Office of the President

Refreshed Perspectives

January 20, 2023

It's my pleasure to welcome you back to campus for another exciting semester of learning and creativity at CIA. Over winter break, I hope you took advantage of opportunities to connect with loved ones, disconnect from distractions and recharge for the second half of our academic year.

While we all were away, my family and I visited two of my former hometowns, Pittsburgh and Chicago. (Pictured here are my sons, August and Curtis, posing with me in front of Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor in Chicago.) Seeing these cities with fresh eyes, I was inspired by them all over again—from Chicago's architectural wonders to Pittsburgh's rolling, enveloping topography.

 

Both cities contribute to the canvas of my life, and like with any work on canvas—or Cintiq or potter's wheel—I encourage you to step back this semester to appreciate and apply your perspective to your creative process.

 

Spring semester is always an exciting time at CIA. Art and design projects that you've worked hard on throughout the year come into full view, and the creative career aspirations of graduating seniors start to be realized. The energy that surrounds all of this is inspiring—and contagious.

 

In fact, I'm already looking forward to our cherished annual events—the Student Independent Exhibition, Spring Show (including the Runway Show), Creativity Works projects and the BFA Celebration + Exhibition—as well as this spring's marquee Reinberger Gallery exhibition: Risk + Discovery: Glass Innovation at CIA, a retrospective of our celebrated Glass program.

 

In short, there's so much to be a part of at CIA in the coming months. I'm grateful we'll experience it all together.

 

Kathryn J. Heidemann
President + CEO