate Allen Kaprow's happening ”Fluids,” Getty Museum of Art, L.A. April 26-27. http://getty.edu/visit/calendar/days/04262008.html

Marjan Vayghan and the LA Art Girls

Michelle Andrade '07 MFA Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “The Station Collective,” including ‘07 MFA alumni Lorenzo Hutado-Segovia, Adam Mars, Tucker Neel and John Weston,  El Nopal Press, 109 W 5th St., L.A., March 13-April 13. Publishing:  portfolio comprised of one work by each artist in an edition of 25.

Donna Angers ’07 Fine Arts
Exhibition:  “Picture It” art store, Fox Hills Mall (2nd floor) April 2008.

Sojung Kwon ’07 MFA Fine Arts
Exhibition artists/Curator: Kunstvlaai 7, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 10-18.  Also includes Eric Medine ('06), Matthew Warren ('09), Anthony Carfello ('09), Bree Yenalavitch (’06), Chris Oatey (’07) and Kathrin Burmester '07.

Chris Oatey ’07 MFA Fine Arts
Exhibitions: “Drawing L.A.,” Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, CA, May 10-June 14; Kunstvlaai 7, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Netherlands, curated by Sojung Kwon (’07), May 10-18.  Also includes Sojung Kwon, Eric Medine ('06), Matthew Warren ('09), Anthony Carfello ('09), Bree Yenalavitch (’06), and Kathrin Burmester '07.

Margarita Portnoy ’07 Fashion Design
Designer: “Avita,” an eco company specializing in recycled cashmere and bamboo with a "green" boutique on 3rd Street by the Grove (8213 W. 3rd. St.). 

Justine Serebrin ’07 Fine Arts
Live performance body painting:  Optical Lounge Event, March 8. Exhibition: Advocate and Gochis Gallery, Gay and Lesbian Center, Ed Gould Plaza March 13-April 25.  http://www.lagaycenter.org  www.createfixate.com/nexteventM06.html

Lindsay Thompson ’07 Digital Media
Animator: Rhythm and Hues, worked on “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” Award:  3rd Place, College Television Awards, presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, See award-winning animation:  www.aniboom.com/Player.aspx?v=124869

Milford Zornes ’27 Fine Arts passed away on February 24 at the age of 100.  Several recent Southern California exhibitions featured his work including shows at the Pasadena Museum of California Art and Riverside Art Museum.  In fall 2007 Otis students were able to meet Milford in person and interviewed him on campus.  A clip of that interview will be viewable through the Otis web site after Homecoming Weekend, October 10-12.  For a complete obituary:
www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-zornes1mar01,1,3744782.story

Greg Dominguez (’02 Toy Design) passed away on March 14 after suffering from brain tumors.  He worked as a toy designer at MGA in the boys division.  Below is a remembrance from faculty member Joan Takayama-Ogawa.

Dear Toy Design Class of 2000,

Greg Dominguez was brave and delightful.  An image of Greg quietly organizing and cleaning up your Toy Design community studio space came to mind.  You were all rushing around for the Hot Wheels final critique, and Greg made sure your community space looked presentable in case some of the visitors ventured into your area.  I also see all of you at the old campus as Foundation students and taking the leap of faith to join us at the new campus, graduating as the first Otis Toy Design class.  Greg will be missed.

Times like these are hard for all of us, especially for Greg's classmates and faculty he left behind.  Recently, I heard a Native American poem/prayer, which pretty much sums it up.

Do all the good you can
In all the ways you can
With all the means you can
To all the people you can
As long as you can.

You were a memorable group of students, who were fun to teach.  My heart goes out to all of you with our loss of Greg.

Joan Takayama-Ogawa
English/ Public Speaking Faculty