Throughout my career, my job has been to tell good stories.
This has given me the opportunity to write about amazing projects and people.
At MICA, my work in this area usually begins with a written profile for print or the web, as seen below; but the information I gather is used to enrich communications efforts across channels — from marketing campaigns to social media to media relations.
Featured Profiles | Velocity | Commotion | UP/Start | Conversations | Juxtapositions
Featured Profiles
Freedom to Fail
Cindy Cheng ’08 ’11 measures success by what happens in the studio — not in galleries or museums, and definitely not by recognition of her work. And when she’s in her studio, more often than not, she is failing.
Man of Letters
Maryland Institute Black Archives
Deyane Moses ’19, ’21 uncovers the forgotten history of Black artists denied entry to MICA between 1891 to 1958.
MICA's Starman
When you talk to Paul Mirel about his day job at NASA and how it relates to his off-hours gig — being the first visiting engineer in MICA’s Division of Graduate Studies — you begin to understand how fitting and utterly delightful the relationship is between engineer and artist.
Additional Profiles and Features
Velocity
MICA's institutional magazine featuring a collection of images and information about students, faculty, alumni and staff.
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Virtuoso Faculty: Painting Chair Tony Shore's work has always been about understanding place and the communities he’s lived in. It was no different when he spent two summers in China as part of a cultural exchange program with the Chinese National Academy of Painting. Read More
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Time Lapse, the Charmed Life of Jim Burger: Noted photographer and photojournalist for the The Baltimore Sun, Jim Burger ’82 came to MICA with the intention to become an illustrator. His life took a left-hand turn after an introductory to photography course. Read More
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Venture Advocate: Carole Ratcliffe discusses how the UP/Start Venture Competition at MICA — funded by the Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation — opens new doors for young students and alumni. Read More
Commotion
MICA’s magazine about the ideas, news and art that emerge from the college’s graduate programs.
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Designing for America: During a stint as a Code for America Fellow, Ben Peterson ’12 incorporated user-centered design techniques to create a simple texting solution for probation case managers in Salt Lake County. Called ClientComm, the tool has lowered re-arrest rates and changed how people of both sides of the criminal justice system work together. Read More
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Celebrating Dr. Karen Carroll, Dean of the Center for Art Education: Students and colleagues laud Dr. Karen Carroll — MICA’s “Art Mama” in residence — and her singular brand of mentorship as she prepares to retire. Read More
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Making Baltimore the Film City: A look at the MFA in Filmmaking program at MICA, and a larger initiative that includes the renovation of the building that housed the historic Centre Theatre and unique partnerships with both Johns Hopkins University and the Maryland Film Festival. Read More
UP/Start Venture Competition
An initiative of the Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship, this annual competition focuses on incubating and building creative business ventures within the MICA community. Finalists, who are featured on the college website and across social media platforms, compete for a share of more than $100,000 in seed money for their entrepreneurial endeavors.
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Knock the Block: Founded by Book Karnjanakit ’21 (Illustration Practice M.F.A.)
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Pharma D: founded by Kristen Karlovich ’21 (Product Design B.F.A.)
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Core Immersive Labs: Founded by Paolo Narciso ’22 (Data Analytics & Visualization M.P.S.)
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Garden Party Press: Founded by Chelsea Conrad '20 (Illustration M.A.)
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Reside Burials: Founded by Carrie Carter ’20 (Product Design B.F.A.)
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Danae: Founded by Winston Frazer ’16 (Painting B.F.A.)
Conversations
Taha Heydari
I visited the studio of Taha Heydari ’16, who was profoundly influenced by socio-political narratives during his childhood in Iran, to discuss his time in the LeRoy Hoffberger School of Painting and the differences-and similarities-he has found between Baltimore and Tehran.
Darée
Darrée ’18, a storyteller and first-generation American whose conflicting bi-cultural identities have long driven her creative voice, sat down to discuss her approach to filmmaking.
David Bogen
I had an in-depth conversation with Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs David Bogen about MICA's work with community stakeholders in and around the Station North Arts and Entertainment District.
Zlata Baum
Zlata Baum, director of MICA's MFA in Studio Art (MFAST) program, spoke with me about her influences, collaborative projects and how MFAST students "go slow to go fast."
Juxtapositions
This publication, which began as an events mailing, eventually expanded to become an institutional magazine. It was last printed in 2016, when Velocity was launched.
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Faculty Set the Example in Building Sustainable Professional Careers: For Orpheus Collar ’09, a successful graphic novelist and storyboard artist, the chance to learn from and work with Illustration Department Chair José Villarrubia ’83 set him on the road to success.
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MICA Alumni Launch Small Businesses: Featuring Betty Cooke '46, founder of THE STORE LTD, and Ethel Kessler ’71, designer of the United States Postal Service’s Breast Cancer Research Stamp.
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Pioneering Innovator in Art and Design Higher Education: a look at the career of Ray Allen, who retired as MICA's Provost in 2015.