CalArts Podcasts

Tori Danner (Theater MFA 19) was born in Benin City, Nigeria and raised in Kuwait. She received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Mass Communications and Media from the American University of Kuwait. Her dream from an early age, however, was to become an actress, so she decided to pursue an MFA in Acting at CalArts. Shortly after graduating, Tori booked a recurring role on the hit CBS comedy series, Bob Hearts Abishola. The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro...

Kataneh Vahdani (BFA Character Animation 05; MFA Experimental Animation 08) grew up in Iran. She is a director, animation creator, story artist, and educator, and came to the US with her mother and brother when she was a teenager, beginning her journey at CalArts when she was just 16 years old.You can learn more about Kataneh on her website.Please note this episode contains a discussion about suicide. Please listen with care. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or lo...

Launched in 1978, The World Music Festival has its roots in CalArts’ World Music program in the Herb Alpert School of Music. As we prepare for the The 2024 World Music Festival in April, we are joined by the co-directors of the World Music Program specialization, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole and Andrew Grueschow, who talk about the history of the World Music Festival, how it has evolved, and what we can expect for 2024.Watch to learn more about the 2024 World Music Festival, April 26 - 28.The intro mus...

Jinal Sangoi (Art MFA 18) is an artist and educator, currently living in Mumbai, who weaves art, design, pedagogy, and community through her participatory and collaborative practice, designing creative methodologies for experiential learning with a particular interest in the ideas of care, home, nature, gender, and resistance. While at CalArts, Jinal was the recipient of the Tim Disney Prize for the Storytelling Arts, among other awards and scholarships. After receiving her MFA, Jinal pa...

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

A lot that goes into creating a world class institution like CalArts, and your support of our mission helps to make that happen. In this bonus episode, Henderson explains the various ways that your gift to CalArts greatest need helps our students.Thanks for being a part of our community of artists!The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on ...

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

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

CalArts’ annual Halloween party occupies a unique place in the hearts of most CalArtians. In this episode, we talk with past and current producers of Halloween to give you a unique look at what it takes to put on this remarkable event. We trace how the Institute has turned this epic rager into an extraordinary learning experience for students.Visit the CalArts Halloween website.Beyond the Blue Wall’s Season 3 intro music, “Lima,” was created and performed by Nicolas Savignano (Film/Video MFA ...

Host Henderson Blumer is joined by the Director of the Patty Disney Center for Life and Work (PDCLW), Jen Hitchings, and the Assistant Director for Career Connections & Development, Lonnie Woods III. Jen and Lonnie discuss the programs and services offered by the PDCLW as well as what it means to be a working artist. To learn more about the Patty Disney Center for Life and work, and the career services opportunities offering to CalArts students and alumnx, visit calarts.edu/clwYou can sub...