The fine art of education

Laguna College of Art & Design has taken many strides since its

humble beginnings in two small art studios 34 years ago. The college

graduated its largest senior class last spring and is enjoying its

largest-ever enrollment this fall, with 310 students.

Now new president Dennis Power hopes to take the college to the

next level.

Power, who took the helm July 1, wants to build on past

achievements.

“He was brought into the college to be a strong overall manager,”

board chairwoman Mary Ferguson said. “We have a great academic

program and teachers at the college. We needed an overall CEO and

president to take it to a whole new level -- fundraising, community

relations, manage the growth of the school and programs.”

Power comes to the school after 11 years as the executive director

of the Oakland Museum of California. During his tenure, attendance

and membership climbed.

He has also managed the Henry J. Kaiser Center, the Malonga

Casquelourd Center for the Arts and Oakland’s public art and cultural

funding programs.

He now joins a school with a storied history.

David Young, Festival of Arts board member for 51 years, founded the college in 1961. The school was established to teach the

principles of art to the people who were creating the Pageant of the

Masters pieces.

Its first location was next to the festival, where the Laguna

Playhouse is now located. Two studios were built and became the

college.

Young received $5,000 in seed money from the Festival of Arts and

$1,000 from 20 friends.

In 1977, the college moved to its current campus at 2222 Laguna

Canyon Road.

In 1982, the college received acceptance by the National

Association of Schools of Art & Design to offer three-year

certificate programs. The programs included fine arts as well as

jewelry, design and ceramics.

The first certificate program graduated a handful of students in

1985.

In 1989, Laguna College was accredited to grant bachelors of fine

arts degrees.

Until 2001, the college was known as the Art Institute of Southern

California. In July 2002, the name was changed to the Laguna College

of Art & Design.

It offers undergraduate bachelor of fine arts degrees in drawing

and painting, graphic design, illustration and feature animation.

The class of 2005 boasted the school’s largest number of

graduates, 62.

Power said the college sought him out, and he feels it’s a perfect

fit.

“It associated two things close to my heart -- art and education,”

Power said. “It presented a really interesting and challenging

opportunity to move the college forward.”

Strategic planning, fundraising and capital improvement projects

are some of his areas of expertise.

A new five-year plan is in the works that focuses on three main

goals: financial stability, campus renovation and academic

excellence.

Maintaining balanced budgets, fundraising and increasing the

operating budget are important to financial stability.

Renovation plans address the need to update some of the campus

buildings and to expand studio space.

Senior students now have art studios off the campus.

“We want to remain on the forefront on the use of technology,”

Power said. “For example, all incoming freshmen own laptops; the

campus is completely wireless; students can access the Internet

anywhere.”

He said the college is on the cutting edge in terms of computer

use and art and design, which Powers believes is particularly

relevant to the fields of graphic design and animation.

“We’re about to launch an MFA [master’s in fine arts] program in

painting. We’re laying the groundwork and hope to launch it fall

2006,” Power said. “It fits into our academic excellence goals.”

Outside of those goals, Power said the college wants to continue

to foster relationships with the community. First Sundays, a

collaboration with Laguna Beach Live, is a free event that combines a

look at the school’s latest exhibit with a classical, jazz or chamber

music performance. The season begins Oct. 2.

The mentoring program between First Thursday’s Art Walk galleries

and college seniors continues to be strong, Ferguson said, as are the

many community collaborations.

Ferguson said next year the college will work with the CaDance

Festival to design posters, a logo and other materials.

“The more involvement with the community, the better off we are,”

Ferguson said.

Ferguson also notes that many of the students are winning awards,

landing prestigious jobs and attending top graduate programs.

Both Ferguson and Power credit the outstanding faculty and the

student-to-faculty ratio, which allows smaller class sizes and more

hands-on education.

Power said another key component is the college’s liberal arts

curriculum.

“Students leave with a broader education, and I think that’s

important,” Power said.

Laguna College of Art & Design is at 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.

Information: (949) 376-6000 or o7www.lagunacollege.edu.

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