This week, SCAD presents its inaugural activation at NYC Jewelry Week, Nov. 18-24. NYC Jewelry Week is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the world of jewelry through educational and innovative focused programming.

SCAD will partner with leading furnishings and home decor company Industry West at their flagship store in Soho New York. The pop-up will include live demos and a workshop with SCAD jewelry professor Adam Grinovich. The activation will highlight the university's top ranked jewelry degree program offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Fifteen-plus SCAD students and alumni will showcase their innovative designs, allowing visitors to view and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces and learn more about the cutting-edge program. In addition to the pop-up experience, SCAD will host events, faculty and alumni demonstrations, and tours of New York's top legacy brands throughout the week including a reception on the evening of Friday, Nov. 22. 

The SCAD x NYCJW pop-up and initiatives will showcase the creative success of SCAD students and alumni. SCAD has the largest and most comprehensive jewelry degree program in North America, the largest degree-granting program in the U.S. and is known for its 100% employment rate in the field of study.

SCAD jewelry students learn to shape works of art with an eye for the finest detail in the program, and collections are created for contemporary, luxury, and fine art markets and industries every year. Within a 13,800-square-foot studio environment named Fahm Hall at SCAD Savannah, jewelry students have access to cutting edge resources and software including laser welders, casting machines, Orion arc welding systems, wax printers, and Roland JWX-10 milling machines. Fahm also includes a certified Rhino Fablab allowing students the opportunity to achieve Rhino certification through the program. 

Through rigorous focus on career preparation and a cross-disciplinary curriculum approach, the SCAD jewelry department prepares students to excel in creative careers including accessories designer, corporate jewelry designer, fine artist, design consultant, studio goldsmith/silversmith, studio artists, and technical specialist. SCAD alumni have secured roles with top brands and industry leaders including Chanel, David Yurman, Swarovski, Tiffany & Co., Henri Bendel, and Coach. 

Learn more about SCAD jewelry.

Christopher John Rogers (B.F.A., fashion and apparel design, 2016) has been recognized as the top designer among 10 prestigious finalists in the 2019 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) / Vogue Fashion Fund. The first-place, $400,000 prize will will be used to further develop Rogers' burgeoning career. The recognition highlights Rogers' unique contributions to the global fashion community and includes mentorship from an esteemed group of industry professionals.

Following his graduation from SCAD, Rogers has designed for Diane Von Furstenberg, dressed Michelle Obama, SZA, Lizzo, Cardi B, Whoopi Goldberg, Alexandra Shipp and more. He was one of the top emerging designers at fall 2018 New York Fashion Week and is currently working on his own collection.

"At SCAD, Christopher John Rogers achieved a truly authentic aesthetic — one of bold, bespoke patterns and colors culled from his own dreamscape," stated SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "When Priyanka Chopra, Regina King, and Michelle Obama are wearing your creations, you're doing something right. It's no surprise that Rogers is a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Winner. A designer with a SCAD education is a designer with no limits."

As a student in the award-winning SCAD School of Fashion, Rogers had access to more than 200 industry-leading and academically rigorous courses. The SCAD School of Fashion prepares students for professional careers in fashion-related industries with a focus on the principles of design, unbounded creativity and state-of-the-art technology. The SCAD School of Fashion is comprised of degree programs including accessory design, business of beauty and fragrance, fashion, fashion marketing and management, fibers, and jewelry – all disciplines working together to produce all-encompassing creations, reflecting an industry where synergy is key.

Outside the classroom, SCAD fashion students are given unprecedented access to industry luminaries, like Rogers' opportunity to connect with Von Furstenberg, through SCADpro collaborative projects, signature events such as SCAD's annual juried fashion show and SCADstyle, and through SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film exhibitions and programming.

With this honor, Rogers joins the prestigious group of SCAD students that have won more than 130 major fashion industry awards in the past three years including distinction in the International Design Awards Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year, Supima Design Competition, and Global Student Competition at the Arab Luxury World Summit. Rogers is part of SCAD's prestigious group of fashion program alumni, the nearly 4,000 SCAD fashion graduates who are now design leaders at Anthropologie, Marc Jacobs, Kenneth Cole, Kate Spade, Abercrombie, Chanel, Lily Pulitzer and more.

Since its inception, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has granted $5.9 million to over 35 design companies including past winners such as Proenza Schouler (2004), Alexander Wang (2008), Brock Collection (2016) and Telfar (2017). This year's awards were determined by a selection committee featuring Anna Wintour, Joseph Altuzarra, Eva Chen, Paloma Elsesser, Mark Holgate, Jeffrey Kalinsky, Steven Kolb, Chioma Nnadi, Roopal Patel, Andrew Rosen, and Diane von Furstenberg.

Congratulations, Christopher!

Photo couresy CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.

Inspired by her home country, Natascha Vazquez (M.F.A., painting, 2018) has collaborated in the creation of 13 unique prints of the northern Bahamian islands to benefit the Baha Mar Foundation for Hurricane Dorian Relief. These linocut prints will be available for purchase during Open Studio, SCAD's fine arts showcase, Friday, Oct. 25 at SCAD Savannah, and Fri.-Sat., Nov. 1-2 at SCAD Atlanta.

Hurricane Dorian was the most intense tropical cyclone on record to strike the Bahamas, and is regarded as the worst natural disaster in the country's history. The storm reached the northern islands as a category five hurricane in late August 2019.

"When Hurricane Dorian hit, the two northern islands of the Bahamas were deeply affected," Vazquez said. "I started the initiative of creating the series of linocut prints with my team at a gallery in the Nassau called The Current. As we started printing the linocuts, we began getting other local artists involved, and volunteers from the community.

"It's important to note the many people who contributed to making the prints. We had survivors come from those islands to participate in making the prints. It's art therapy. Volunteers and Bahamians and survivors all helped make these prints, so that makes it very special."

SCAD Art Sales, SCAD's premier curatorial agency, will have the works for purchase during Open Studio in both Savannah and Atlanta.

"I'm using my passion for art and my creative career to support my community," Vazquez added. "I'm grateful for SCAD and how they support their alumni and our larger community. It's wonderful that SCAD is making the prints available for purchase at Open Studio."

SCAD Savannah Open Studio, Friday, Oct. 25, 6-8 p.m., Alexander Hall, 668 Indian St., Savannah.

SCAD Atlanta Open Studio, Friday, Nov. 1, 7-9 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Gallery 5C at 1600 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta.

"I'm inspired by the women announcers I found through this project," says Emilie Kefalas (B.F.A., writing, 2018). "Writing ‘Replay' introduced me to a whole new facet of sports."

A new one-act play about a rookie sports announcer calling her first collegiate football game, "Replay" premieres at Theatre 54 in New York City, Fri., Oct. 18. Produced with the support of the Manhattan Repertory Theatre, "Replay" is but the latest of Kefalas's diverse writing credits. Formerly editor-in-chief of SCAD District, she is the author/illustrator of children's book "A Capitol Dream" (Palmetto Publishing, 2019), and currently works as external communications coordinator with Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In a pinch she can also kick an extra point.

Emilie Kefalas:

I had the idea to write a play about rookie female sports announcer after I read a Chicago Tribune article in 2016 by the wonderful journalist Heidi Stevens, about Julie DiCaro, a host of a sports commentary radio show in the Metro Chicago area. Heidi wrote about how Julie received these abhorrent comments from men about her voice and her opinions on sports.

It was the first time I'd considered how women play a role in sports commentary. Women's voices in sports announcing are relatively rare. When you hear a woman's voice commentating on a football or baseball game, you take notice.

When I watch college football on TV, the women I see are all sideline reporters. But the idea of hearing the woman's voice I found fascinating. I researched how people react to women reporting from the broadcast booth.

Reading about their experiences and listening to their announcing on-line was really helpful. It's an art form and a craft. You have to call quickly and assess a tackle, a move. I had to train my brain to follow how they called players names and numbers and the plays themselves.

I thought, I have to write a play about this. I knew it would be a great medium to explore how people react to this concept of a woman announcer, while bringing awareness to the women in sports announcing. I dedicate the play to them and the trailblazing they have done.

As a writing major at SCAD, I took Introduction to Dramatic Writing (DWRI 101) as an elective. Due to the robust curriculum of the SCAD writing program, I graduated with a portfolio of unrivaled diversity. My SCAD experience empowered me to try all different forms of writing, including playwriting.

Having my play produced in New York feels like scoring a touchdown. It's called "Replay" because the story is told in reverse. It starts at what appears to be the end. We first see "Mags" after she's called her first collegiate football game by herself. She was supposed to be in the booth with someone, but we find out everything via a replay of what happened. I love the idea of pulling back layers of a story and making an audience think.

Purchase "Replay" tickets here.

Photo: Angie Stong (B.F.A., photography, 2018)
Poster design: Sarah Funk

Visit www.emiliekefalas.com!

On Thursday, Oct. 3, celebrate the life and legacy of orator, abolitionist, writer, and statesman Frederick Douglass with leading scholars, visionary artists, and original performances at the SCAD Museum of Art. Presented alongside the opening of the group exhibition "Frederick Douglass: Embers of Freedom," this day of events features panel discussions, gallery talks, a lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David W. Blight, and a performance by artist Raphaël Barontini with the Savannah High School marching band. View a full schedule of events here.

"Frederick Douglass: Embers of Freedom" explores the life and legacy of the preeminent social reformer, abolitionist, and statesman and is centered on the Frederick Douglass Family Archive from the collection of Walter and Linda Evans. The exhibition showcases an extraordinary grouping of primary documents which offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn first-hand about this legendary figure in the history of the United States. Through letters, family scrapbooks, photographs, and other archival material, viewers will discover rarely-known facts about Douglass’ family and personal history, something the abolitionist rarely wrote about in his autobiographies.

"Walter and Linda Evans' contribution to the SCAD Museum of Art has been a vital source of inspiration and scholarship since the museum’s inception," states SCAD Museum of Art Curator Humberto Moro. "Their gift of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints from leading African American artists—from the Harlem Renaissance to the present—is a cornerstone of the permanent collection at the SCAD Museum of Art. They provide a unique opportunity to present academic exhibitions, bringing empowering experiences to our students and the community at large."

The historic register on display in the Walter O. Evans gallery will be in conversation with modern and contemporary works by renowned artists, including Jacob Lawrence, Betye Saar Scott Covert, Omar Victor Diop, Latoya Ruby Frazier, Lyle Ashton Harris, Stephen Hayers, Lubaina Himid, Titus Kaphar, Meleko Mokgossi, Mathat Rosler, James Van Der Zee, Barbara Walker, Gillian Wearing, Wilmer Wilson IV, and Charles White. New commissions by Onyedika Chuke, TR Ericsson, Glyneisha Johnson, Le’Andra LeSeur (SCAD B.F.A., photography, 2014), and Charles Edward Williams (SCAD B.F.A., advertising, 2006) will also be on display.

The "Frederick Douglass: Embers of Freedom" exhibition and programming highlights the university's ongoing mission to showcase emerging and established African American artists.  Since opening in 2011, SCAD Museum of Art has exhibited over twenty artists dynamic work including Fred Wilson, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, Jacob Lawrence, Lorraine O’Grady, Radcliffe Bailey, Andre 3000, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Stephen Burrows. The museum is housed in an 1853 brick structure that was once a railway depot for the Central of Georgia Railway. This National Historic Landmark is the only surviving antebellum railroad complex in the U.S.

In addition to the Frederick Douglass: Embers of Freedom, two other exhibitions on display at the museum are also in conversation with Frederick Douglass’ legacy, including Raphael Barontini’s "The Golden March" and Isaac Julien’s "Frederick Douglass: Lessons of the Hour."

All of the SCAD Museum of Art’s Fall 2019 exhibitions and programming highlight many of the university’s top ranked degree programs including photography, performing arts, film and television, fibers, painting, sculpture, and architecture.

"Frederick Douglass: Embers of Freedom" is curated by Humberto Moro, curator of SCAD exhibitions; Ben Tollefson, assistant curator of SCAD exhibitions; Ariella Wolens, assistant curator of SCAD exhibitions; Storm Janse Van Rensburg, former head curator of SCAD exhibitions and Celeste-Marie Bernier, professor of black studies and personal chair in English literature at the University of Edinburgh.

For more information on the SCAD Museum of Art exhibitions and programming visit www.scadmoa.org.

"Frederick Douglass: Embers of Freedom" supported in part by PNC Foundation.

Time to get animated! This week is SCADFILM’s third annual SCAD AnimationFest, bringing together innovative talent and leading experts from the animation industry, this Thurs.-Sat., September 26-28, 2019 at SCAD Atlanta.

The three-day festival features exclusive screenings, panel discussions, presentations and top talent from Pixar Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Google Creative Lab, Dreamworks and more. AnimationFest will be held at the university’s state-of-the-art theater SCADshow in the heart of Midtown Atlanta.

On Thursday, September 26, the festival will present a distinguished award to actor, singer, dancer, and songwriter Lucas Grabeel honoring his prolific career voicing animated characters for series including "Spirit," "The Family Guy," and "Pinky Malinky." Two episodes of the Netflix original series "Pinky Malinky" will screen immediately following the award presentation.

AnimationFest will also feature a special preview screening of the highly anticipated DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studio’s co-production "Abominable" starring Chloe Bennet, Eddie Izzard, and Sarah Paulson. The animated feature takes audiences on an epic 2,000-mile adventure from the streets of Shanghai to the breathtaking Himalayan snowscapes.

Participating guests from FoxTV, Adult Swim, Dreamscape Immersive, Netflix Animation, Bunnygraph Studios and many more will be highlighted throughout the festival celebration.

"SCAD AnimationFest celebrates the oldest genre of filmmaking," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "From special screenings to in-depth panels with industry professionals, this year's programming is sure to delight fans of this celebrated medium. And AnimationFest is much more than a good time. Top companies such as Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks visit SCAD in search of top talent. Think of this as a three-day job interview — with movies and popcorn!"

Industry Icons and Emerging Animation

SCAD AnimationFest, presented by SCADFILM, will feature elevated panel discussions and special screenings on the dynamic facets of the animation industry such as "Storytelling Thru Advanced Content: Exploring Transmedia"; "Behind the Scenes: Toy Story 4"; "Springfield Confidential: Secrets of the Simpsons"; "Cinematic VR: The beauty of animated storytelling in a virtual environment"; and "Virtual Theme Parks."

Guests scheduled to appear at the 2019 AnimationFest include:

• John Heinsen, producer, Bunnygraph Entertainment
• Jennifer Cook, head of production, Dreamscape Immersive
• Mark Mcray, senior director of programming, Adult Swim
• JR Schmidt, motion lead, Google Creative Lab
• Mike Reiss, producer, The Simpsons
• Denise Reiss, television development executive, Reiss Entertainment Inc.
• Shannon Ryan, president of production, Baobab Studios
• Laura Green Berry, producer, Primal Screen
• Jeremy Seymour, creative director, Primal Screen
• Devin Price, animator, Motion LLC
• Shannon Ryan, development producer, Baobab Studios 
• Ken Fountain, animator, Baobab Studios
• Jay Li, animator and project manager, Secret Sauce Studio (MA Advertising Design, 2009)
• Jules Premus, character designer, Floyd County Productions (MA Sequential Art, 2018)
• Becki Tower, animator, Pixar Animation Studios (MFA Animation, 2008)
• Jalysa Leva, lead animator, Primal Screen (BFA Animation, 2015)

Animation is the largest of SCAD’s preeminent degree programs, and is considered a top program for preparation of a growing field that encompasses film, television, interactive media and video games.
With the only university-run casting office in the country, SCAD helps drive the multibillion-dollar film and television industry in Georgia, now the No. 1 filming location in the world, according to FilmL.A. Of the nearly 15,000 SCAD alumni from entertainment and digital media disciplines, more than 3,000 work in the Georgia film industry. SCAD students, alumni and faculty have won Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, Golden Reels, Tonys, Annies, and more.

For a complete SCAD AnimationFest schedule and to purchase passes, visit scad.edu/animationfest.

With her shop Hygge, Cristina Drumm (B.F.A., advertising, 2014) has captured anew the quintessence of Savannah: warmth, charm, and homey coziness. Drumm drew inspiration—and her retail studio's name—from the Danish word "hygge" (pronounced hoo-guh), which she learned first-hand while experiencing the simple charms of Copenhagen as a traveler. Now owner and founder of Hygge Savannah, Dunn ensures every detail of her store embodies the hygge experience, from decor to handmade goods, all imbued with her kindhearted energy.

Cristina Drumm:

I'm originally from Venezuela. I was initially drawn to SCAD because I was looking at programs abroad and found SCAD Lacoste, and thought, "This looks amazing. I need to know more." I came to Savannah and fell in love with the way the university is laid out throughout the city. I loved how you can walk around the city and I knew SCAD was for me. At the time, I was still living at my parents, so I started to take some classes via SCAD eLearning. I did that for one academic quarter, then went to SCAD Lacoste. Lacoste was an absolutely magical experience. It's one of those places that changes your life. Shortly after, I moved to Savannah to complete my degree.

One thing I adored about SCAD is the professors. I could tell they loved being involved in student dreams and projects. My professors were always willing to go that extra mile to help, and they were so passionate about what they were doing. My professors had already worked in the industry and knew what they were talking about. I'm still in touch with a lot of the professors I had. They became like family to me. 

When opening the business as a one-woman show, I used all the advertising tools I learned at SCAD and brought them into this small business approach. It's been very organic, and my knowledge of advertising and creative direction has really helped all of this unfold. My advertising degree really helped. I've applied every aspect of advertising, including branding, storytelling and copywriting. I love the stories that brands can tell through creative direction and branding. 

A lot of people ask, "You could open the business anywhere else, why Savannah?" I see so much potential in Savannah. It needs student and alumni-run businesses, and SCAD and Savannah become more deeply connected the more alumni stay here and cultivate businesses. 

When opening Hygge, I wanted to feature brands whose values align with mine. That, and connecting with the people behind the brands is super important to me. I love that I'm working with locals, and that I can do pop-ups to bring the community together. I try to feature artists who haven't been featured yet in Savannah. Hygge allows those artists use the space to show their goods as well.

I had always envisioned the store being a space where people come to get away from their busy day, unwind, look at beautiful things — I offer them a nice cup of tea — and feel inspired. I knew I wanted a space that had a homey feel. It has a different aesthetic from anything I've seen in Savannah. I'm bringing something new to the city and I want it to do well. So far, it's been well-received.

Visit Hygge online or at 600 E. Broughton St., Savannah, Georgia, 31401.

"During the match, fans have to be quiet," says Sean Loose (B.F.A, illustration, 2014), "but when they do get to cheer, their bottled-up excitement is explosive. I wanted to capture that moment where the enthusiasm explodes."

Loose's official illustration for this year's U.S. Open marks the first time the U.S. Tennis Association has featured an animated illustration, making one of the most memorable tournaments in U.S. Open history even more historic. As a brand illustrator for Indeed.com, Loose is happy to reveal how he became part of this momentous occasion.

Sean Loose:

Growing up, I could always be found doodling on my notebooks and scraps of paper—you name it and I drew on it. It wasn't until my AP art class at Port Charlotte High School in Port Charlotte, Florida that I realized I could actually make a career out of art. My art teacher at was a huge SCAD advocate and when SCAD came to visit our school, I realized it was the place where I could turn my hobby into a creative career.

My time at SCAD shaped who I am as a designer. The experience SCAD provides its students is truly one-of-a-kind. The relationships I formed helped lead me to career success, including the amazing opportunity with the U.S. Tennis Association. The opportunity actually came from Mohamed Danawi, a SCAD professor and founder of Illozoo, the visual communication agency that represents me.

The USTA asked me to submit designs for the U.S. Open—I was really excited. This was a phenomenal opportunity and something I wanted to happen. The USTA wanted the posters to be edgy and contemporary and focuses specifically on the fan experience rather than the players or the tournament as a whole.

I turned to Instagram and YouTube videos to get a better understanding of what actually happens at each match and to gain insight into the mindset of the fans. Tennis fans are some of the most passionate in the world, so I wanted to make sure that message came across loud and clear. Professor Danawi mentored me through the submissions process. The concepts I ultimately presented captured the true feelings of the audience. 

It was surreal seeing my artwork in public. It was everywhere from banners to T-shirts to the official U.S. Open programs. It was also animated and played on screens throughout the grounds of the National Tennis Center in New York City during the tournament. The artwork also functioned as a content trigger, allowing fans to view the animation on their phones using augmented reality. This is the first time the USTA history that this has been done. It's a big accomplishment.

See more of the work of Sean Loose at his website and Instagram.

"How do you disappear mimetically?" wonders Gonzalo Hernandez (M.A., painting, 2018; M.F.A., fibers, 2019). His three works in the new group exhibition "The Artist as Muse" at Gutstein Gallery present a provoking possibility: As the artist disappears into the work, the work stands out.

A native of Lima, Peru, Hernandez's technical proficiency is matched by conceptual excellence. Echoing Duchamp, his use of readymade Pink Panther foam for "Untitled" is a practical choice with interpretive implications. Viewing the work in person offers an experience irreplicable online. Gutstein awaits!

Gonzalo Hernandez:

While studying at SCAD, I was working in a Pier 1 Imports warehouse in Pooler. I was a material handler. All the work for my M.A. final project started out of that factory work and materials there, like cardboard boxes and tape, applied to an art world situation.

One of the workers at the warehouse used to wear a coverall every day. I was interested in why he chose to wear that uniform, and how the uniform can place you in a position of power or erase you.

I bought a navy-blue coverall and wore it at the warehouse but it was too hot. I wondered: How can I make this coverall unique? In the warehouse we use a lot of compressed wood. I decided: Be that wood.

I took a photo of compressed wood and Photoshopped it and created a pattern. I printed the fabric here in the States, then sent the fabric to Lima to a company that makes coveralls. Now I had a coverall where the pattern is compressed wood. I'd wear it to openings of shows.

For this Gutstein exhibition, I'm showing three pieces. "Self Portrait Falling" is the actual piece of compressed wood with the coverall atop it, which has a human shape. That relates to the photograph "Falling" displayed on the adjacent wall. My idea was: Can you make falling a success?

The third piece is a photographic print on Pink Panther insulation foam. It shows me wearing a coverall while ironing a coverall for the next day. I'm addressing the taboo about a male doing fibers work, because traditionally women work in fibers. A guy seeing another guy ironing? I was interested in that.

For my main studio classes in painting at SCAD, I studied with professor Todd Schroeder, whose work is also showing in "The Artist as Muse." As a professor, he lets you make your decision but often challenges you. I was a formal painter painting self-portraits for a long time. At a key moment he asked me, "Why are you still painting?" At the time I was repeating myself. I switched and got more into materials, then decided to pursue my masters in fibers.

There's an idea about Hispanics and labor and pink foam and plywood and materials. It always came up in critiques as I was making the work, the invisible labor that we don't really see. That's related to the invisible pattern. It's intentional that I used Pink Panther isolation foam in "Untitled" and that the Pink Panther is there, behind, smiling. Pulling back the curtain to see yes, the labor is there.

See more of Gonzalo’s work here and through Oct. 5 at Gutstein Gallery.

"Art can create an interface for people to grapple with paradigm-changing ideas," writes Katie Glusica (M.F.A., fibers, 2010) in her essay "The Seen and Unseen" (Leonardo Journal, The MIT Press, 2016). "It can enable unseen concepts to affect the way we think and live."

A writer, maker and artisan, Glusica works in antique rug restoration at Savannah Galleries. In conversation she connects weaving to the cosmology of the Kogi people of Colombia, wave/particle duality, and the invention of computer technology. As the high school students who took her recent SCAD Summer Seminar "Textile Techniques" can attest, she's also a wonderful, welcoming teacher.

Katie Glusica:

I taught three weeks of Summer Seminars this summer. It's gratifying to work with high school students coming to SCAD to learn about fibers. Super fun too!

On the first day I give students a presentation focused on frame loom weaving. I have the supplies out on the table. I show them what a loom looks like, and tell them, "You're going to leave here at the end of the week with a loom weaving you've created."

I show them other techniques within fibers, and their applications, from fashion to installation art to antique Chinese embroidery. I explain that some SCAD students studying fibers are not only fibers majors, but also students majoring in fashion, interior design, architecture, furniture design, jewelry design and painting. No matter your direction, even a basic understanding of cloth construction is invaluable. We cover the technical, historical and potential career trajectories of weaving and textiles professionals.

I tell students, there'll always be a place for things made by hand.  You can find a niche doing things mass-production industry can't do. Fashion involves complexities of production and human labor is part of that. Same with jewelry. Even stones that can be set with machines still require manual finishing. These disciplines require a skilled professional.

Weaving is a great way to learn math because every number on the loom directly corresponds to a physical object. The loom is something you hold and therefore it makes sense in a different way than when you are dealing with abstract arithmetic.

The facilities are a spectacular part of what SCAD has to offer. Pepe Hall is an amazing place, and our jacquard loom is a magnificent piece of technology. The students see that when you have access to the technology itself, you can take complex ideas and think about them in relatable terms as they apply to physical things, like weaving and cloth, that help us on a human level.

The last day of Summer Seminars is an open house when parents come to pick up their kids and see what they're been working on all week. Our fibers deparment chair Cayewah Easley stops in to give a great presentation about the department. This year it turned out that some of the parents wanted to weave. Luckily, I had warped up an extra loom.

The point of the Summer Seminar is to get excited and involved in the field of textile and fibers. To have high school students focused and engaged is really impressive. "This is so satisfying!" is my favorite comment of all time.

www.katieglusica.com