SCAD is thrilled to announce the exhibition Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste. The exhibition opens April 3, 2023 at the university’s international location in Provence, France, with a special opening reception with the designer on Saturday, April 1, hosted by SCAD President Paula Wallace.

Set in SCAD FASH Lacoste’s wondrously preserved medieval caves, Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! is the first museum exhibition for grand couturier Julien Fournié and highlights an expertly curated selection of 20 of the designer’s most iconic and exquisite creations. It showcases the skill and craftsmanship that earned Fournié the exclusive prestige of haute couture.

“Julien Fournié is one of French fashion’s greatest masters and truly epitomizes the ideals and expert craftsmanship of haute couture in his work,” said SCAD FASH creative director and curator Rafael Gomes. “He is fearless in his approach to new technology and techniques, and such an inspiration to our students. We are delighted to present Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! and recognize his incredible artistry and contributions to France’s fashion industry.”

Fournié is celebrated for his masterful technique and artistry in the traditional French savoir-faire of haute couture. He was elected by his peers as an official member of the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in 2017, an exclusive status granted to only 16 luxury brands throughout the world. Fournié’s thematic and fanciful collections, made to measure with precision in his Paris atelier, are composed of the finest materials, rendering elegant works of art that accentuate the female form.

Fournié is beloved by an international clientele for his passion, discipline, and innovative approach to design as art. He embraces technology’s fusion with fashion, often incorporating new digital techniques within the French haute couture tradition. As he expands his artistry into the metaverse, Fournié has established his place at the future of fashion.

While pursuing a medical degree, Fournié developed an anatomical understanding of the body, a skill that informs his accomplishments as a fashion designer. Graduating from the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 2000 with a master’s degree in fashion design, Fournié joined the atelier of several haute couture houses including Christian Dior during the John Galliano era, Givenchy under Alexander McQueen, and eventually Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2003, Fournié was named creative director of Torrente Haute Couture. Fournié launched his eponymous label in 2009, instantly becoming one of the industry’s most talented designers.

“It is a true honor to be in a museum in one’s lifetime, and I am excited to share my pieces and magical textile constructions in a more intimate light than on the runway,” said Fournié. “Each and every seam was made in our Paris atelier, and we are proud of the masterful needlework techniques used to create my collections. In collaboration with SCAD FASH Lacoste and creative director Rafael Gomes, this exhibition shows that Haute Couture still shines in the 21st century.”

In celebration of Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste, SCAD President Paula Wallace will host an opening reception with the designer, Saturday, April 1. Students from many top degree programs—including fashion, fibers, animation, illustration, painting, and art history—will have the exclusive opportunity to admire and study Fournié’s creations while engaging with the designer through conversations, master classes, and other programming.

Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! is on view April 3 through June 11, 2023.

photo: Delphine Royer

SCAD is proud to announce the contributions of over 150 alumni who have contributed their talents to films nominated for the 95th Academy Awards®. This year, SCAD alumni contributed to a total of 18 films that received nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

These talented SCAD Bees represent a variety of top-ranked degree programs, including animation, visual effects, film and television, production design, sound design, dramatic writing, sequential art, illustration, architecture, interactive design and game development, fashion, painting, photography, and furniture design. Thirty alumni who worked on 2023 nominated films also contributed to 2022 Oscar-nominated films.

Six SCAD alumni contributed to best picture nominee Everything Everywhere All at Once. Art director Amelia Brooke (B.F.A., film and television, 2008) created the look of the film, which is nominated for 11 Oscars including best picture, costume design, directing, film editing, original score, original song, and screenplay. Five sound design alumni also worked on the film, testament to the fact that SCAD is the only university to both offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs in sound design.

"I am thrilled to see this year's incredible roster of talented alumni who are continuing to be a force in Hollywood, contributing to the biggest movies of the year," said Andra Reeve-Rabb, dean of the SCAD School of Film and Acting. "Our alumni are able to transition from the classroom to professional productions seamlessly, thanks to our cutting-edge filmmaking facilities, state of the art software and equipment, and mentorship by Oscar-winning professors. Many of my former students are collaborating on extraordinary films that entertain and impact audiences across the world."

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, nominated for best visual effects, makeup and hairstyling, and costume design includes 29 SCAD alumni credits, including lead visual effects artist Adam Wagner (M.F.A., film and television, 2018) and speciality costume fabricator Lindsay Hamilton (B.F.A., fashion, 2013). Avatar: The Way of Water, nominated for best picture, sound, visual effects, and production design, includes 22 SCAD alumni credits, including visual effects supervisor Austin Bonang (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) and senior compositor Brittany Piacente (B.F.A., animation, 2012).

Notably, SCAD alumni worked on all five films nominated for best animated feature: Turning Red, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, The Sea Beast, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

"From visual effects to costume design, SCAD alumni are always at the forefront of creative practice, working together to create ground-breaking cinematic experiences for audiences around the world," said Danyl Bartlett, dean of the School of Animation and Motion. "These nominations are testament to their hard work, and to the guidance and exceptional learning experiences provided by SCAD faculty. It is a joy to see SCAD alumni receive recognition from the Academy."

Congratulations to the students and alumni who contributed to this year's Oscar-nominated films:

Aaron McGriff (B.F.A., animation, 2005) Top Gun: Maverick
Abby Thomas (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2017) Babylon
Adam Wagner (M.F.A., film and television, 2018) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Adnan Hussain (B.F.A., computer art, 2000) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Agnes Asplund (M.F.A., visual effects, 2012) Living
Aiden (Jangyong) Lee (M.A., animation, 2019) Avatar: The Way of Water
Alex Andrade (B.F.A., visual effects, 2019) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Alexander Snow (B.F.A., animation, 2009) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Allyssa Hill (B.F.A., animation, 2000) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Amba Moore (B.F.A., animation, 2000) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Amelia Brooke (B.F.A., film and television, 2008) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Andrew Finley (B.F.A. visual effects, 2015) Turning Red
Andrew Stadler (B.F.A., animation, 2022) The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Andrew Twite (B.F.A., sound design, 2006) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Andy Lin (B.F.A., animation, 2008) Turning Red
Annie Taylor (M.A., sound design, 2019) Blonde
Anthony Chappina (M.A., visual effects, 2008) The Batman
Arturo Espinoza Cruz (B.F.A., 2016) Top Gun: Maverick
Ashley Trawick (M.F.A., animation, 2015) The Batman
Austin Bonang (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) Avatar: The Way of Water
Austin Kemp (B.F.A., film and television, 2018) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Ben Watson (M.F.A., animation, 2008) Avatar: The Way of Water
Brent Kiser (B.F.A., sound design, 2006) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Brian Freesh (B.F.A., video and film, 2005) Babylon
Brian McCann (B.F.A., visual effects, 2010) The Batman
Bridget Underwood (B.F.A., animation, 2012) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Brittany Piacente (B.F.A., animation, 2012) Avatar: The Way of Water
Bryanna London (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Camryn Miller (B.F.A., animation, 2021) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Carmen Wong (M.F.A., visual effects, 2014) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Carol Madrigal (B.F.A., computer art, 2002) Avatar: The Way of Water
Casey Seabolt (B.F.A., visual effects, 2019) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Catlin Scroggie (B.F.A., animation, 2015) The Sea Beast
Chad Woelki (M.F.A., visual effects, 2009) Avatar: The Way of Water
Charles Cronkrite (B.F.A., animation, 2012) The Sea Beast
Chris Freihofer (M.F.A., animation, 2017) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; The Batman
Chris Wood (B.F.A., visual effects, 2020) The Whale
Craig Bilodeau (B.F.A., video, 1994) The Fabelmans
Dan Bollwerk (visual effects) Avatar: The Way of Water
Danny Barnhart (B.F.A., visual effects, 2018) Turning Red
Darren Sumich (B.F.A., animation, 2006) Avatar: The Way of Water
Dave Hale (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) Turning Red
David Lewis (M.F.A., visual effects, 2012) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
David Tennyson Thompson (B.F.A., film and television, 2018) Top Gun: Maverick
Derek Underwood (M.A., film and television, 2009) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Diana Ulzheimer (B.F.A., film and television, 2004) The Fabelmans
Diane Dwyer (B.F.A., production design, 2015) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Don Kim (B.F.A., animation, 2020) Avatar: The Way of Water
Dumaine Babcock (B.F.A., film and television, 2017) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Elyssa Houser (B.F.A., visual effects, 2020) The Whale
Emily D. Myers (B.F.A., animation, 2007) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Emily Wimer (B.F.A., visual effects, 2018) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
George Watson (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hannah Bragdon (B.F.A., film and television, 2021) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hiro Ren (B.F.A, visual effects, 2018) The Sea Beast
Hosuk Chang (M.A., visual effects, 2008) Turning Red
Ian Chase (B.F.A., sound design, 2017) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Isabella Herrera (M.F.A., film and television, 2021) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Ivory Stanton (B.F.A., painting, 1992) Avatar: The Way of Water
Jackie Nash (B.F.A., animation, 2017) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Jacob Flack (B.F.A., sound design, 2014) Everything Everywhere All At Once
James Spadafora (M.A., visual effects, 2017) The Batman
Jameson Everett (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) Babylon; Blonde; Top Gun: Maverick
Jangwoo Choi (M.F.A., computer art, 2003) The Batman
Jason Mayer (M.F.A., computer art, 2004) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Jayda Cardoza (B.F.A., film and television, 2020) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Jeannine Kernisan (B.F.A., animation, 2015) The Batman
Jedediah Voltz (B.F.A., sequential art, 2002) Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Jennifer Ely (illustration) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Jeremy Carroll (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Jess Escamillas (sequential art) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Jinguang Huang (M.A., visual effects, 2017) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Jocelyn Cofer (B.F.A., animation, 2009) The Sea Beast
John Harton (B.F.A, sound design, 2015) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Johnathan Nixon (B.F.A., visual effects, 2007) Avatar: The Way of Water
Jon Hartman (B.F.A., animation, 2014) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Jordan Law (B.F.A., fashion, 2013) Babylon
Jordan Rempel (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) Turning Red
Josh Evans (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) The Sea Beast
Joshua T.M. Matthews (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) Avatar: The Way of Water
Josiah Holmes Howison (B.F.A., visual effects, 2004) The Batman
Julie Diaz (B.F.A., sound design, 2016) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Jurasama Arunchai (M.A., production design, 2010) The Whale
Justin Holt (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) Top Gun: Maverick
Katie Lathrop (B.F.A., animation, 2020) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Katie Olson (M.F.A., animation, 2016) The Sea Beast
Keith Anderson (B.F.A., visual effects, 2011) The Batman
Kirsten Yamaguchi (M.F.A., animation, 2009) Avatar: The Way of Water; Turning Red
Kristen Eggleston (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) Avatar: The Way of Water
Lauren Stewart (B.F.A., film and television, 2007) The Fabelmans
Leslie Castiblanco (B.F.A., fashion, 2020) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Lia Towers (B.F.A., film and television, 2011) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Lindsay Hamilton (B.F.A., fashion, 2013) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Lindsey Langston (B.F.A., animation, 2007) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Luci Leary (B.F.A., furniture design, 1997) Causeway
Lyle Nagy (B.F.A., illustration, 2010) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Mallory Mahar (M.A., animation, 2011) The Sea Beast
Marc Casey (B.F.A., film and television, 2009) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Marley Mountcastle (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Maxwell Austin (B.F.A., visual effects, 2021) The Whale
Meredith O'Malley (B.F.A., animation, 2018) Turning Red
Michael Howell (B.F.A., film and television, 2011) Causeway
Michelle Gao (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) The Sea Beast
Mikail Ekiz (B.F.A., animation, 2019) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Miyako Yamamoto (B.F.A., animation, 2019) Top Gun: Maverick
Naomi Wiener (B.F.A., animation, 2017) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Neil Helm (B.F.A., animation, 2017) Turning Red
Nicholas Leone (B.F.A., film and television, 2010) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Nick Caramela (B.F.A., sound design, 2015) Causeway
Nick DeMaioribus (B.F.A., animation, 2019) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Nicole Keane (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) Avatar: The Way of Water
Peter Kerkvliet (B.F.A., animation, 2021) Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
Philip Fraschetti (M.F.A., visual effects, 2007) Avatar: The Way of Water; The Batman
Praveen Kumar Mani (M.A., film and television, 2021) The Batman
Rebecca Baker (B.F.A, animation, 2019) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Renee Tam (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) Turning Red
Robert Bryce Milburn (B.F.A., photography, 2011) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Ryan Bowden (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) Avatar: The Way of Water
Ryan Duhaime (B.F.A., visual effects, 2007) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Samuel Alicea (B.F.A., animation, 2007) The Batman
Sara Beth Bennett (M.F.A., film and television, 2014) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Seona Hwang (M.A., visual effects, 2014) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Seth Cobb (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) Top Gun: Maverick
Sharmishtha Sohoni (M.A., computer art, 2000) Avatar: The Way of Water
Shaun Galinak (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) Turning Red
Shravani Kulkarni (B.F.A., animation, 2020) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Sofia Hernandez (B.F.A., animation, 2019) Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
Solomon Ching Yu Wong (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) Avatar: The Way of Water
Sophie Maurath (B.F.A., film and television, 2021) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 
Stefania Cancemi (M.A., animation, 2016) Elvis
Steven Schweickart (M.F.A., computer art, 2004) The Sea Beast
Tanner Owen (B.F.A., animation, 2005) Avatar: The Way of Water; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 
Taylor Aseere (B.F.A., animation, 2017) The Batman
Taylor Hasting (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Travis Nobles (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) Avatar: The Way of Water
Tyler Britton (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) Top Gun: Maverick
Van Franklin (M.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2014) Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Victor Makali (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) Top Gun: Maverick
Viki Chan (B.F.A., video and film, 2004) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Vincent Bates (M.Arch, 2013) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Virginia Berg (M.F.A., production design, 2015) Avatar: The Way of Water
William Maizel (B.F.A., production design, 2017) Babylon
Yolande Thame (M.F.A., production design, 2014) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Zach Parrish (B.F.A., animation, 2007) The Sea Beast

If you are aware of a name missing from this list, please email information (Name, Degree, Film) to [email protected].

"When looking at a family photo, you might see someone in it who you don’t know and you wonder who they are," artist Sara Wong said during SCAD deFINE ART 2023. "There’s proof that this [passerby or bystander] was there with you, but we usually don’t put our attention on that person. Out of curiosity, we built the whole project out of that."

In "Museum of the Lost (Strangers at Home)," now on display at SCAD MOA, Wong and artistic collaborator Leung Chi Wo re-enact the poses and attire of these unidentified, unaware "minor characters." Their life-sized photographic prints are accompanied by semi-speculative texts about the experiences and personalities of these perfect strangers.

"The project is two parallel series: one is the vintage object you can see, the other is this large photograph which is more like our performance, like a Band-Aid on the black hole of history," said Leung. "On the one hand, they are referencing each other; on the other hand, we see the big photos as the choreography of the accidental pose."

Last week Wong and collaborator Leung Chi Wo joined chief curator of exhibitions Daniel Palmer at the museum for a public gallery talk. The artists stood before their work to enlighten attendees with humor and insight.

"We began the project in Nagoya four years ago," Leung explained. "We visited a small shopping street and talked to shop owners. They all had photo albums of their grandfathers’ and fathers’ activities which were part of the business, but also private family gatherings and activities that involved neighbors." These ancillary characters created room for the artists’ imagination.

"When you see the original photograph you imagine the shutter clicking in less than a second, but when we were shooting in the studio, we need to hold a posture for minutes or even hours, so it becomes a performative thing to us, a sculptural process as well," pointed out Wong.

Leung mentioned the Italo Calvino short story "The Adventure of the Photographer" as a source of inspiration, as well as ideas regarding presence in Roland Barthes’ Camera Lucida. "Always leave them with a reading list," Palmer said with a smile, as students took notes.

Leung Chi Wo (b. 1968, Hong Kong) and Sara Wong (b. 1968, Hong Kong) have collaborated since 1992. The artists co-founded the arts center Para Site in Hong Kong in 1996. From 1999 to 2000, Leung and Wong participated in a residency in New York, where they premiered City Cookie, their most widely exhibited project, as part of a fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council. Leung is an associate professor in the School of Creative Media at the City University of Hong Kong. Wong is a practicing landscape architect and the recipient of the Ramon Woon Creative Prize from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

"Museum of the Lost (Strangers at Home)" is on view at SCAD Museum of Art through July 3, 2023.

Approach the freestanding wall inside Savannah Cultural Arts Center to find "Vulnerable." Seen at an angle, the soft sculpture's coils of wall-mounted black rope form a dimensional ovoid, loosely framed by gauzy drapes. Now step closer. Look head-on. What appeared abstract becomes figurative. With dark red locks dangling from her head, "Vulnerable" is a prone Black woman.

"I wanted to give form to vulnerability, comfort, and the self-love necessary to give and receive the concept of divine love," says artist Larissa Miller (M.F.A., fibers). "One big thing for me is affording Black women that privilege of being soft and vulnerable. Yes, we know about strong empowerment—but there's a weight to that. We need that break from always being on-guard because we can't trust the moment."

"Vulnerable" is one of two pieces by Miller in the group exhibition ‘…But Some Of Us Are Brave,' featuring works by local Black women artists that, as the show notes declare, "encourage viewers to consider the nuances within one's identity and the importance of representation."

Larissa M. Miller, Vulnerable, 2022, textile, 30 x 40 in.; as seen in Savannah Cultural Arts Center.

Born in Riverdale, Georgia, Miller was raised in the North Carolina Triad, and received her undergraduate degree in Consumer Apparel and Retail Studies from UNC Greensboro. Nearly five years of working professionally in her chosen field followed. Larissa then decided to fulfill her dream of attending SCAD and "finding autonomy in my craft." She is now 12 weeks shy of earning her master's degree.

"From the very first day of class, Larissa was intellectually curious and engaged," says art history professor Dr. Arthur DiFuria, who taught Miller in the course Image, Text, Print (ART 436). "Her thinking was always at a high level because she wasn't afraid to be vulnerable and ask questions. As a result, the project she presented was among the most challenging. It was an honor to teach her."

At SCAD, Miller has gone deep in multiple disciplines, including ceramics ("I learned how to slipcast molds") with Prof. Yves Paquette, and printmaking with Prof. Debora Oden ("she helped me let go of having to be perfect"). "My love for engravings and etchings came from my class with Professor DiFuria, where we studied the classical iconography of mythology. He supported my interest and helped me own the imagery of Tarot and its history as an approach to divination."

Depth of feeling, attention to cross-disciplinary craft, and a deep awareness of both history and the present moment all manifest in Miller's work.

"When I use rope, I'm thinking about printmaking and how each engraving or etching is made by cross-hatching and how each line is intentional in creating a figure. I use that in my fibers work."

While conceiving of her particular "Vulnerable" pose, Miller says, "I was looking at Gustav Klimt's Danaë. That pose was vulnerable. Do Black women have that luxury to experience bliss in a way that's unguarded? I wanted that, so I created it for myself."

"Vulnerable" and Miller's Jacquard textile "Foundations" are on view at Savannah Cultural Arts Center through Saturday, March 4. Meet Larissa at SCAD Fibers Open Studio this Friday evening, March 3, at Pepe Hall.

See more of the work of Larissa Miller and follow her on Instagram.

Banner image: Larissa M. Miller, Foundations, 2022, 50 x 60 in., Jacquard textile, detail.

Photo of Larissa Miller: Daniel White.

Dive into a week of strong work as SCAD presents the 14th edition of SCAD deFINE ART, the university's annual program of talks, tours, and exhibitions featuring work by contemporary art's most vital voices. The celebrated event features new exhibitions at the SCAD Museum of Art, and programming with international contemporary artists, kicking off with the opening reception in Savannah at SCAD MOA, Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m..

This year's deFINE ART, presented Feb. 28–March 2, includes a keynote conversation with renowned Cuban-American artist, sculptor, and 2023 SCAD deFINE ART honoree Jorge Pardo; a screening of Argentine-Israeli video artist Mika Rottenberg's feature film REMOTE; and a keynote lecture by New York-based multidisciplinary artist Rachel Feinstein, among other illuminating gallery talks, panels, and conversations.

The programming complements new exhibitions at SCAD MOA, featuring work by Pardo, Rottenberg, Feinstein, and other globally renowned artists including Ann Craven, Hassan Hajjaj, Chase Hall, Gyun Hur, Leung Chi Wo + Sara Wong, Josh Sperling, and Ana Bel Lee Washington — an international roster of artists representing countries and regions including Argentina, Cuba, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, South Korea, the U.K., and the U.S.

"SCAD deFINE ART 2023 challenges students, collectors, and lovers of beauty to query the quotidian and question the quixotic," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "Glowing glass installations, fantasy-inspired painted panoramas, and three-dimensional dioramas immerse viewers in ethereal elegance. In addition to renowned artist Jorge Pardo's magnificent work, SCAD deFINE ART guests will marvel at myriad other mediums and masterworks on display throughout SCAD MOA. Join us as we celebrate creators and inspire tomorrow's innovators. SCAD defines art."

Rachel Feinstein, "Panorama of Rome 2012" (detail), 2012, oil enamel on mirror, 47 7/8 x 469 in. Courtesy of the artist and Gagosian Gallery.

Questioning our collective past and present with introspection and whimsy, the exhibitions capture the complexities of contemporary life and include an expansive site-related installation by Jorge Pardo (b. 1963, Cuba); a panoramic presentation of recent paintings by Ann Craven (b. 1967, Boston, Mass.); an installation and sculpture- centered survey of work by Rachel Feinstein (b. 1971, Fort Defiance, Ariz.); photographic work by Hassan Hajjaj (b. 1961, Larache, Morocco) and the artist duo Leung Chi Wo + Sara Wong (b. 1968, Hong Kong; b. 1968, Hong Kong); the first solo museum exhibition for Chase Hall (b. 1993, Saint Paul, Minn.), presented by SCAD MOA's Evans Center for African American Studies; a collection of connected bodies of work by SCAD alum Gyun Hur (b. Daegu, South Korea; M.F.A., sculpture, 2009); a video installation by Mika Rottenberg (b. 1976, Buenos Aires); a two-part solo exhibition showcasing new work by Josh Sperling (b. 1984, Oneonta, N.Y.); and an ode to the artistic vision of Ana Bel Lee Washington (b. 1924, Detroit, Michigan; d. 2000, St. Simons Island, Ga.).

Exhibitions programming also includes the group show Protégé, which celebrates the creative and professional relationships that grow and evolve between students and professors at SCAD and beyond, presented at the university's Gutstein Gallery.

SCAD Museum of Art chief curator Daniel S. Palmer said: "We are so honored to showcase these incredible artists here at the SCAD Museum of Art. They have created a diverse group of important exhibitions of the highest caliber that I am certain will inspire audiences of all types. As always, the artists we work with bring such ambition, thoughtfulness, and creativity to their projects here. We are so excited to share their brilliance with our students and visitors."

Many of the university's top-ranked degree programs — including sculpture, painting, fibers, photography, film, architecture, production design, and furniture design — are represented in this year's exhibitions and programming. SCAD students and community members can engage with the artists during the three-day event through gallery talks, conversations, master classes, collaborations, and public art.

For more information, visit scad.edu/defineart.

Banner image: Mika Rottenberg, Cosmic Generator (video still), 2017.

This week in Atlanta, SCAD TVfest glows up in person. Now in its 11th year, the university's annual signature event celebrates all things television and streaming Feb. 9-11.

"This year, Buffy, Darryl, and Jamie Dutton star in the greatest show about television: SCAD TVfest!" said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "That's right, America's teenage scream-queen of the '90s (THE Sarah Michelle Gellar!), everyone's favorite warehouse manager (THE Craig Robinson!), and star of TV's steamiest series (THE Wes Bentley of Yellowstone!) will appear live and in person to share their TV secrets with SCAD students. We've planned truly the most epic TVfest in SCAD history for our Bees: pitches, panels, and premieres galore, where SCAD students' TV dreams become professional realities."

"It's a thrill to be back on the ground in Atlanta for this year's SCAD TVfest. There is nothing better than seeing our students interacting with some of the top people in television including talent, showrunners, executives, and more," said SCAD TVfest Executive Director Christina Routhier. "From our honorees to the premieres of brand new TV shows, we are so excited for this year's programming lineup. A highlight for us is the ability to showcase the shows shot here in Georgia as Atlanta has truly become the hub for television and film production in the United States."

Wes Bentley will receive the Virtuoso Award and Craig Robinson will receive the Spotlight Award. SCAD previously announced that Sarah Michelle Gellar will receive the Icon Award and Sterlin Harjo will receive the Variety Showrunner Award. Honorees are scheduled to attend screenings and participate in conversations highlighting their performances and illustrious careers.

SCAD TVfest will showcase exciting programs from 20th Television, ABC, ABC Signature, AMC, CBS, The CW, Disney+, Disney Branded Television, Freeform, FOX, FX, HBO Max, Hulu, Nat Geo, Paramount+, Paramount Network, Peacock, Prime Video, Sony Pictures TV, Universal Studio Group, Warner Horizon Unscripted TV, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Television and more.

Wes Bentley (Virtuoso Award) currently stars as Jamie Dutton in the Paramount Network series Yellowstone, from writer/director Taylor Sheridan. In 1999, Bentley gained immediate critical acclaim and recognition for his role in the Oscar-winning film, American Beauty. Over the past twenty years, Bentley's work in film has ranged from commercial and critically acclaimed fare, like The Hunger Games, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, Disney's live action remake of Pete's Dragon, Mission Impossible: Fallout, as well as working with Terrence Malick in Knight Of Cups. In 2014, Bentley made his television debut starring in multiple seasons of Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story.

Craig Robinson (Spotlight Award) first made his mark as a stand-up comedian at the 1998 Montreal Just For Laughs Festival. Before pursuing comedy full-time, Robinson was a K-8 teacher in the Chicago Public School System. e is best known for his portrayal of Darryl Philbin in The Office, and has starred in films, including Knocked Up, This is the End, Hot Tub Time Machine, Dolemite is my Name!, Timmy Failure, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Songbird, and The Bad Guys. Craig re-teamed with Brooklyn Nine-Nine exec producers Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici for Peacock's hit scripted comedy show Killing It, currently filming season two.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Icon Award) is a producer and a Golden Globe-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actor. Beginning her career as a child actor, Gellar has remained a leader on television, theater, and the big screen. Her list of credits, which include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cruel Intentions, Do Revenge, and the Scooby-Doo franchise, have helped her to build and maintain her status in the industry. Wolf Pack, which Gellar stars in and executive produces, was filmed in Atlanta and premieres Thursday, Jan. 26 on Paramount+.

Sterlin Harjo (Variety Showrunner Award) is the co-creator, executive producer and showrunner of FX's award-winning Reservation Dogs, a comedy series following four Indigenous teenage friends living on a reservation in Oklahoma. The series has been renewed for season three. Currently, Harjo's series Poster Girls, which he co-wrote with bestselling novelist Jonathan Lee, is in development with FX Productions. LeBron James' company, SpringHill, is producing Rezball (Netflix), a series Harjo co-wrote with Sydney Freeland. Harjo has created and directed five feature films: three narrative dramas and two documentaries. Each of his films are set in Oklahoma and address contemporary Indigenous experiences.

For more information and passes, visit scadtvfest.com.

SCAD has united with Deloitte, the world's leading service provider, to establish the Deloitte Foundry at SCAD. The preeminent design, research, and innovation studio at the world's elite university for creative professions will advance solutions to complex technological challenges facing government agencies and businesses.

Since 2019, Deloitte has collaborated closely with SCADpro, the university's in-house research and design studio, to provide hundreds of SCAD students with opportunities to create design solutions for some of the most complex issues facing public-sector organizations. More than thirty SCAD graduates are now employed by Deloitte as UX designers, service designers, media creators, and more.

"In under four years, SCAD and its students have already completed 20 successful research assignments for Deloitte, with countless more collaborations in the wings," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "Our relationship has been special from the beginning, and the establishment of the Deloitte Foundry at SCAD makes it official. This first-of-its-kind studio is a launching pad for SCAD's brilliant Bees. The Deloitte Foundry invites the company into the very heart of SCAD, where it will continue to learn from, partner with, recruit, and hire SCAD talent. Deloitte understands that SCAD graduates the world's most inventive creative talent—and that every organization in the world needs SCAD brilliance to stay competitive."

Previously known as Ruskin Hall, the Deloitte Foundry (516 Drayton St.) builds on years of fruitful partnership between SCAD and Deloitte and signifies a compelling new chapter in the alliance.

"We're excited to expand our relationship with SCAD and make an even greater impact on the students with whom we work and on the communities they represent," said Deloitte Consulting LLP principal Mike Canning. "For the past several years, Deloitte and SCAD have worked together to address some of the country's most challenging organizational and societal issues—including how to enhance resources and support for military families, how to effectively deliver critical services to families, how to tackle homelessness, and how to enhance long-term care for seniors. The Deloitte Foundry will take our relationship with SCAD to new heights and provide students with even more exciting career opportunities in the public sector."

"The Deloitte Foundry is an excellent opportunity to continue to grow Deloitte's relationship with SCAD, the city of Savannah, and the state of Georgia. This renewed collaboration will help introduce a new generation of highly skilled talent into the workforce," said Heather Reilly, Markets Leader for Deloitte's Government and Public Services (GPS) practice. "We're confident that the Deloitte Foundry will open new opportunities for SCAD students and Deloitte professionals alike." 

The Deloitte Foundry will launch several new initiatives this year to spur innovative research, design thinking, and business solutions, including:

• Deloitte Rapid Implementation Studio, where multidisciplinary teams of SCAD students and faculty will immerse themselves in real-world business challenges and develop groundbreaking, actionable solutions rooted in human-centered design.
• Digital Frontier Studio, which will focus on research, design, and implementation strategies around digital frontier topics such as immersive reality, the metaverse, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and more.
• Deloitte Concierge Recruiting Center, a dedicated, on-site resource to mentor and recruit high-performing SCAD students and alumni, establishing an innovative new model for attracting top creative talent.

ABOUT DELOITTE
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 7,000 private companies. Deloitte and its people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace — delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving clients in the markets that are most important to them. Building on more than 175 years of service, Deloitte's network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 345,000 people worldwide connect for impact at deloitte.com.

ABOUT SCADPRO
Fueled by inventive students and superstar faculty, SCADpro is a high-performance boutique design consultancy within SCAD that provides fast, smart, bottom-line business results for hundreds of global clients. Operating in the U.S. and Europe, SCADpro solves creative challenges for Fortune 500 clients in finance, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, technology, automotive,
e-commerce, and more.

On February 24, 2023, top companies from around the world will recruit talented SCAD students and alumni for jobs, internships, and freelance opportunities at SCAD Career Fair. Students can make the most of the university's biggest annual virtual recruitment event by preparing their game plan in advance. It's an ideal time to embrace this year's motto: "Ready, set, hired!"

"Career Fair is not only about a senior getting a dream job, it's an opportunity for all students to take important steps towards—and into—their creative career," says Jaimie Vela, Director of Career Advising, Career and Alumni Success. "It's equally important for underclassmen to be making initial connections with companies at Career Fair. Polishing your portfolio and perfecting your pitch are keys to the process. All students are encouraged and welcome to participate."

Presented by the office for Career and Alumni Success, the virtual SCAD Career Fair is accessible via the designated Career Fair Plus platform. Students create a personal profile, schedule interviews with top companies, and access virtual rooms on the day of the event. This year, more than 100 companies will engage with students and alumni. Representing a wide swathe of the business and creative world, the companies include Belk, Inc., Campbell Ewald, Deloitte Digital, Disney, DreamWorks Animation, Lululemon Athletica, and WEBTOON.

"We enjoyed attending Career Fair, where we talked to very talented students," wrote Michael Schneck, recruiter for Macy's, Inc., following SCAD Career Fair 2022. "We had a great experience, and as a result, we have a student joining us for our Corporate Merchandising Internship in NYC this summer."

That student, Emily Chen (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management), spent last June and July as women's ready-to-wear active merchandising intern at Macy's in New York City. "I thank Michael Schneck and the rest of the Macy's recruiting team who guided me throughout the recruiting process," says Chen. "I would also like to thank my SCAD career advisor Jaimie Vela, who facilitated my Career Fair experience." Chen worked on an eight-week-long Macy's group project "Win with Fashion & Style: My Star Space" that was presented to senior executives. Chen returned to SCAD this year to complete her FASM degree and begin her final preparations for her creative career, empowered by Career Fair.

SCAD Career Fair is dedicated to providing students with the opportunity to connect with top companies and prepare for their professional journeys—at whichever stage of that journey the individual may have reached. Learn more here.

"Have grace over the fire," said Giselle Byrd (B.F.A., performing arts, 2014) to a rapt student audience at Gutstein Gallery.

The actor, director, producer, and talent manager — speaking at the Alumni Voices panel on Friday during Film Festival — emphasized her point with a smile.

"I can wake up and get a phone call that a client has COVID and a concert is tomorrow, or someone has missed a flight to Scandinavia," Byrd said. "I take a breath. Then I strategize, and that's what SCAD taught me: to strategize. There is a solution to everything."

Byrd was one of eight total panelists on Alumni Voices, including her creative collaborator Susan O'Brien (B.F.A., film and television, 2014). Moderated by film and television professor Michael Chaney, the panel was full of fabulous advice and memories of SCAD.

"What do you wish you knew then that you know now?" Chaney asked.

"I wish I knew my power," Byrd said. "We all have power that we connect to, that pushes us forward. I would say, tap into your power now. The sooner you recognize it and embrace it, the sooner you have your truth. Then you can conquer the world."

O'Brien offered her own considered response: "The biggest thing is letting go of expectations. I thought that to be a director, I had to go through a production company and climb up the ladder. Now, as a freelance director, I've directed #MeToo's anniversary campaign, as well as content for Planned Parenthood. It took being open to things I did not expect to get to a place in my career that I'm happy with."

This Saturday, Byrd and O'Brien will be on hand for a screening of the film "When We Arrive as Flowers" during Global Shorts Forum: XX. Directed by O'Brien, with Byrd part of the producing team, "When We Arrive as Flowers" is a portrait of dancer Diovanna LaBeija, who "realizes her transfemme identity through a choreographic journey of self-discovery."

The twist in this alumni tale is that Byrd and O'Brien, though they graduated the same year, did not know each other as students. "While I didn't meet Giselle at SCAD, we have that commonality," O'Brien said.

Byrd: "The first time I met Susie, she was coming to my house for dinner and we were going to have a chat about life in 2020. I was cooking, and she said, 'I have a question. Can I follow you through these protests that are happening?' I was like, 'Okay, sure.' And from there, our sisterhood just grew."

Byrd, the first Transgender woman to take part in The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program, made her documentary debut with "Giselle's Story," directed by O'Brien. The pair are delighted to have found each other as collaborators. This gave O'Brien further cause to reflect:

"If I had to go back to SCAD, I'd collaborate even more with other majors. Make friends with motion media artists, animators, illustrators, sound designers. Meet everybody. This is the one time when you can pay people in pizza, so take advantage of it."

Everyone, Byrd included, cracked up.

Above still from "Giselle's Journey" (2021, dir. Susan O'Brien).

Banner image: Diovanna in "When We Arrive as Flowers" (2022, dir. Susan O'Brien)

Opening weekend of the 25th SCAD Savannah Film Festival came complete with red carpets, Redmayne, rising stars and Ron Howard. Yet less touted gems remain essential to the festival, and documentary short The Bardia thrilled a largely unsuspecting full house Sunday at SCAD MOA.

Directed by alum Gabriella Garcia-Pardo (B.F.A., film and television, 2012), The Bardia delivers the colorful story of Moroccan equestrian Amal Ahamri. Early archival clips show Ahamri as a brooding teenaged beauty, a celebrity in her home country as the leader of an all-female tbourida team.

The doc then shifts into footage Garcia-Pardo and her production teammates filmed during Ahamri’s lengthy sabbatical from the sport. "My life and work revolve around horses," says Amal, as an over-30 mother, wife, and equestrian policewoman. "I am grateful, but sometimes I feel confined."

In its 19-minute running time, The Bardia packs intense information and emotion. Its final image — of aggressively synchronized female riders discharging gunpowder rifles into the night sky — will not be soon forgotten.

The affable Garcia-Pardo took the stage following the screening to discuss her work.

"I directed this film and shot and co-edited the film, along with my two producing partners, Gwyneth Talley and Iftane Takarroumt. As a SCAD alum, it feels really special to be back here in Savannah," Garcia-Pardo said.

"The original idea for the film came when I met Gwyneth in 2015. She was in Morocco as an anthropologist on a Fulbright and had met Amal, and wanted to make a film but had never made a film before. At that point I’d been working at National Geographic as a one-woman band, by myself in the field, shooting, producing, and editing. One of the reasons I got into film is because it’s a truly collaborative process — on documentaries you have small teams where each person is contributing immensely. And that’s how we made this film.

"We wanted to share the film with audiences outside Morocco who have never heard of the sport, so we needed to give a little more context. We had to set up tbourida at the beginning as succinctly as possible, and who Amal was when we met her.

"When we met Amal she was at the peak of her career. She had been on TV a lot, but she basically got asked the same five questions over and over and nothing more. When she got pregnant, it shifted what our film was about. It became about how you identify yourself when the one thing you’ve tied yourself to is no longer in your life.

"We filmed over four years, going back once a year and interviewing Amal. The voiceover was built from those interviews. I wrote and condensed it. Iftane, one of the producing partners, recorded the voiceover as a temp track and we showed that to Amal. We wanted to make sure Amal felt represented. She was able to give us edits, and recorded the final voiceover herself. It was nice to have this collaborative process based on ideas she’d expressed over a period of time.

"My advice to SCAD students is do not to get fixated on accolades or prestige or the end-product. Find the joy in the process. Students might have an idea but think their skills aren’t there yet, so the idea sits on a shelf for years. It’s important to make the most of what you have and make it now."

Visit Gabriella Garcia-Pardo.