In other news, I’m back in Los Angeles.

My first impression was ‘wow, people here are fat.’ It really hit me when I was at the Getty and I was surrounded by several groups of school kids just bursting out of their clothing. It’s a bit appalling after spending so much time near fresh, affordable food and surrounded by fit / thin folks.

Living in a city that is so car-centric doesn’t help.

Living in a country that is so fast-food oriented doesn’t help.

Working in an office behind a computer all day doesn’t help.

But it just means I’ll be putting that much more effort into maintaining my health.

- – -
Audrey is up in San Francisco and I’m scrambling to follow suit. I’ll be here for two months working as a concept illustrator on an untitled Zemeckis project, then I’ll be on my way. More commuting, but hey, it’s a good team and a fun project.

I’ll finish posting pics about my trip to India when things simmer down a bit. I haven’t forgotten.

It’s been quite a stir at Art Center and I somehow got in the mix (and I’m a drop out).

It all started here: http://designercowboy.blogspot.com/2008/05/serious-trash.html

then here:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.viewVideos&channelid=82433

and then ended up here:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-artcenter11-2008jun11,0,7266639.story

and here:

http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/arts-news/controversy-surrounds-yet-anot/

and many more places.

Please take a moment to read through this and sign the petition if you feel you believe in the cause. We’re (students, faculty, alum) are trying to re-prioritize the education of the current students and make the school the best it can be without the need for name-brand (gehry) buildings. There will be a time and place for that type of expansion, but it shouldn’t happen if it will compromise the education of the students now.

- – - – - -

Dear Art Center Trustees,

We, the undersigned, are members of the Art Center Community: its students, alumni, faculty, and staff. First and foremost, we are requesting that the Board of Trustees act — in its capacity as governing body of the school — to put an immediate halt to the current Art Center Master Development Plan which includes the Gehry designed DRC.

The mission of Art Center has traditionally been and should be the nurturing of professional design and artistic abilities through the education of its students. We believe that this tradition of educational excellence has been compromised under the direction of the current administration and its president Richard Koshalek, and we ask that the Board of Trustees take immediate action to again make education the school’s top investment priority.

That prioritization of education should result in tangible and immediate improvements for students, classes, facilities, and teachers. To that end, we request that the Board also take action to dramatically reduce non-educational administrative expenses. We ask that fund raising efforts place the highest priorities on scholarships and endowments which directly benefit current and future students.

Lastly, we request greater alumni representation on the college’s senior leadership team and we respectfully request the opportunity for one or more of our Community delegates to formally address the Board at its next meeting in order to make our concerns known.

As members of the Art Center Community, we stand together: firmly committed to the legacy of the school, its students and alumni. Art Center is not made up of one man’s vision, but one vision built from the whole of past, present and future students. Please do not allow yourselves to be distracted by the legacy needs of one man. Do not continue to allow critically-needed capital to be diverted to non-essential uses. Do not spend more time and money on the distant future, when there is great present need. Put education first.

Thank you for your time and attention.

- – - – - – -

You can find the Art Center petition at www.accdpetition.com.

We have over 1000 signatures and we’re shooting for 1500 in the next few days. Please help out!

And don’t be misguided by the top administration’s attempt to rally support for Richard Koshalek with their ‘counter’ petition. If you read through theirs it doesn’t really make much sense.