An alumna's documentary about a blind man whose ingenious use of technology has enabled him to sail, shop and ride a bicycle will be featured on NBC's Today" show on Oct. 6.

Music Professor Dee Spencer appeared on the KQED-FM program "Forum" on Oct. 2 for an in-depth discussion of the history of jazz piano.

Irene Andersen, a longtime staff member in the Art Department and an alumna, is a noted practitioner and historian in Asian American art. Her photographs of Asian American artists appear in several new books and two exhibitions.

Check out the September 2008 edition of the Creative Arts E-Lert, the official e-mail newsletter of the SF State College of Creative Arts. This issue highlights upcoming events including the Morrison Artists Series concert with Quartet New Generation, the Theatre Arts main-stage production of "Machinal" directed by alumnus Mark Jackson, and the annual Opera Gala. The issue also includes news on Design and Industry Professor Martin Linder's teaching award, eight new faculty members and an international competition for emerging professional string quartets.

Seven assistant professors joined the College of Creative Arts this fall, with wide-ranging expertise in painting, dance, gaming, screenwriting and graphic design.

Art Department

Karl Cohen, a lecturer in Cinema, was awarded the 30th Annual ASIFA Prize from the Association Internationale du Film d' Animation at the Ottawa 08 International Animation Festival held Sept. 17-21.

The late Art Professor John Gutmann founded the creative photography program at SF State as the first curriculum in the U.S. to teach photography as fine art, in 1946 — the same year Ansel Adams and Minor White established one of the nation's first fine art photography departments, at the San Francisco Art Institute.

It was a true "Midsummer Night's Dream" in July for the five students from the Theatre Arts Department who took part in the British American Drama Academy.

Students Celine Massuger, Kenny Toll, Will Hand, Dara Yazdani and Deanna Weiss attended the program after auditioning for SF State faculty member Jo Tomalin, who teaches acting and is originally from England. Several SF State students attend each summer.

Filmmaker Elan Frank, an alumnus of the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department

Alumna Annette Bening, a three-time Oscar nominee, is in the ensemble cast of "The Women," now playing in movie theatres nationwide.