Oregon animation guru Will Vinton has joined The Art Institute of Portland as Artist-in-Residence. Winner of Oscar, Emmy and Clio awards, Vinton is well known his pioneering work in Claymation and stop-motion animation. The Artist-in-Residence position helps further the mission of the College to support the creative community in Portland said Steve Goldman, president of the College. It is an honor to forge this new partnership with an artist of Will Vintons stature and accomplishment. We are confident that Wills work at the college will benefit the local creative community as well as our students, staff and faculty.
As Artist-in-Residence, Vinton will work closely with staff, faculty and students on a multitude of projects. He will conduct targeted workshops with advanced students and hold open lectures on a variety of topics to the College. In addition, he will help recruit new faculty to the classroom from the professional community and mentor department directors on curricular issues and approaches to the arts. He will also help develop contacts in the employment community in the animation and film industries.
The Art Institute of Portland is becoming an important center for animation art and design, and for filmmaking in general, Vinton said. I think there are great opportunities to create deeper connections between the college and the media/design industries, Im pleased to become a part of this vibrant educational community as a complement to my personal creative endeavors. The Art Institute of Portland is a very familiar, collaborative and fun environment.
Vintons innovative style and passion for animation helped put Portland, Oregon, on the map as a destination for creative professionals. He coined and trademarked the phrase Claymation. He entertained audiences across the globe by launching the careers of the California Raisins, the Noid, DINOSAURS Herb & Rex, M&Ms Red & Yellow and THE PJS Thurgood Stubbs. In his commitment to supporting a thriving local creative community, he co-founded and chaired the Portland Creative Conference for 12 years.
Vinton continues to break new ground in computer character animation, Claymation, Stop-motion, and Flash animation. Under his new banner, Freewill Entertainment, his energies are focused on developing, directing and producing unique character animated productions for film, television and advertising. Among his current projects, Vinton is developing a primetime television series with Fox Broadcasting. Vinton and Freewill Entertainment are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and managed by Quattro Media.
We are delighted to add Vintons experience and vision to our community, Goldman said. While we strive to educate new designers and artists, and to help bring fresh talent to the Pacific Northwest, it is also our mission to give back to the community, adding to the effort of leaders in our state who champion the important cause of the arts. Mr. Vintons work has inspired many of our students and faculty, and we believe this is a partnership with great possibility.
The Art Institute of Portland (www.aipd.aii.edu/nz) offers bachelors and associates degrees in Advertising, Apparel Design, Design Management, Digital Media Production, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Interactive Media Design, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation and Visual & Game Programming.
