an excellent first year for the school. when board members showed up to discuss the sexual grafitti art emblazoned on the walls by students, photo dept. chief Ben Lifson walked in nude and students wearing penis heads paraded through.
You should have a photo credit for this! I was astonished to find it in a book somewhere...I vaguely remember you coming up to me afterwards (Did you, or did I make that up?) and telling me you'd taken a great picture. Anyway, it's magical and captures the moment so beautifully!
I started at CalArts fall of 1985. While it was already a different era, the remnants of that original vibe remained. One could still live in a car, van or truck (milk-wagon, school bus) parked in the parking lot. Showers perhaps intended for dancers' use were available for those making this choice. Little kitchens in the main dorm could be used too. Then one summer "they" asked everyone to remove their vehicles just long enough to repave the parking lot. As you've guessed, the residence-vehicles never returned. Yet many original faculty and enough of the hippie ethos were still there. This article was written with the secret ingredient: love. Linda (Melinda) Garey, MFA Film/Video 1989, and one semester of Theater.
Carey, i like what you are doing. i was at C-A 1970-72 in the sculpture dept. i also worked with Allan Kaprow and Paul Brach, along with Lloyd Hamroll and Doug Edge, not so much with Stephan Van Heun. i owe a great thanks to Herbert Blau for bringing the taiji chaun instructor Marshall Ho'o to the theatre dept. which allowed me to learn the form which i continue daily today and i trust was of benefit to the theatre students--don't know if it continues. it was indeed a magical place then with many vivid memories, hopefully still is, tho the zeitgeist is a bit diff. now......wish you all success!! www.hudsonsculpture.art
In 1972 CalArts was a hotbed of literary talent as well with a small group of writers and poets writing, sharing, and critiquing their work with author and mentor Deena Metzger ...
Deena changed my life! (Were we in the same workshop?) The filmmaking program, also...so much interesting experimental work done. Groundbreaking animation.
Thanks Carey ... didn't see your name there ... still don't ... nonetheless I did check your web presence out and saw your photo ... impressive ... we probably did attend the same class ... Stanley M Fried was also in the class ... we share similar passions, especially with music though I am not a musician but a writer who collaborates with musicians, espcially the late Butch Morris ... I see you were honored at the Bronx Museum of Arts in 2019 ... I collaborate with Alice Farley Dance Theater and they performed summer 2019 at the museum ... I grew up around the corner from the museum ... my email is graubarda@gmail.com if you wish to continue ...
The Modular was opened in 1972, the first Performance was Count Basie and his Big Band in the Spring Semester of the the first year of Classes at the Valencia Campus
Thank you for the correction. I got that date from the website of the architects who designed the theatre. http://www.fisherdachs.com/project_detail/28/california-institute-of-the-arts--modular-theatre/. However, I can see that I misread the date for the final completion of the building as the finish date for the theatre. (Actually, fun fact, I was there for the Count Basie performance.)
Many memories come to my mind!!!
an excellent first year for the school. when board members showed up to discuss the sexual grafitti art emblazoned on the walls by students, photo dept. chief Ben Lifson walked in nude and students wearing penis heads paraded through.
It is good to see the photo of Ginsberg, Ben Lifson, and all. What an amazing time it was! That is me above your head taking the picture, thanks.
You should have a photo credit for this! I was astonished to find it in a book somewhere...I vaguely remember you coming up to me afterwards (Did you, or did I make that up?) and telling me you'd taken a great picture. Anyway, it's magical and captures the moment so beautifully!
Thanks for writing this, exciting and fills in some gaps. And a good read as well.
I started at CalArts fall of 1985. While it was already a different era, the remnants of that original vibe remained. One could still live in a car, van or truck (milk-wagon, school bus) parked in the parking lot. Showers perhaps intended for dancers' use were available for those making this choice. Little kitchens in the main dorm could be used too. Then one summer "they" asked everyone to remove their vehicles just long enough to repave the parking lot. As you've guessed, the residence-vehicles never returned. Yet many original faculty and enough of the hippie ethos were still there. This article was written with the secret ingredient: love. Linda (Melinda) Garey, MFA Film/Video 1989, and one semester of Theater.
Carey, i like what you are doing. i was at C-A 1970-72 in the sculpture dept. i also worked with Allan Kaprow and Paul Brach, along with Lloyd Hamroll and Doug Edge, not so much with Stephan Van Heun. i owe a great thanks to Herbert Blau for bringing the taiji chaun instructor Marshall Ho'o to the theatre dept. which allowed me to learn the form which i continue daily today and i trust was of benefit to the theatre students--don't know if it continues. it was indeed a magical place then with many vivid memories, hopefully still is, tho the zeitgeist is a bit diff. now......wish you all success!! www.hudsonsculpture.art
Thank you, Jon! Yes, t'ai chi in the courtyard (later main concourse) -- and Marshall Ho'o! I appreciate your words very much.
In 1972 CalArts was a hotbed of literary talent as well with a small group of writers and poets writing, sharing, and critiquing their work with author and mentor Deena Metzger ...
Deena changed my life! (Were we in the same workshop?) The filmmaking program, also...so much interesting experimental work done. Groundbreaking animation.
We could have been in the same workshop. Denis Phillips was in it as well ... I don't see your name, so I don't know who you are ...
I'm the person who wrote the essay and sent the email? (Carey Lovelace)
Signed at the bottom?
Thanks Carey ... didn't see your name there ... still don't ... nonetheless I did check your web presence out and saw your photo ... impressive ... we probably did attend the same class ... Stanley M Fried was also in the class ... we share similar passions, especially with music though I am not a musician but a writer who collaborates with musicians, espcially the late Butch Morris ... I see you were honored at the Bronx Museum of Arts in 2019 ... I collaborate with Alice Farley Dance Theater and they performed summer 2019 at the museum ... I grew up around the corner from the museum ... my email is graubarda@gmail.com if you wish to continue ...
The Modular was opened in 1972, the first Performance was Count Basie and his Big Band in the Spring Semester of the the first year of Classes at the Valencia Campus
Thank you for the correction. I got that date from the website of the architects who designed the theatre. http://www.fisherdachs.com/project_detail/28/california-institute-of-the-arts--modular-theatre/. However, I can see that I misread the date for the final completion of the building as the finish date for the theatre. (Actually, fun fact, I was there for the Count Basie performance.)