CCA News
Meet a First Year: Kellie Arceneaux
Posted on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, by Marion Anthonisen
This is the first in a short series of Q&A sessions with students in CCA's First Year Program, or "first years." The sequence is aimed at familiarizing prospective CCA students with our Bay Area art-making community. Maybe you’ll imagine yourself here!
Check back for another interview next week, or (better yet!) subscribe to the RSS feed at the link below and never miss an update. As always, feel free to contact me at manthonisen@cca.edu with any questions about our admissions and enrollment processes.
Planning to enter the Individualized Major after her first year, Kellie Arceneaux will be incorporating elements of Sculpture, Illustration, and Film into her creative practice here at CCA. Read below for her opinions on dorm life, the First Year Program, and the push-and-pull of the art college classroom experience.
Thanks for the interview, Kellie!
Where did you live before coming to CCA?
I grew up in multiple places—I don’t really have a hometown. I went from Florida to Santa Rosa, CA, to Holland, back to Santa Rosa, to Portland, OR, and now I'm here! It’s been interesting.
How did you choose CCA?
I chose CCA because I was really drawn to its diversity in majors and opportunities. I thought the facilities were incredible. I was also really drawn to the Individualized Program because no other school offered anything like it. I also really appreciated the fact that you didn’t have to immediately declare a major, because I didn’t exactly know what I would want to do as soon as I started college.
Do you live in the residence halls?
I live in the Avenue Apartments with four other girls. I think it’s definitely a vital experience for kids straight out of high school. It teaches you a lot about yourself and how you interact with other people independent from your family. It’s also a crazy bonding experience. I’ve made really great connections with so many people I normally wouldn’t have from living in the dorms. It’s almost like you form a little family. I’ve had so much fun living here.
Do you cook? Cheap eats for students around campus?
Honestly, I can make potatoes, beans, and rice—it’s the college diet. I really like Sabuy Sabuy, a Thai place literally right behind the apartments. You get a nice amount of food for your buck.
How have you liked the First Year Program?
The First Year Program is really supportive of exploration and experimentation with different medias that you wouldn’t normally incorporate in your art. I’ve learned a lot of different skills that have changed the quality and aesthetic of my artwork. Since you don’t have to choose a major your first year, you get to really explore what direction you want your art to go.
What has it been like to adjust to an art school environment?
Pretty easy. I never was able to adjust to schools before I came here. I think it’s a good sign.
What do you like best about the CCA community?
I love how small it is. You pretty much know or can recognize everyone on campus after being here a few months. It’s a tight-knit community where everyone is really supportive and helpful.
What’s an interesting project you’ve made this year?
In my 2D course with Sydney Cohen, I made a portrait of Alice, from Jan Svankmajer’s film Alice, out of cut-up embroidery floss. It was a little insane.
Music you've been listening to lately?
Recently I discovered Little Dragon, Empire of the Sun, and Pogo. They’re pretty awesome. Also, the local music scene is pretty great around here.
What role do your CCA friends and classmates play in your artistic development?
At CCA, it’s really your friends and classmates who help push and inspire you. It’s a giant mess of different backgrounds and cultures, so you get a lot of different viewpoints from people. Everyone is so supportive that it really helps inspire you to make some awesome pieces.