Sound Bites - Issue #15 - November 2014 (NEW)

It's been a whirlwind past couple of weeks, trying to finalize the winter class schedule, which many of you have been eager to check out. I'm happy to announce that class schedule is now available online!

And you get a 10 percent discount on all health, fitness and enrichment classes if you enroll before Dec. 15!

For those of you who appreciate instant gratification, you can view the catalog in PDF format, hot off the press, before it hits the snail mail on Nov. 14.  Of course, if you can see the classes online, you can also register online! 

So what's good and what's new for winter 2015, you ask?  Let me count the ways. . .

Winter is our shortest semester and yet we have managed to squeeze in over 10 new classes this time, which augmented our offerings considerably. A favorite among the ladies is Women's Auto Workshop, which will include a new optional component of how to change oil in your very own car - don't miss this! Many workshop students have found this one-day workshop incredibly empowering, but don't take our words for it - come and experience it yourself. The instructor even brings in morning coffee and midday lunch!

Since we featured a mosaic violin in our first student art exhibition (and on our new blog Mindspace), it has caused ripples of excitement and made the mosaic class more popular than ever. So much so that we have created a Mosaic II class for the ever-growing population of continuing students who are working on their own one-of-a-kind projects.

Asian Printmaking

Our current student art show at Bundy features a special exhibit on Asian Printmaking, which gives a broad overview of the great potential this art form holds. Instructor Charlotte Chen came to me in the summer with the idea of creating this class for some of the professionals who have been coming to her for help. We are very happy that we were able to take this class from concept to reality this winter, and we encourage you to come and visit our exhibit before we take it down in January to make way for the new student art exhibition in Spring.

Kaffeeklatsch ohne Kaffee (Coffee and Chat without Coffee) is a rather quaint class, and I must say that we have never done anything quite like it before. However, the creation of this class demonstrates our commitment to the community and the extent we are willing to go to satisfy a calling. 

Ursula Fox
Kaffeklatsch ohne Kaffee

This class stemmed from one woman's love for her beloved native language, German, and her painful observations over the years how many German expats have allowed their language skills to perish slowly. As someone who is constantly balancing between three languages, I strongly believe any language is too precious a skill to lay waste by simple disuse. I'm calling out all German natives and those who want to maintain their German fluency to come on down to Bundy this winter and join the fun as if you were in the old country!

I could go on and recount all the tales of how each class came into being like a Scheherazade, but you get the idea, don't you? Each of these classes is created with great care and thought - and with the hope they will find an audience with our faithful readers.

Check out the rest of our new offerings listed on the back inside page of our brochure online, and I suspect you will find a class or two that captures your fancy.

Stay tuned for next month, when I tell you how the new Headshots Workshop came about. It was really by accident that I had the most interesting conversation with instructor Brian Leng, whose career took a different turn after his retirement, but you'll never guess what. 

Until then. . . Happy learning!

Thanksgiving Harvest: Student Gratitude & More!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we at Community Ed reflect on the many things we are grateful for.

A main source of our gratitude are our amazing instructors and students. And we are especially grateful to those students who take the time to write thoughtful testimonials about their instructors and classes.

In that spirit, we're offering here some of our favorite student expressions of gratitude. We thank all our students who have shown their appreciation - they make us proud.
 

On Christy Wilhelmi, Organic Gardening

Organic Gardening

"Christy's Organic Gardening class was AMAZING! I learned so much, everything I needed to get started. Christy is passionate about organic gardening and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned about the importance of the dirt (I'm convinced this is what's made my garden such a success), about good bugs and bad, how to start seedlings, resources for supplies and much, much more in a fun environment.

"After taking her class, I planted, and four weeks later had a thriving abundant garden. My neighbors were in shock at how fast it grew, so much so that my next door neighbor signed up for Christy's Organic Gardening class at SMC
Community Ed."

- Tia Tuenge
 

On Neal Yamamoto, Comics & Graphic Novels

Neal Yamamoto's book on drawing comics

"Neal really takes his time to consider and critique the work of his students as well as offering them different ways to think about and approach the medium of comics. These courses are great primers for those looking to create comics or who need insight and feedback on work they're starting or developing. I'm thankful these courses exist and are affordable. Neal's guidance is invaluable and I look forward to other
course offerings."

- Don Nguyen

On Xandria Slater, Women's Auto Workshop

Xandria Slater
Women's Auto Workshop instructor

"The class was awesome and I learned so much and now feel a little more confident about my car. More importantly, I know some basic things I can take care of proactively to feel safe in my car. Your class is so important, and I think everyone would benefit from it."

- So Young Kim  

On Brian Leng, Photography & Headshots Workshop

A beautiful image by photography instructor Brian Leng

"Brian is one of the most enthusiastic and professional teachers I have ever had the privilege of learning from. Not only does he take time to answer questions, he makes sure to show you exactly what he means by demonstrating with your camera in and out of the studio. Brian is tops among the many photography instructors out there. He encourages students at all levels from the most beginning to the most advanced. Additionally, his long and successful career in the photography business helps bring "real world" experience to his workshops and classrooms. You would be hard-pressed to find a more qualified, helpful, and friendly instructor."

- Amy G.

On Kellie Nicholson, Bartending the Easy Way

Bartending instructor
Kellie Nicholson

"Everything necessary to be a successful bartender was covered thoroughly and efficiently for an extremely reasonable price and time frame. It was a very fun, convenient, memorable and educational experience."

- Chelsea

First Look: Rose Eichenbaum: The Dancer Within

Rose Eichenbaum

SMC Community Ed attracts many interesting and highly accomplished students. Take, for instance, Rose Eichenbaum, one of the most respected photojournalists working in the arts today. 

Eichenbaum took a Photoshop class with Gregory Van Zuyen a few years ago and still keeps in touch with him.

"Rose has recently published her latest book, The Director Within, a fantastic volume that I can't put down,"Van Zuyen said.

Eichenbaum received her bachelor's degree in Dance at UCLA and continued her graduate studies in Dance Ethnology there, laying the groundwork for a career dedicated to research, photographic documentation and the investigation of artistic creativity and human expression.

An award-winning photographer, she has photographed many of the world's most celebrated performing artists and popular entertainers. Her photos have been exhibited at numerous prestigious venues, including The National Museum of Dance, Naples Museum of Art, Center of Creative Arts in St Louis, Ypsilanti Public Library in Michigan, and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts. In 2008-2010 her photography was the subject of a ten-venue national tour hosted by the Smithsonian Institution's Traveling Exhibitions.

Eichenbaum is a respected educator with more than 25 years teaching experience, most recently with Woodbury University in Burbank, Los Angeles Center of Photography in Hollywood, and Jacob's Pillow.

She has been a contributing writer and photographer to a number of nationally acclaimed magazines among them; Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher, Dance Spirit, Pointe, Dance Studio Life, Reform Judaism Magazine, Language Magazine and Ventura Blvd Magazines. 

You've written four books on the creative process for performing artists - most recently, The Director Within. Tell us about the book.

Just off the press - "The Director Within"

Like my previous volume, The Actor Within, it profiles 35 highly creative and accomplished individuals who shared with me through intimate conversations what drives their passion and commitment to their art. Of course, each director posed for my camera - and allowed me to capture something of their essential self. 

Working on the The Director Within was as challenging as it was exciting. It took three years to gain access to these 35 celebrated filmmakers, stage and television directors.  

But once I did, I had the opportunity to ask Mel Brooks how his Jewish roots contributed to his creativity and sense of humor. I wanted to know from John Carpenter - the master of horror films - if his movies were autobiographical. "Yes, all of them!" he said, and then proceeded to tell me how. Peter Bogdanovich spoke about love as a dominant theme in his films and confessed that falling in love is the only thing that makes him feel truly alive - that's also what drives his art. I wanted to know from Julie Taymor how directing The Lion King, the most successful stage show in history, had impacted her life.

The Director Within is not a how-to on directing. It's a book of human stories about individuals who tell human stories.  

What's the best thing and what's the worst thing about being a dancer? About being a photojournalist?

I think the best thing about being a creative individual - a dancer or a photojournalist - is what you discover about yourself in the process of making work. I only know now after many years that the struggles and challenges you encounter along the way actually bring you to a greater understanding of your own capacity and ability to overcome obstacles - to succeed.

The worst part is the down time...when you're not engaged and waiting eagerly for that next big thing.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

At the age of 18, after graduating from high school, I bought a one-way ticket to Europe/Israel. I didn't tell anyone - not my parents or my boyfriend, I just took off. I wanted to dance and be free. I took my life in my own hands and went off exploring.

What's been the highlight of your career in photojournalism?

Mel Brooks

I've had such a rich career, met and spent quality time with so many extraordinary artists--legendary dancers and choreographers, celebrated actors and accomplished directors. All of these encounters informed and inspired me in different ways. But a personal highlight I think would be when the advance copy of my first book, Masters of Movement-Portraits of America's Great Choreographers, arrived in the mail. It was the culmination of six years of hard work, sacrifice and expense. It was this project that sent me on my own artist's journey. It was life changing. I will always regard it as my most meaningful work because of the lessons learned along the way.

Tell us one to three things that most people don't know about you.

Hmm, I would say most people don't know that I am very down to earth - I have simple needs. Give me a good book by the fire and I'm happy. I'm a dog lover, but I love cats too. I'm a chocoholic!

Why did you take Photoshop at Community Ed?

I was basically self-taught in Photoshop and so I thought it would be practical to have a more comprehensive understanding of what I was doing. I had taken a class at UCLA Extension a few years earlier, but didn't really learn much. I wanted something more intimate, something that took into account the student's personal needs and was more affordable. I thought I'd try SMC and found it to be just what I was looking for.

What turns you on most about photography?

I find the power of the still image incredibly compelling - to capture a real moment is to stop time. And in that frozen moment one can find enormous bits of knowledge and insight - not only about the subject, but particularly about the individual who created it.

Eichenbaum's photo of Alberta Ballet

How did you become a photographer?

I had trained as a dancer and had expected to pursue a theatrical performance career. But I married at the age of 21 and quickly had three children. Aside from the challenge of raising a family and the physical demands of maintaining a dancer's body, dance in those years was really happening in New York. I couldn't leave my family to pursue a career on the other side of the country. Quite incidentally, I picked up a camera to photograph my kids and fell in love with the art of photography. It was just a matter of time before I realized I could combine my two passions - dance and photography. So I began building a career as a dance photographer. While it's not the same as being on the stage, it was the next best way for me to dance - vicariously through the lens.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My personal idea for happiness is to have and maintain good solid loving relationships with family and friends. Enjoy good health! And be engaged in personal projects -creative work - art making that has the potential to inform and inspire others.

During the course of your interviews with famous actors, directors, choreographers and dancers, are there one or two anecdotes you can share?

Ed Harris is one of the celebrated artists featured in Eichenbaum's book, "The Actor Within"

My journey as a photojournalist has given me many special moments with some extraordinary artists. Just imagine the fun of hanging out with Mel Brooks and listening to his crazy stories! John Carpenter, director of horror films, was surprisingly not at all scary but was a warm and friendly man who opened his heart and mind to me. Liza Minnelli shared personal stories about her mother Judy Garland. She told me how as a kid she used to hang out on the MGM lot with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. Gregory Hines was probably one of the nicest people I've ever met and the most generous. I will never forget the three wonderful hours we spent alone together in a Santa Monica dance studio just talking about life and art. Julie Taymor, director of the greatest show in history, The Lion King, welcomed me into her Manhattan apartment where, over a cup of coffee, she revealed what drives her art and her passion. Hal Prince, the prince of Broadway, gave me just an hour, but in that hour revealed the genius behind such stage shows as West Side Story, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Kiss of the Spider Woman and his list goes on.

Anything you would like to add?

Please take a look at my books: Masters of Movement--Portraits of America's Great Choreographers, The Dancer Within, The Actor Within and my new book, The Director Within. They'll take you on a great ride.