Issue #5 - From the Editor

From the Editor

One of the pleasures of my job is meeting many of the artists that make up the CalArts community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. In the summer of 2008, I was invited to the home of Stephen and Karen Hillenburg to interview Steve for a CalArts magazine story on our Wasserman Scholars. Having three young children at the time, I was thrilled by the opportunity to converse with the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, a program that had brought so many hours of closely shared laughter and joy to our family. My first impressions of Steve were of a rather subdued, perhaps even cautious person. In the magazine, I reported a seeming disconnect between this calm, collected, soft-spoken artist and the frantic absurdity of his work. But what I learned of him in the hour we spent together, was that Steve was open, honest, humble, and thoroughly amazed by the success of SpongeBob. “I thought maybe we’d get one season,” he said, “and I’d hoped that maybe it would become a cult thing and people would at least respect the show. All of us making it were really shocked that it took off the way that it did.” Preparing to take my leave, remembering that I was a fan, I asked Steve to sign the photograph seen here. That the cover story of this issue of The Pool celebrates Steve’s life and work posthumously, saddens us deeply. Words fail; yet thankfully, Experimental Animation faculty member Maureen Selwood has found many that successfully honor this uniquely talented CalArtian. In the second installment of a continuing series on alumni who are giving back, we profile musician/educator John Daversa, whose big band album, American Dreamers, made with 53 DACA recipients, captured three Grammy Awards this year. The Florida-based Daversa is on faculty at The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Also featured are two CalArts alumni, Michael Cohen (no, not that one) and Nancy Barton, who have brought the arts to a small town in Upstate New York, where they are making significant contributions to Prattsville’s youth and the larger community’s civil discourse. Alumna Chrysanthe Tan interviews alumnus, character animator, and creator of The Book of Life, Jorge Gutierrez. Three years ago, when his young son was diagnosed with autism, Gutierrez had himself tested, and the results were positive. In this surprising interview, Gutierrez shares his thoughts and feelings about how autism has contributed to his creativity and success. Herb Alpert is one of CalArts’s great friends and supporters. One form of his legendary generosity is The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts, now in its 25th year. In partnership with the Institute, which administers the program, The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts recognizes and rewards risk-taking artists in midcareer, in five disciplines, with a hefty check— no strings attached. Our story features four of the now 125 recipients who recall what the award has meant to them, both personally and professionally. What’s it like to write for a topical, relevant TV drama? Critical Studies alumna Joy Gregory (Madame Secretary) answers the question and details stops along the winding road that took her from Cleveland, through Chicago and Valencia before her arrival in Hollywood. And finally, a visual essay offers a look at how much (and perhaps, how little) the CalArts campus and experience have changed in our near 50 years.

Please stay in touch and let us know what you’re up to. Until the fall.…

Wishing you a relaxing and productive summer, Stuart I. Frolick, Editor