On Oct. 13, CalArts Inauguration celebrated Ravi S. Rajan as the fourth president of the Institute | Photo: Dan Watson for CalArts
The inauguration of President Ravi S. Rajan on Oct. 13 celebrated the Institute’s past and its future—the CalArts’ way—through music, dance, spoken word and the visual arts.
The program began early in the day with a visual composition of projected images and music created by the Los Angeles-based visual performance band funVoid, who played live at the main entrance as guests arrived. In the Main Gallery, the installation, A State of the Art School, featured works by 83 alums, curated by Dave Mueller (Art MFA 93).
Performers of the African Drum and Dance Ensemble and Javanese Gamelan then led the processional from the Main Gallery to the Wild Beast for a morning of inspirational performances and talks, particularly President Rajan’s inaugural address.
View the address:
Watch the Inaugural performances from the day:
The CalArts Institute Choir sings the Alma Mater:
David Rosenboom’s Fanfare For (R)Evolution Arts, featuring lines from Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s call to action, Poetry as Insurgent Art:
An Artistic Interlude of a ‘Flash mob’ with Dance Dean Dimitri Chamblas improvising and faculty member Francesca Penzani joining a number of CalArts Dance students. Music by alumni band Fell Runner and choreography by Dance alum Mallory Fabian:
An Artistic Interlude of CalArts alum Ty Defoe performing dance and story traditions from the Oneida and Ojibwe heritages, in hope of inspiring action toward social change:
And at the President’s Welcome Lunch, President Rajan sits in for a couple songs with the Latin Jazz Ensemble, led by CalArts faculty David Roitstein:
To view the processional and ceremony in its entirety, visit the Inauguration Livestream page.