Serious, functional, humorous and spooky—and that's just the entrance vestibule of "On View," the new performative installation by Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti at SCAD Museum of Art.

Black text on a white wall ("What You Are Signing Up For") lists strictures for entry. The artists' signatures loom large at the bottom. The gallerygoer signals agreement by standing within a glowing ring on the floor. Sensors are activated. A photo is taken. It may be deployed elsewhere.

"On View," the first museum exhibition by Catherine and Ti, debuted this week at SCAD deFINE ART 2019. The commission grapples with the relationship between art, image and consumer culture.

"We wanted to create a piece on what it's like to consume art now," said Dejha Ti, during a gallery talk in the Pamela Elaine Poetter gallery of SCAD MOA. "If you're going to a museum or if you're going to a shoe launch, the experience is very similar. People want to see themselves on view as much as what's on view.

"We're grateful that art is being used in ways that gives artists more opportunities, but also we're purists. How do we navigate making art, and making art that's trying to sell a shoe? Companies are asking us to make an Instagram backdrop but telling us it's an art piece. We're figuring out what all of that means."

Inside what the artists call the "stage gallery," barefoot performers in obfuscatory facemasks slow-vogue through ellipses of shadow. Conjoined by tendrils of inky filament, the performers shift the architecture of the space. Gallerygoers walk around them to reach another rubber ring on the floor. Again, a photo is taken.

Ania Catherine: "We wanted show what physically consenting to something means. Do I want to stand in this circle? It feels like a real decision. We call it an immersive contract that requires consenting choreography."

In a final room, an art case displays reproductions of photos taken earlier. A security guard almost yawns. The ennui is intentional. You've been put "On View."

deFINE ART, an annual SCAD program of exhibitions, lectures and performances, provides students with opportunities to interact and collaborate with visiting artists. Catherine and Ti worked with a group of 20 SCAD students to create a fashion/art film inside their installation.

"It's a documentary about process as well as product," explained Catherine. "All the performers are SCAD students. Not all were performing arts students; some were film students, some sound designers. Our choreography is about 'Can you drop into a moment and be present?' The students really embodied that. They make you feel the whole space has a heartbeat."

"On View" is on view through Sunday, Aug. 25.

Learn more about the work of Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti.

deFINE ART concludes Thursday, Feb. 28. Find out more here.

Ambling around Savannah in cowboy boots and a Cowboys jersey, Cody Reppert resembles a typical Texan. On another day, dapper Reppert (B.F.A., user experience design) might be found presenting at a SCADpro summit to UBER execs, or leading the winning team at SCAD StartUp 2018 with Bolus, a storage management device for diabetics. A captivating public speaker, Reppert starts a new full-time position as product designer at Thumbtack this summer.

Cody Reppert:

I attended Hebron High School, in Carrollton, Texas. I took a graphic design class at a nearby career center, where the teacher spoke about students who had gone on to SCAD, including Ryan Brownhill (B.F.A., motion media design, 2014). When I came to tour SCAD Savannah, Ryan showed me around. He was a senior at the time. Ryan went on to work at IBM and is now a product designer at Instagram. In a sense I've been following in his footsteps.

Starting freshman year at SCAD, I was part of FLUX, the SCAD UX club. It was a problem-solving club led by Evan Smith (M.A., interactive design and game development, 2016) and Hannah Moyers (B.F.A., interactive design and game developement, 2016). We'd brainstorm and create solutions to challenges like the parking situation in Savannah. The process was healthy. I loved it. At the time I was focused on majoring in advertising. SCAD didn't yet offer a degree in user experience.

I've always been interested in doing things to help people, especially children. During the first UX studio class ever at SCAD, with professor BC Hwang, I was part of a team that created Seedly, a wearable necklace for children that helps them learn how to grow plants for food. Seedly wound up winning a Red Dot Design Award.

During Seedly's research phase we spoke with Brienne Arthur, a landscape designer and gardener who wrote "The Foodscape Revolution" (St. Lynn's Press, 2017). We applied her insights about the suburban landscape to help shape the core of our project. With Seedly, the child grows 26 food-producing plants per year. Seedly is designed to improve the earth, and have kids doing it.

My first SCADpro project was with UBER. I then took part in the SCADpro project with the Ford Motor Company, where we were creating a voice-user interface for the future of Ford mobility. I love working with different majors on SCADpro projects because that's what it's like in the real world. Collaboration, and being with a diverse group of people, helps shape the best ideas coming out of the room.

One thing these projects have in common is that they involved presenting. I learned public speaking at SCAD, starting with a foundation studies class called Speaking of Ideas (COMM 105). In UX classes, there's a presentation almost every single class. That's valuable. It's not just the size of the crowd, it's the people in it who evoke thoughts and feelings. Every time I present, I see public speaking as an opportunity for improvement.

The 16 of us who were the first SCAD graduating class in UX design are like a power squad. We brought additional skills from different disciplines to UX when the major was created. UX allowed me to take the principles I was learning in advertising and apply them in a different context. It'll be interesting to see where SCAD UX will go with students who are coming here to study user experience. There's a lot to build on.

See more of Cody Reppert's work at his website.

Learn more about the SCAD UX degree program here.

Matt Hebermehl's aesthetic is intrinsic to the visual identity of SCAD. His radiant, gestural artwork graces student dining hall crockery, a SCAD40 Volkswagen art car, the 1600 Peachtree tunnel at SCAD Atlanta, and a multi-story outdoor wall at Montgomery Hall in Savannah. "On Divine Wings, We Shall Prevail," Hebermehl's 1700-square foot acrylic mural, is a highlight of the SCAD-curated Art Collection at the 71,000 seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

"I've been fortunate that people at SCAD have responded positively to my work," says Hebermehl (B.F.A., illustration, 2003). "There's not a day in my life when I'm not talking to, interacting with, or creating something that's come about from my time at SCAD."

Hebermehl's most recent SCAD project was a mural created on the rooftop of the historic Clermont Hotel during Super Bowl week in Atlanta, part of a pop-up museum curated by SCAD Art Sales.

A native of Arvada, Colorado, Hebermehl currently works from his studio in Pasadena, California.

Matt Hebermehl:

When SCAD Art Sales partnered with the city of Atlanta to provide art for events hosted by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, I was asked to create a piece for the Clermont rooftop. I arrived in Atlanta early during Super Bowl week and worked on-site at SCAD Atlanta for three days to get a head start on the mural, so I'd have something substantial that I could add onto, on-site, during the festivities.

My role was, in part, to be live entertainment. There was a lot of star power there. Ludacris slid by while I was working, Jeezy snuck in later. T.I. came through, so smooth and cool. Lil Jon came over and we talked. Everyone responded positively to what I was doing, and I was feeding off their energy. It was exhilarating.

The Clermont piece was intended to be performative. The physical thing left behind is a relic of the time I spent with other people and the creative process. The iconography is after Rodin, whose work was donated to the city of Atlanta by the French government after the Orly plane crash in 1962, when 106 members of the Atlanta Art Association died. My piece is called "The Fire Below," representing Atlanta's history of rising from the ashes.

Creating live in front of people touched on things I was doing in Savannah from 2011 to 2015, with an art initiative called SeeSAW. SeeSAW stood for See Savannah Art Walls, and was co-founded by fellow SCAD alum James "Dr. Z" Zdaniewski (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) and myself. We worked with the city of Savannah's Metropolitan Planning Commission to create a mural ordinance. SeeSAW was devoted to creating in public and having the conversation between spectator and creator be part of the process.

I was fortunate to study at SCAD at a time when boundaries between illustration and fine art were being blurred. Katherine Sandoz and Traci Haymans and Julie Lieberman were professors who identified that I had something to offer and encouraged me. Those relationships are lasting to this day. When Traci passed away, Katherine and I created the mural for her in Haymans Hall. Julie is a big influence in my life. I call them my three wise women.

My work has an intentional sense of motion, bounding through space. Revisiting loose gestural mark making, and coming back and layering on top. There is no delineation between foreground and background, it's more about time and mark-making, bringing the underpainting to the foreground, and pushing the overpainting to the back. Even in the present, the past is always with you.

Paint-splattered Matt with Atlanta legend T.I.

See more Hebermehl art here.

"Welcome to the nexus of education and entertainment!" wrote President Wallace in her welcome letter to this year's SCAD aTVfest attendees. As SCAD graduates venture into their creative careers, commerce becomes a key component of that equation. This was the topic this year's aTVfest "Short and Social" panel.

Moderated by television personality and prolific producer Brian Balthazar, the panel featured Chris Berend (CNN), Allan Holmes (Instagram) and Sarah Napier (Condé Nast Entertainment) sharing knowledge and offering advice on engaging with consumers via short-form stories on social platforms.

All panelists agreed that engagement begins with meaningful stories well-told. Whether launching a brand on an Instagram platform or being featured on CNN's Great Big Story, the stronger the storytelling, the more compelling and memorable the content. Another facet is trust in consumer messaging. Online communities gain credibility as collective approval accrues.

"As social media becomes more crowded with ads, you don't know who to trust, so you trust your friends," Holmes said.

A prime example of this is the acceptance of vertically-oriented video content. Initial resistance was overcome with quality storytelling. Condé Nast Entertainment's true crime series "True Crime/Uncovered," launched on Snapchat, sets up its premise and solves the mystery in five to six minutes. "True Crime/Uncovered" receives close to one billion monthly views.

Despite seemingly endless avenues for dispersal, content must connect with an audience to survive. "The No. 1 thing is research," Holmes reminded the audience. A story that lacks authenticity will not connect.

Regarding pitching ideas to decision-makers, Berend suggested "be incredibly concise." since producers have likely heard a similar pitch before. To this, Napier added: "Don't overextend yourself, and be focused on where you can be most successful."

When discussing what's next in the world of short-form content on social media, panelists agreed there was no one clear answer. Distribution channels, technology and trends change faster than traditional business models, while AR and VR are making inroads into messaging. "Keep experimenting," suggested Holmes. That's good news for budding creative professionals: As platforms constantly evolve and grow, so will opportunities for storytellers.

This year's SCAD aTVfest featured 21 exclusive screenings, 19 panels, and six master classes and workshops with content production professionals. 2019 marked the seventh year of SCAD aTVfest. This year's aTVfest honorees included Spotlight Award recipient Ellie Kemper ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"), Outstanding Cast Award winner "New Amsterdam" (NBC/Universal Televsision), and SCAD alumnus Mir Zafar Ali (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015), recipient of the SCAD40 prize.

It's a great time to be Chad Morton (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018). As an undergraduate, Morton worked as part of the writing team of student Emmy-winning SCAD sitcom 
"The Buzz." His new SCAD sitcom "G.R.I.T.S." (Girls Raised in the South), premiered at the 2019 SCAD aTVfest in Atlanta to a full house and wildly enthusiastic reception. Having interned at Miramax, this devotee of the art of television is poised for an illustrious creative career.

"G.R.I.T.S" creative team at 2019 aTVfest with President Wallace. Chad Morton front row, second left.

SCAD: What inspired "G.R.I.T.S."?

Chad Morton: I was working on "The Buzz" my junior year when I got the offer to create "G.R.I.T.S." All summer break I thought about what the show could be, and what it could potentially do for black students at SCAD.

I was inspired by an NBC sitcom called "The Carmichael Show." Episodes typically tackled tough subjects through a diverse range of characters, showing all possible viewpoints.

I decided to create a show that would specifically target taboo issues within the black community. I placed it in a restaurant, knowing we would be limited to one set, so that characters come and go in a natural way.

"The Carmichael Show" is inspired by Norman Lear's works. Before SCAD, I didn't even know sitcoms such as "Sanford and Son," "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons" all came from Norman Lear. It wasn't until I took a class with SCAD dramatic writing professor Chris Auer that I rediscovered those shows and began studying them.

Also, "Black-ish," "Atlanta" and "Insecure" are three shows that currently capture the black experience better than anything else on TV.

SCAD: What are the key takeaways from aTVfest?

Morton: aTVfest benefits students immensely. The festival is focused on television, with advice and information you wouldn't have access to elsewhere. The TV show premieres are amazing, but for me, the real allure is being able to attend panels by writers, showrunners, managers, and agents. Last year, writers had the opportunity to take a workshop with Karen Kirkland, who at the time was VP of talent development at Nickelodeon. These opportunities give aTVfest attendees clear advantages.

SCAD: How has SCAD prepared you to do your work?

Morton: The dramatic writing department challenged me and taught me new ways to look at the medium. I still look at my notes from script analysis. There's nothing I miss more than class critiques. That instant feedback is something students shouldn't take for granted. When you implement notes, you think differently and, in most cases, for the better.

Working on "The Buzz" prepared me for deadlines. When you realize that actors and the camera crew are relying on you to deliver a script, it forces you to think quickly and efficiently. The show must go on!

SCAD: What advice would you give SCAD students who want to write for television?

Morton: Research, research, research! I constantly analyze scripts. One thing I do is write outlines for movies or TV episodes I've already seen. It may seem trivial but you'll quickly realize how they break down and what leads into each scene, possibly making the outline process for your own script less of a daunting task. My last piece of advice is to have fun with it!

SCAD aTVfest continues through Saturday, Feb. 9. Learn more here.

The seventh annual SCAD aTVfest kicked off Thursday morning with a bevy of undeniable SCAD talent. New SCAD sitcom, "G.R.I.T.S." (Girls Raised in the South), was introduced to a packed theater by School of Entertainment Arts dean Andra Reeve-Rabb, performing arts chair Mark Tymchyshyn and film and television chair D.W. Moffett.

Created by SCAD graduate Chad Morton (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018), creator the student Emmy-winning SCAD sitcom "The Buzz," "G.R.I.T.S." stars "American Idol" winner Candice Glover (B.F.A., dramatic writing) and "Showtime at the Apollo" winner George Lovett (M.F.A., performing arts). Glover plays Tiana, a natural leader running a soul food restaurant in Atlanta. Her younger sister, employees and friends are a constant source of trouble and fun.

Tackling weighty, controversial topics is something Morton is interested in exploring. Morton was inspired by how NBC sitcom "The Carmichael Show" "always made it a point to show all possible viewpoints on whatever topic they're discussing." Advancing that audacity, Morton decided to create "a show that would specifically target taboo black issues within the black community."

Regarding character development, Morton says most of the characters are based on people in his life, with traits exaggerated as needed: "As the show goes on, characters start to deviate and become their own thing as we figure out what works."

One "G.R.I.T.S." character sure to evolve is Candice Glover's Tiana. Her timing is spot on, and there is no doubt she is enjoying the experience. "I think I'm naturally funny, but to have a script and make it pop feels great," Glover said.

In the first episode, Tiana's impulsive younger sister shows up engaged to a man she's known for only two weeks. Meanwhile, a protest against taking down Confederate statues rages outside the restaurant. As a conversation about the issue takes place, the fiancé reveals he is not in favor of removing them. He also admits he was adopted and raised by a white family. While the group at the restaurant is not exactly thrilled by his position on the statues, he finds the protestors aren't as welcoming as he expected.

Pulling this off with humor, humility and laughs takes talent, collaboration and guidance. By that standard, the cast and crew of "G.R.I.T.S." are fully primed. The set is comparable to a major network sitcom, proving the skill level of SCAD's production design program. SCAD faculty have imparted the knowledge and experience they possess in order to move the project from classroom idea to full-length, professional-level sitcom episode. Watching the performances, hearing the dialogue, and laughing and learning with a diverse crowd of SCAD aTVfest attendees clinches it: "G.R.I.T.S" is a hit.

Attendees of the SCAD aTVfest opening night "G.R.I.T.S." screening were treated to a Q-and-A session featuring the following talent:

Candice Glover
, actor (B.F.A., dramatic writing)
Kennedy Coe
, actor (B.F.A., performing arts)
Kevin Holloway-Harris, actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
George Lovett
, actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
Charmaine Shaw, 
actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
Travis Campfield
, actor (B.F.A., performing arts)
Jessie Hyder
, actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
Andre Haskett
, actor (B.F.A., performing arts)
Brianna Dance
, director (B.F.A., film and television)
Rachel Kerby
, producer (B.F.A., film and television)
Chad Morton
, creator (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018)
Zach Freshley
, creator (M.F.A., dramatic writing)

SCAD aTVfest continues through Saturday, Feb. 9. Learn more here.

SCAD aTVfest, Atlanta's only festival dedicated to all things television, is happening this week, Feb. 7-9, 2019!

Now in its seventh year, the university's annual signature event celebrating the television industry attracts industry-leading producers, directors, writers and actors to SCADshow in Midtown Atlanta. The festival focuses on design, creativity and innovation in television and media production, bringing together professionals to discuss the current industry trends while showcasing the best work in the field.

This year, Entertainment Weekly (EW) will serve as the first ever Official Media Partner for SCAD aTVfest, delivering unparalleled talent and screenings throughout the three-day event.

"Georgia's only festival dedicated to television, SCAD aTVfest gives attendees direct access to performers, producers, and industry experts as well as screenings, exclusive looks, and program premieres," said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace "The world needs SCAD aTVfest to stay current on everything from streaming platforms to network news. This year, we fête the funny and wildly talented Ellie Kemper as well as everything about the small screen. And with EW as our first official media partner, we've drawn in more talent and unique programming than ever before. I can't decide who's luckier: SCAD students, or the industry professionals who get to meet our rising stars and hear their best pitches!"

Ellie Kemper, star of Netflix and Universal Television's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", will receive the annual Spotlight Award. NBC and Universal Television's "New Amsterdam" will receive the Outstanding Cast Award with cast members Ryan Eggold, Freema Agyeman, Anupam Kher, Tyler Labine and Jocko Sims attending. Honorees are scheduled to attend screenings of their respective episodes. In honor of the university's 40-year anniversary, SCAD alum Mir Zafar Ali (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) will receive the SCAD40 prize.

The Emmy award-winning team behind "The Buzz" will debut "G.R.I.T.S." (Girls Raised In The South), SCAD's latest student-produced sitcom created by dramatic writing student Chad Morton (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018). "G.R.I.T.S." is an all original student-produced sitcom written, directed, produced and performed by African-American SCAD students. This sitcom stars Candice Glover (B.F.A., dramatic writing) and George Lovett (M.F.A., performing arts). The show will premiere opening day of the festival.

As Official Media Partner for SCAD aTVfest, EW helped curate this year's programming and will have staff on-site to moderate select talent panels. EW will also host a photo and video studio for talent to come through and galleries will be available exclusively on EW.com and its social platforms, as well as special events.

Shows and representatives attending this year's festival include: "All American" (The CW), "American Gods" (Starz), "Bosch" (Amazon Prime Video), "The Enemy Within" (NBC), "The Gifted" (FOX), "i'm sorry" (truTV), "Manifest" (NBC), "Miracle Workers" (TBS), "New Amsterdam" (NBC), "The Oath" (Sony Crackle), "The Other Two" (Comedy Central), "The Passage" (FOX), "PEN15" (Hulu), "Proven Innocent" (FOX), "The Resident" (FOX), "Schooled" (ABC), "SEAL Team" (CBS), "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix) and "The Village" (NBC).

For SCAD students, SCAD aTVfest offers valuable insight into the world of agents, managers, casting, comedy, integration, pitches, production partnership, programming placement, reality television, visual effects, post-production, and the convergence of digital media and television. An integral part of aTVfest is premiering SCAD student work alongside their professional counterparts. A juried showcase will include dramas, comedies, web productions and more from SCAD's School of Digital Media.

More than 8,100 SCAD students and alumni work in the fields of animation, entertainment, motion pictures, media production, writing, editing, broadcast media and performing arts, with over 2,800 in Georgia alone. A unique, project-based approach to film, TV and performing arts provides SCAD students a distinct advantage before they graduate with unparalleled access to industry tools, experts and life-changing opportunities.

For more information visit atvfest.com.

A native of San Isidro de Heredia, Costa Rica, Antonio Gil (B.F.A., visual effects; B.F.A., interactive design and game development) is a video game polymath. Parallel to his multifaceted SCAD education, Gil has crystallized his skills working winter and summer breaks at leading game development company Fair Play Labs. Director and lead designer of the video game "Palm Dreams" (winner of the 2018 SCAD Entelechy Best in Show award), Gil recently delivered a "lightning lecture" at PULSE Art + Technology at the Telfair Museum, where he and his "Palm Dreams" collaborators showcased their inventive, inspiring game.

Antonio Gil:

Everything has been done with action platform video games except a game where you can't walk or run. A game where you play as a palm tree is an interesting way to reinterpret motion.

The avatar of the palm tree lends itself naturally to specific mechanics: the projectile coconut, extensions from the tree trunk. Those are fun departure points to extrapolate from as we've designed the game.

The theme of "Palm Dreams" is tropical ecosystems. There's a mindset that the tropics are idyllic beaches. As a general line of latitude, there are African countries like Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and the island of Socotra in Yemen, which have different tropical environments. We wanted to represent that, and make "Palm Dreams" a love letter to something very personal: the tropical environment.

I'm a huge proponent of "team work makes the dream work." Game development is fundamentally social. A cooperative relationship was important to making "Palm Dreams." As a team, we viewed David Attenborough's "Island," an episode of Planet Earth II, to gather documentary references. There's a utility to it, and it's an intrinsically pleasant shared experience. These team-building experiences are valuable.

The narrative concept of "Palm Dreams" is perseverance. The palm tree represents nature. The coconut is the seedling of life. The villain is a volcanic deity with a tabula rasa mindset. Intrinsically a game has to have conflict. I think about the conflict in the game as a discussion. The palm tree is trying to reach the volcano to stave off eruption. As an emissary of nature, the palm tree represents the idea that we can work with what we have rather than taking away everything that could be growing.

Do games have a function beyond entertainment?  Action games require dexterity, strategy games require forward planning, rhythm games teach music and coordination, physics-based games have ties to math. It's fun to play around with these different skill sets. As game designers, we get to play around with them as well.

I love the video game industry and its exploration of options. As game designers, we too are playing a game: how to make something that's presentable, consumable, and invites problem-solving. It's wonderful. Let's keep the coconut rolling.

"Palm Dreams" (Trickbox Games) development team:

Antonio Gil: direction, lead design, lighting
Sukrit Tanticharoenkiat (B.F.A., interactive design and game development): lead programming
Bailey Wheatland (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2018): art lead
Benjamin Denison (B.F.A., interactive design and game development): programming, concept art
Colton Olds (B.F.A., dramatic writing): design
Emilio Marullo (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2018): design
Grey Hoffman (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2018): 3D art
Francis Curtin (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2018): texture art
Justin Verscheure (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2018): optimization
Brandon Greenawalt (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2018): 3D/tech art
Steven Armstrong (B.F.A., film and television, 2018): sound design, video editing
Charlie Duff (B.F.A., sound design, 2018): sound design, sound implementation
Justin Skiles (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2018): sound design

See the "Palm Dreams" trailer here.

Visit the "Palm Dreams" official website.

Learn more about the interactive design and game development program at SCAD.

Early on a recent weekday morning, approximately forty SCAD Studio II architecture students traveled two-and-a-half hours north from Savannah to Moncks Corner, South Carolina. There, they visited Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery on the Cooper River, the first stop on a day out to site-specific structures designed by visionary environmental architect W.G. Clark.

"For our Studio II students, this academic quarter is about architecture as it relates to site and site manipulation," explained professor Scott Singeisen. Singeisen has led field trips to Mepkin Abbey since 2011, inspired in part by his appreciation for Corbusier's Monastery of Sante Marie de la Tourette in Lyon, France. "Corbusier told the monks he was an atheist. And they said, in effect, that's exactly why we want you to design our monastery. The idea at play is that the architect doesn't have to be religious to design a monastery, he or she only needs to respect space."

To provide students with an intimate understanding of W.G. Clark's intentions, Singeisen assigned Clark's essay "Replacement." In it, Clark writes: "Architecture, whether as a town or a building, is the reconciliation of ourselves with the natural land."

"I read the essay on the way there, so I was thinking about it at the site," said Elisa Dogor  (B.F.A., architecture). "Clark wants to do as little harm as possible, and integrate architecture into nature. We saw how he was practicing what he was writing about. To do that that towards the beginning of the quarter helps get your mind in a good place when there's a lot of work to do."

"You walked into the chapel and it was filled with divine light," remarked Devon Carberry (B.F.A., architecture). "Compared to a gothic cathedral, this was simple, comforting and warm. Architecture can change your views and beliefs on life."

After a tour by Father Kevin, and picnic lunch at the terraced gardens, the group traveled sixty minutes south to The Inn at Middleton Place (recipient of the 1987 AIA Honor Award), designed and executed by Clark in partnership with Charles Menefee III. Over three decades, façades have conceded to wild vegetation. As students descended into the courtyard bracketed by the L-shaped inn with its view of the Ashley River, there was a collective gasp.

"Both the monastery and Middleton offer a sense of tranquility," said Sheryl Wadehra (B.F.A., architecture). "The dichotomy between the materials was beautiful to see – concrete and wood used in equal ways, neither overpowering the other. You felt how the architect wanted you to feel."

There was much to see: stucco walls, flourishing camellia, wooden fitments painted Charleston green; architecture, integrated with nature through profound appreciation of history and place.

"One of the great takeaways from visiting architecture like this is you realize how well thought-out everything must be," Singeisen said. "If students can set that as something to strive to, they're approaching something good."

Thanks to Alessandra Canedo, Devon Carberry, Elisa Dogor, Priscilla Maura and Sheryl Wadehra for taking extra time to discuss their experience.

Location photography courtesy Elisa Dogor.

Learn more about SCAD architecture degree programs here.

Do you resoundingly agree with the assertion, “Cats are the greatest creatures of all time!"?

Then come hither, feline friends. For as its clever creators claim: "CATBOX is the cat bed of your favorite feline's dreams!"

Overseen and undersigned by Jamie Bourgeois (B.F.A., fibers, 2012) and J. Magnus Nelson (B.F.A., sound design, 2015), CATBOX is a cardboard box engineered to fit cats of varying sizes comfortably...and to entertain cat owners too. CATBOX features cut-outs and illustrations that turn your cat into a cosmic seeker, a rock god, or something else entirely.

Incontrovertible CATBOX cuteness is, however, not the whole story. Bourgeois and Nelson are both experienced entrepreneurs with thriving professional careers in art and design.

Nelson, service manager at Gotham Sound and Communications, Inc., builds and maintains equipment for the film industry. He also runs a side business repairing vintage synthesizers, and plays in multiple delightfully demented rock bands in Atlanta. Bourgeois, gallery manager at the esteemed Spalding Nix Fine Art, is proprietor of her own eponymous line of hand-dyed kerchiefs, scarves, patches and prints. These sundry strands come together with CATBOX, as Jamie explains.

Jamie Bourgeois:

I met Magnus when we were both at SCAD. He and my boyfriend played in a band together. One day Magnus came over with a small cardboard box and put it on the floor. Our cat immediately got in. I said, "What is this magic?"

Magnus had the idea for CATBOX. There are actual scientific studies on why cats like boxes. There's a burrowing instinct, and they like being in tight spaces. CATBOX is a rectangular cardboard box, sized to fit cats comfortably. There are cut-outs on each end for face scratching, head resting, and amusement.

Magnus wanted the outside of the box to have a design that made the cat into a character. I created the illustrations. We have a CATBOX with an astronaut design called ASTRObox, and one called ROCKbox where the cat is playing a double-necked guitar or drums, depending on how the box is turned.

All our boxes are composed of 100% recycled corrugated cardboard, printed with vegetable-based inks that are safe for cats, and are constructed and shipped here in Georgia. It's important that CATBOX is sustainable and creates no new waste.

My senior year at SCAD I made scarves printed with an illustration about how humans classify non-human organisms in categories like invasive species and parasites, while excluding ourselves. I used synthetic dyes in the printing process. I realized that if I wanted to continue the work and be pro-environment, I couldn't continue using synthetic dyes. I started growing and harvesting plants like marigolds to create the dyes I use in the eco-bundling process.

CATBOX has a lifespan and then you compost or recycle it. It's is not a kitty litter box, it's a box for your cat to hang out in. If you put the CATBOX on a shelf, your cat will like that, because they'll feel secure but they can see everything.

Our research and development team included cats Harrison, Squirrel and Cersi — they've been invaluable getting us to launch. On the human side, both Magnus and I run own our small businesses, so we have that experience already. We hope one day CATBOX will be our full-time job.

Learn more about CATBOX and contribute to the Kickstarter campaign here.

See more of Jamie's hand-dyed handiwork here.

Listen to Magnus' most excellent band KYLE here.