ArtCenter College of Design Archives

Whether you were in class, at a crit, or taking a quick nap, those grey metal stools weren't exactly comfortable. It's the end of an era as ArtCenter replaces them with new stools with back support. But for you sentimental types, we'll be sure to keep a few of the classics in the Archives.

Image 1: Julian Ryder critiquing Advertising student work, circa 1984. (2004.20.165)
Image 2: Wayne Hunt and Graphic Design students in the classroom, circa 1985. (2004.20.4065)
Image 3: Keith Teter and Transportation Design students in the classroom, circa 1983. (2004.23.498)
Image 4: A Fine Art painting class, circa 1978. (2004.20.3113)

Before the trees grew in at ArtCenter's new Pasadena campus in 1976, students had ample opportunity to enjoy a sunny day.

Image 1: Students sitting on the northwest steps of Hillside Campus, 1976. (2004.26.633)
Image 2: Students lounging on the cafeteria patio, 1976. (2004.26.624)

Did Calder, Judd, and di Suvero go to ArtCenter? 40 years ago, their artwork did! In the summer of 1984, the ArtCenter Sculpture Garden was born when Fine Art chair Laurence Dreiband convinced LACMA to loan ArtCenter sculptures rather than put them in storage during a construction project.

Image 1: A woman in front of Three Quintains (Hello Girls) by Alexander Calder, 1984. (2004.26.3362)
Image 2: A man in front of Untitled (for Leo Castelli) by Donald Judd, 1984. (2004.26.3339)
Image 3: Pre-Natal Memories by Mark di Suvero, 1984. (2004.26.3375)
Image 4: Cubi XXIII by David Smith, 1984. (2004.26.3380)

All photography by Denis Nervig (BA 85 Photography)

Yeah, it's hot outside, but in 1993 it was hot inside...hot rods inside the Williamson Gallery, that is. The exhibition was Road Rebel: The California Hot Rod.

(All photography by Steven A. Heller)

When ArtCenter's South Campus building opened in 2004, Archetype Press had a new home and a new Director, Gloria Kondrup. How many people have stopped on the sidewalk to see what's new and cool at ?

Image 1: The press in its new home, 2004.
Image 2: Gloria Kondrup in the new space, 2004.
Image 3: Gloria Kondrup demonstrating the press, 2023.
Image 4: Joshue Molina helping a student with the press, 2023.
Image 5: Archetype Press spelled out in wooden type, 2023.

(2004 photography by Steven A. Heller; 2023 photography by Juan Posada)

Archetype Press is a collection of rare American and European metal foundry and wood type originally belonging to Vern Simpson’s legendary typesetting shop in Hollywood. When ArtCenter acquired it in 1989, the question was where to put it. 40 Mills Place in downtown Pasadena was Archetype's home for it's first 15 years.

Image 1: Director Vance Studley and students working at Archetype Press, circa 1992. (2004.20.4170)
Image 2: Students selecting type, circa 1992. (2004.20.4167)
Image 3: A student working on the press, circa 1992. (2004.20.4168)
Image 4: Drawers of type, circa 1992 (2004.20.4166)
(All 1992 photography by Steven A. Heller)
Image 5: 40 Mills Place, Pasadena, CA, 2022 (© 2024 CoStar Group)

Recognize this space? ArtCenter used this building at 54 W. Colorado for classrooms, Fine Art studios, and a public gallery from 1987 to 1990. Today, you can sidle up to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store.

Image 1: Student work on display, February 1988. (Photography by Steven A. Heller) (P310.1252)
Image 2: George Stavrinos exhibition, 1987. (Photography by Steven A. Heller) (P310.157)
Image 3: Apple Pasadena (© 2024 Apple Inc.)

The 950 building. Opened in May 2004, it was ArtCenter's original South Campus. The former wind tunnel was perfect for large exhibitions and special events, especially if they needed to drive a car or two inside.

Image 1: Grand opening of the 950 building, May 2004.
Image 2: Grand opening event in the wind tunnel, May 2004.
Image 3: Supersonic: 1 Wind Tunnel, 8 Schools, 120 Artists exhibition, June 2004.
Image 4: Exterior decorated for the 75th Anniversary Gala, October 2005.
Image 5: Exterior featuring two cars for Audi's Designers Tuesday, January 2006.

(All photography by Steven A. Heller)

In 1946, the newly built SCCWT wind tunnel used more electricity than all of Pasadena combined. How shocking! Want to learn more? In the Archives, we recently digitized a report written by Robert S. Millikan, the teenage son of the SCCWT's director. Check it out: https://archives.artcenter.edu/rg-47-millikan-thesis.

Images: The Southern California Cooperative Wind Tunnel under construction, circa 1943. (Photography by the SCCWT)

Welcome to South Campus, Transportation Design! The Mullin Transportation Design Center is opening soon and it looks like there will be enough room in the converted wind tunnel to make full-scale models like these bucks from the '50s and '60s.

Our slide show of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair is now in our Virtual Archives! https://archives.artcenter.edu/

The easiest way to see them all is to search "Expo 58". Or you could search "Brussels" and on the left limit your search to Exhibitions and Galleries.

Image: Close-up of the Atomium at Expo 58, 1958. (P310.1597)

Week 14 - powered by coffee.
Even better if it's coffee outside with friends.

Image: Students Dorothy Johnson (ADIL 1948) (2nd from left) and Estelle Olynyk (ADVT 1949) (2nd from right) drinking coffee with friends, circa 1948. (2004.74.7)

Before it was the Williamson Gallery, it was an atrium, and in the summer of 1987 it was the site of a jousting tournament - of student-made remote-controlled vehicles for Ga***rd Eckles's class.

We just can't get enough of these Expo 58 slides. The three Art Center School instructors took their reporting seriously - focusing on industrial design, but also taking photos of the exhibited paintings and sculptures.

We're in the process of digitizing the whole set of 249 slides. Check them out in our Virtual Archives in the coming weeks: archives.artcenter.edu

In 1958, three Art Center School instructors went to the Brussels World's Fair (known as Expo 58) and came back with a slide show report for the students and faculty. Over 200 pics of the buildings and exhibitions - a fascinating snapshot of mid-century architecture and innovation.

(Shout out to anyone who ever sat through a vacation slide show.)

Join us this Saturday! We're hosting a photo preservation tutorial as part of the 's Community Gathering.

One of our favorite photos - we call it "Chickens and Children."

Image: Photography instructor Eddie Kaminski and students photographing chickens and children at Westlake Park, circa 1942. (2004.36.58)
[A block away from ArtCenter's first campus, Westlake Park became MacArthur Park in May 1942]

Jigsaw and chill. Need a break during mid-terms? Stop by the Archives and Special Collections and work on our jigsaw puzzle made from archival ArtCenter images. Cue the lofi and feel the stress just melt away...

You got bills to pay, art supplies to buy...you need a job. In 1951, ArtCenter had a brochure for that: "Part Time Jobs." Registrar Karla Martell smiles sweetly as she offers advice in a post-war, tough-love tone.

Part of our recently digitized Admissions Department brochure collection in our Virtual Archives: https://archives.artcenter.edu/12-rg-12-4

Looking forward to the flowers at Hillside after all that rain we just had.

Image: California poppies at ArtCenter's Hillside Campus, May 1976. (2004.26.228)

Know of a cheap place to live? Almost all ArtCenter students ask that at some point. Back in the 1940s one option, about a block away from campus, was the Shoreham Hotel. Or, you could just get a lot of roommates...

Image 1: ArtCenter students living in the Shoreham Hotel off of 7th Street, spring 1942. (2004.40.44)
Image 2: Eight students preparing a meal in the kitchen, 1949. (2004.21.4669)

ArtCenter's first campus was 14 small buildings around a central courtyard filled with lush plants and a pond. Perfect for drawing from art models, or just hanging with friends, even if they throw you in the water occasionally.

Image 1: Illustration students draw from a male model, circa 1935. Photograph by Irene Gutterman (Photo 37). (2014.15.10)
Image 2: A student in the courtyard pond after being thrown in, circa 1935. Photograph by Irene Gutterman (Photo 37). (2014.15.12)
Images 3-5: Students in the courtyard, circa 1936. From the Donald E. Greene papers.

ArtCenter's first campus at 2544 West 7th Street, Los Angeles. For almost 20 years, this (1st image) was the only photograph the Archives had of the courtyard campus.
In 2021, we acquired a photo album from Donald E. Greene (class of 1937) that has (drumroll, please) our second photograph of the 7th Street campus (2nd image). Thanks Don!

Happy New Year! These scales designed by ArtCenter Product Design students are just what we need to stick to our New Year's resolution to drop a few pounds!

Image 1: Finished model of a bathroom scale, circa 1949. (2004.22.411)
Image 2: Finished model of a bathroom scale labelled Borg, 1957. (2004.22.643)
Image 3: Model of a scale labelled Hotscale by Di-Fong Chang (BS 05 Product) for the Mattel sponsored project, fall 2003. (P100.2837)

Week 14 at ArtCenter. After so much time spent setting up your final work, it's over in a flash. Did you hang your artwork perfectly straight?

Image 1: A Graphic Design student hanging her work on the wall for presentation, circa 1985. (2004.20.4036)
Image 2: Transportation Design students covering the walls for their final presentation to General Motors, May 1961. (2004.23.3274)
Image 3: Advertising students hanging the final design of a Levi's advertisement in the auditorium, September 1961. (2004.20.135)
Image 4: Transportation Design students setting up their final work for a GM Turbine Project presentation in the auditorium, September 1960. (2004.23.3240)

As the weather turns chilly, we have to wonder...when are plaid jackets going to come back in style?

Image 1: A student talking with Wanda G*e Henry at a party for international students, circa 1980. (2004.26.2424)
Image 2: A student tap dancing on stage during the West Canyon Concert, December 1976. (2004.26.2508)

Happy 100th Birthday Lou Danziger!

Are you going to pop over to the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade this weekend? In 1986, these corny ArtCenter students threw popcorn to the crowd from their float titled Pop Art: Pop Til You Drop. Their costumes were a-maize-ing!

During World War II, ArtCenter taught Aircraft Production Illustration for Caltech when they realized the lay people that were building airplanes at Lockheed and Douglas couldn't read blueprints but they could understand exploded views.

Image 1: Karen Graham working on an exploded technical illustration, circa 1950. (2004.21.2208)
Image 2: Flyer for Aircraft Production Illustration classes, 1942.
Image 3: A student working on an exploded technical illustration, circa 1950. (2004.21.2170)
Image 4: An exploded technical illustration (End Bell Assembly) by A.C. Tyler (BS 52 Product), May 22, 1951. (2004.21.2205)