CalArts Podcasts

Kataneh Vahdani (BFA Character Animation 05; MFA Experimental Animation 08) grew up in Iran. She is a director, animation creator, story artist, and educator, and came to the US with her mother and brother when she was a teenager, beginning her journey at CalArts when she was just 16 years old.

You can learn more about Kataneh on her website.

Please note this episode contains a discussion about suicide. Please listen with care.
If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Launched in 1978, The World Music Festival has its roots in CalArts’ World Music program in the Herb Alpert School of Music. As we prepare for the The 2024 World Music Festival in April, we are joined by the co-directors of the World Music Program specialization, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole and Andrew Grueschow, who talk about the history of the World Music Festival, how it has evolved, and what we can expect for 2024.

• Watch to learn more about the 2024 World Music Festival, April 26 - 28.

The intro music used in this episode is titled “Bamaya”
The outro music used in this episode is titled "Jera”

These live performances were recorded in Accra, Ghana. Produced by retired CalArts faculty, Kobla Ladzekpo, under his record label Zadonu Records (copyright 2001) Co-produced by Andrew Grueschow.

"Bamaya" is danced by men dressed as women. This tradition began as a way to please the gods so they would bring rain.

"Jera" is music that is sometimes performed at large funerals. The dance that accompanies it is not very common.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Jinal Sangoi (Art MFA 18) is an artist and educator, currently living in Mumbai, who weaves art, design, pedagogy, and community through her participatory and collaborative practice, designing creative methodologies for experiential learning with a particular interest in the ideas of care, home, nature, gender, and resistance.

While at CalArts, Jinal was the recipient of the Tim Disney Prize for the Storytelling Arts, among other awards and scholarships. After receiving her MFA, Jinal participated in a program for recent CalArts graduate students known as the REEF Residency, where she received a stipend and free studio space for one year in downtown Los Angeles.

• Learn more about Jinal Sangoi and her art practice
• Learn more about the REEF Residency program

The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Esteban Ramón Pérez (Art BFA 17) taps into his experience as a professional upholsterer, often working with leather to produce works that intertwine the cultural and artistic sensibilities of his Chicano heritage with issues he identifies as rooted in postcolonial history. Esteban’s work embodies facets of art histories, popular icons, subjectivity, spirituality, and social issues.

Esteban’s work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States and around the world. In 2023, his work was featured as part of Made in L.A., the Hammer Museum’s biennial exhibition highlighting the practices of artists working throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

To learn more about Esteban’s practice, visit his website.

Beyond the Blue Wall’s Season 3 intro music, “Lima,” was created and performed by Nicolas Savignano (Film/Video MFA 18). You can learn more about Nico and his work by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

A lot that goes into creating a world class institution like CalArts, and your support of our mission helps to make that happen. In this bonus episode, Henderson explains the various ways that your gift to CalArts greatest need helps our students.

Thanks for being a part of our community of artists!

Beyond the Blue Wall’s Season 3 intro music, “Lima,” was created and performed by Nicolas Savignano (Film/Video MFA 18). You can learn more about Nico and his work by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

In this episode, we’re joined by REDCAT’s Chief Curator, Daniela Lieja Quintanar and Assistant curator, Talia Heiman to talk about their new exhibition celebrating and honoring the groundbreaking effort of the Feminist Art Program pioneered by Judy Chicago in 1970. The Feminist Art Program (1970–1975): Cycles of Collectivity, which is on view through February 18, 2024 at REDCAT, CalArts’ downtown center for contemporary arts, presents an ever-growing feminist contribution to art and pedagogy with a multiplicity of voices, contexts, and identities, with an intergenerational collective of scholars, artists, activists, and curators contributing to the research, memory, syllabi, and artworks on display.

• Learn more aboutThe Feminist Art Program (1970–1975): Cycles of Collectivity
• Learn more about REDCAT

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

Trustee Emeritus, Austin Beutner, served as chair of CalArts Board of Trustees from 2006- 2014. He is a fierce supporter of arts education, including CalArts’ own Community Arts Partnership (CAP) program, as well as the landmark 2022 California ballot initiative, Proposition 28, which creates a guaranteed annual funding stream for music and arts education that equals 1% of the state’s general fund. In 2023, that amounts to almost $1 billion of funding for the arts statewide.

Host Henderson Blumer spoke with Austin about these issues, as well as his own experience with the arts, why he believes so strongly in supporting arts education, and how he sees CalArts as ideally positioned to lead the arts education revival in California and beyond.

• Learn more about CalArts Community Arts Partnership (CAP)
• Learn more about California’s Proposition 28
• Learn more about School Gig, which connects musicians, visual artists, thespians, dancers, programmers, and more, with job opportunities in public schools

The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at calarts.edu/btbw.

CalArts’ annual Halloween party occupies a unique place in the hearts of most CalArtians. In this episode, we talk with past and current producers of Halloween to give you a unique look at what it takes to put on this remarkable event. We trace how the Institute has turned this epic rager into an extraordinary learning experience for students.

• Visit the CalArts Halloween website.

Beyond the Blue Wall’s Season 3 intro music, “Lima,” was created and performed by Nicolas Savignano (Film/Video MFA 18). You can learn more about Nico and his work by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Additional music for this episode from Pixaby by:
Coma Studio
Keyframe Audio
Anton Kornienko
Yrii Semchyshyn
Sound Reality

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement.

Host Henderson Blumer is joined by the Director of the Patty Disney Center for Life and Work (PDCLW), Jen Hitchings, and the Assistant Director for Career Connections & Development, Lonnie Woods III.

Jen and Lonnie discuss the programs and services offered by the PDCLW as well as what it means to be a working artist.

To learn more about the Patty Disney Center for Life and work, and the career services opportunities offering to CalArts students and alumnx, visit calarts.edu/clw

• You can subscribe to the “Career Corner” newsletter.
• Request an appointment with an advisor.

Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro is “Lima” and the outro is “Salta") was created and performed by Nicolas Savignano (Film/Video MFA 18). You can learn more about Nico and his work by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement.

Bijan Berahimi (Art BFA 13) is a Graphic Design graduate and founder of Fisk, a design firm based in Portland, OR. Fisk has worked with CalArts on the Strategic Framework website and the 50th anniversary website and logo. They also assisted with the design for the 2022 gala and other projects, including the REDCAT website.

Want more?

• Check out this profile from the Portland Monthly 
• Check out this profile in Willamette Week
• Check out this Q&A in atoms

Beyond the Blue Wall's original theme music was composed and performed by 2020 Music alumnx, Socks Whitmore. You can learn more about Socks at sockswhitmore.com