Art Center College

ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN
1700 Lida Street
Pasadena, CA 91103

Below are examples from two of several class that have been taught at Art Center.

Class of Spring 2001.  Class of 2003 with Teacher  Click on photos to enlarge.

Samples of Art Center College Student Work

Students are given several possibilities for their final project.  The most common used is to design, create and present a meal of several courses based on the principles of the Five Elements and then document it.  This is a mini-version of the Feast of the Five Elements, which is done as a group exercise at the end of the Five Part public program offered at Shambhala Centers throughout North America and Europe. In addition students may choose a theme that relates specifically to their major resulting in some unique, if not fascinating, uses of the principles taught in this program.  Please click on the examples below to view a sampling. 

Notes from Student Journal on the Rotation Exercise 2001

Final Project Using Typography 2001

Final Project Using Advertising 2001

Final Project Using Animation 2001 (Recipient of an ADOBE award.)

Final Project creating a book 2003

Final Project Using Pottery 2003

Class Summaries

The unedited class summaries below are submissions from some of the student's class journals.

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This class has changed my life. What else can I say? Many classes -- even experiences in general -- aren't necessary in the respect that the content of the class can be learned elsewhere outside a class environment. Taking a class may only be a way to learn something quickly and easily. But this class is true to the idea of a real symbol: it has a felt sense when you are in the class, participating; it is determined only by the experience itself and cannot be explained adequately (I've tried); ideas brought up in class focused less on intellectual thoughts and perceptions and more on our feelings.

This class is valuable -- especially for creative people -- because it is personal and individual. It's appropriate for anyone because it is adaptable to anyone. If you don't like any specific aspect of the teachings, you can totally disregard it and find something you are interested in. But I found myself trying to relate to everything.

I can't imagine not having taken this class. As an advertising student, I can't believe how much dharma art relates to advertising. Funny, but true -- depending on how you look at it.

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My thoughts

So looking back at all that this class has attempted to touch makes me happy. I have started my practice of sitting and I hope it'll stay with me and grow as I do. Never have I had a class the embodies eastern philosophy and thought with art. I feel I got everything I wanted out of this class and more, even. In a way I wish that this was a class that lasted lifelong and was part of normal western everyday life. But I'm also glad its not due to the fear that it would become water down as our mainstream America seems to make of anything and everything. I consider myself lucky for being able to participate in the teachings of Dharma Art, still I feel that fate is what brought me here. Good is happening and I relish in the fact that I can feel it.

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HOW DOES ONE SUMMARIZE THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS CLASS IN TWO PARAGRAPHS? I BELIEVE THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE IT THROUGHOUT MY LIFETIME.

SEEDS HAVE BEEN PLANTED THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY MATURED. PERHAPS ON MY DEATHBED, I WILL GLIMPSE THE FRUIT OF AN EXPANDED VIEW.

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