Atlanta+College+of+Art+marks+its+centennial

The **Atlanta** Journal-Constitution

February 10, 2005 Thursday Home Edition

When Mississippi native Katherine Taylor was looking for a prominent **arts** school to attend, she headed for the **Atlanta College of Art.** She graduated in 1990. Today, the Grant Park artist is an adjunct faculty member who teaches painting and drawing at the **college.** "I know ACA intimately from both ends, and it really is a very small school. The professors know all the students, and they follow them through their whole four years," Taylor said. "In that sense, not much has changed. And even though they've added things like animation, this is a school that's still interested in **art** making. That's what makes it such an intriguing place: It's an **art** school run by artists." For the past century, the institution has made a point of keeping its focus on artists, first as the **Atlanta Art** Association, founded by a few forward-thinking **Atlanta** women in 1905, and then as the ACA. In 1946 it began awarding bachelor of fine **arts** degrees. In 1965 it became a founding division of the **Atlanta Arts** Alliance, now the Woodruff **Arts** Center. It is the only **college** in the country that shares a campus with a museum (the High Museum of **Art)**, a theater (the Alliance Theatre Company) and a symphony (the **Atlanta** Symphony Orchestra). And it's the state's only fully accredited **college of art** and design. The gaily attired guests expected to crowd the ballroom of the Hilton **Atlanta** next week won't just be celebrating good times and the **arts.** This year's Beaux **Arts** Ball, ACA's annual fund-raiser, will celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the city's leading **art** institutions. ACA's student body has mushroomed from a small group to more than 350 who are pursuing four-year degrees. And they're not just wearing paint-splashed smocks. "Today, it's paintbrushes and easels with computer-generated work dropped in," said ACA President Ellen Meyer. "About half our students major in the fine **arts** and the other half in design --- graphics, advertising, illustrations, computer animation, multimedia and video." Technology's imprint The arrival of technology in the **art** world is one of the major changes Meyer has managed since taking over in 1992. "There's no question that technology affected our curriculum," she said. "Everything we do is now interdisciplinary. It's a constant balance of high-tech and high-touch, intellectual and intuitive. But there's still nothing like touching paint --- that's an important component that's very specific to the ACA." Meyer's tenure has included the opening of a spacious library and an artist-style loft dormitory with two-bedroom, totally wired apartments for 150 students. She's also overseen the creation of a new 17,500-square-foot bronze casting facility where work that once took days can be completed in a few hours. "I watched that sculpture building go up," said Audrey Ward, a Grady High School graduate who is studying papermaking and printmaking. "For me, in the four years I've been here, that was the one thing that got me really involved. It is a great space. I also like the size of the school. It's allowed me to have more one-on-one communication with my teachers and the other students. Everybody knows everybody, and that's definitely a plus." Larry Anderson, who heads the drawing department, has been with the ACA since 1982 and remembers well the days when the entire school occupied one floor. "We've certainly grown, with a new library and new facilities that have made us a lot more sophisticated," he said. "But the biggest change is the computer. When I started teaching, there were none. Now, with the advent of the computer as an artistic tool, we teach all foundational stuff as well as things like Web site design and graphic design. It's brought us to a new level of sophistication." Alumni retain ties Annette Cone-Skelton, a Midtown resident who founded the Museum of Contemporary **Art** of Georgia three years ago, is a 1968 ACA grad. "We have lots of interns from around the metro area, but especially from ACA, because they're right up the street," she said. "We've also shown many students who just graduated in our emerging artists exhibits. And I'm also interested in helping establish a stronger alumni group." Many of the **college's** alums will be on hand Feb. 19 for the 28th annual Beaux **Arts** Ball. The event is an ACA tradition that dates to the 1940s, when students staged a costume ball. It was resurrected in the late 1970s as a fund-raising dinner and dance that draws more than 600 guests. Tickets are $250 per person and can be purchased by calling 404-733-5060. Other events marking the anniversary are planned throughout the year. See the **college** Web site, www.aca.edu.
 * SECTION:** City Life Midtown; Pg. 1JN;
 * LENGTH:** 784 words
 * HEADLINE:** **Atlanta College of Art** marks its centennial
 * BYLINE:** H.M. CAULEY
 * BODY:**
 * GRAPHIC:** Professor Tom Francis (right) launches a session of his painting class at the **Atlanta College of Art,** the state's only fully accredited **college of art** and design. It was founded in 1905, as the **Atlanta Art** Association, by a group of **Atlanta** women. / LOUIE FAVORITE / Staff; Carlton Poole works on a project in a bookmaking class at the **Atlanta College of Art.** The 100-year-old school has more than 350 students who are pursuing four-year degrees. / LOUIE FAVORITE / Staff
 * LOAD-DATE:** February 10, 2005