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EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT
Chair of Animation
Otis College of Art and Design announces Ron Bernard’s appointment
By Kamala Kirk
Highly respected visual effects artist and educator Ron Bernard was recently named chair of the newly-created Animation BFA Program at Otis College of Art and Design, after receiving overwhelming support from the community for his presentation on his background in animation and visual effects, and his vision for the program. Bernard’s appointment to the newlycreated role follows the college’s restructuring of the Digital Media program into separate Game Design and Animation BFA degrees, while continuing the existing emphasis in Motion Design. These changes respond to the dynamism and expansion of the digital media and entertainment design industries in recent years. “Ron’s diverse and expansive experiences will enrich Otis College, just as we know that his calm, collegial manner will allow him to quickly form bonds within our community,” said Otis College Provost Lee Isbara. Bernard’s background in education and production are instrumental in his ability to lead the new Animation program at Otis College of Art and Design recently announced that Ron Bernard has stepped into the role of Chair of Animation at the college.
COURTESY PHOTO Otis College. Within the animation industry, he has served in VFX roles as project manager, head of production, and as virtual production coordinator at such places as Red Dragon Animation in Beijing, China, and James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment. In education he has been a professor of visual effects at Savannah College of Art and Design, where he also received his MFA, before expanding into such roles as Academic Manager of the Department of Digital Effects, as well as Manager of International Relations and Development at Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore, and Academic Director of Base Academy/Dean of Base Camp for Base FX, headquartered in Beijing. The new BFA in Animation will be offered to Otis College students starting with the 2022-2023 academic year, pending formal accreditation approval. “I am ecstatically excited to join Otis College of Art and Design,” Bernard said. “I truly feel that here I can synergize my unique experiences, perspectives and expertise in education.”
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Bringing Outdoors Inside Classrooms
Wish Charter Elementary students visit Pali Institute
Pali Mountain was founded by Andy Wexler to offer youth a safe place to discover and learn from the world around them.
By Michele Robinson
For parents and educators looking for a hands-on and educational outdoor experience for their children or students away from Pasadena, Pali Institute may be just the place they’re searching for. Founded in the 1990s by entrepreneurial visionary Andy Wexler, Pali Mountain (which incorporates Pali Adventures Camp, Pali Institute and Pali Retreat), has successfully offered youth a safe place to learn and discover while being supervised by highly trained staff for over 23 years. “At Pali Institute, our goal is to introduce experiential education to our students by providing progressive learning experiences that extend far beyond classroom walls,” director Emily Bauder Balcome explained. “Through our innovative curriculum and excellent staff, students will experience the thrill of learning about the beautiful world around them. We bring textbooks to life.” Located on over 250 acres in picturesque Running Springs, California, Pali Institute offers one-day, three-day (most popular) and weeklong overnight adventures. Most of the schools participating in this program are from the Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego areas. The program is geared for students in grades 3-12 and attracts many local Westside schools, including Wish Charter School, Open Charter School, New Roads Elementary and Archer School for Girls. Recently, students at Wish Charter School attended a three-day retreat and were able to unplug, forge new friendships and have fun while doing it. The Pali Institute strives to keep students engaged the entire time they are there. During a typical day, they can expect to spend daytime hours equally divided between “academics” (learning outdoor science-related curriculum) and structured outdoor adventures. Nighttime activities include other fun outside activities like putting on a variety show, dance or movie nights. All instructors at Pali Institute have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field. Health and safety is also a top priority. There is a 24/7 onsite medical team with nurses to care for daily needs and first responders are only three miles away. With over 30 STEM focused classes to choose from, teachers and educators can customize their experience based on what best suits their needs. “Our outdoor education program places a stronger emphasis on the unique learning opportunities afforded by our location and environment – though we try to keep things as fun as possible along the way,” entertainment and PR representative Joseph Grazier said. For the outdoor classroom experience, students can learn a variety of science related inquiries including dissecting owl pellets (biology) and balloon rescue, which is a twist on the classic “egg drop” (physics). Once the sun goes down, they can view the night sky to learn about astronomy. Instructors Peter Bustin and Poppy Hales explained in more detail about some of the science activities that the students learn: “Dissecting owl pellets was like… some of the kids were initially uncomfortable with it, but picking it apart and seeing bones and skulls and stuff, they ended up really enjoying it,” observed Bustin. “Balloon Rescue is basically our version of the egg drop experiment; Instead of protecting an egg from breaking when it hits the ground, students are tasked with protecting a water balloon using some basic supplies: stuff like paper cups, cotton balls, straws, and tape,” said Hales. Due to sharing this site with their summer camp Pali Adventures, Pali Institute also offers a wide range of recreational activities. This includes archery, ropes, tomahawk throwing and other fun “campy” activities. Additionally, students can choose from other outdoor adventures including miles of hiking trails, basketball courts and challenge courses. There are also zip lines and archery ranges. “I had a kiddo who said they loved doing archery and learning how to shoot the bow,” instructor Kathryn “Thumb” Leonard remarked. “It was really cool to see how even though they kept messing up, I helped them stay positive and eventually they hit the target because they kept trying. It was a lot of fun.” While the vast majority of time is spent outside (weather permitting), indoor activities include eating in Huckleberry Hall, where students enjoy three kidfriendly buffet-style meals a day, and sleeping in staff supervised cabins with 10 students per room at night. The student accommodations are heated with 2-3 bathrooms and private showers per cabin. There is a no cell phone policy that encourages students to unplug and enjoy their time in nature. It also helps them build stronger friendships and many of the activities are designed to build teamwork. “I know there were plenty of kids out there getting out of their comfort zone even being here. I noticed that there were a lot more interactions between them. I saw more relationships building up, getting stronger,” instructor Ryan “Weights” Milligan described. While Pali Institute is an educational based program and geared for school groups during the academic year, there is also a summer camp option. For parents who are looking for a sleepaway summer camp program, Pali Adventures Camp offers up to nine weeks of weekly stays where former Pali Institute students can enjoy a 15% discount.
Honoring Young Poets
By Kamala Kirk
Beyond Baroque, one of the nation’s leading literary arts centers, recently announced the winners of the inaugural Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize and Scholarship. This prize continues beyond its legacy of nurturing some of California’s finest poets including Wanda Coleman, Amy Gerstler, and U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman. This year’s Scholarship winners are Simone Wesley, Lucia Kornzweig, and Indigo Eatmon. The Prize winners are Tina Mai, Jessica Kim, Fiona Lu, and Anna Yang. The Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize and Scholarship was created in honor of Gorman, a Beyond Baroque alumna who spent the earliest days of her career attending workshops there. Through this opportunity, Beyond Baroque seeks to recognize poets enrolled in grades 9 to 12 in California, and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. “I’ve learned to use the emotions brought up by my circumstance to create poetry that not only serves as an outlet for myself, but provides an emotional conduit for others, as well,” said Wesley, a recipient of the scholarship. First-place winner and O.C. Youth Poet Laureate Tina Mai said, “It’s always surreal to find out that my work is reaching people and being recognized— not just tucked away in a document on my laptop.” The funds consist of $10,000 in scholarship and poetry contest money for 9th, 10th, 11th, and college-bound 12th graders, an age range that reflects the early days of Gorman’s journey. College-bound students in the 12th grade were eligible to apply for a scholarship award, and 9th, 10th, and 11th graders were eligible to submit to the poetry contest. Beyond Baroque received approximately 130 applications across the scholarship and prize tracks, from students all over the state of California. The winners were selected by a panel of poets and writers. “The volume of applicants, and the quality of their work, only confirms what we already know: the future of poetry is incredibly bright,” said Beyond Baroque’s executive director, Quentin Ring. “Beyond Baroque would like to thank and recognize all of the applicants who shared their writing with the organization. It was an honor for our panel to read each student’s work, and to be able to recognize seven talented, admirable young people whose talent and dedication to poetry all exemplify Amanda Gorman’s legacy.” Beyond Baroque will host a reading with the scholarship and prize winners on Oct. 1, 2022. More information about the event will be announced in the coming weeks, and can be found on the website and all social media platforms. The opening of applications for the next Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize will be announced in 2023.
Beyond Baroque
beyondbaroque.org @bblitarts
