Cool People

Still from Woman Without a Past by animator, Lisa Barcy.

One of the animation professionals I met at the Aero yesterday was Lisa Barcy. She was sitting with LAFCA/American Cinematheque film critique/presenter for the screening, Ray Greene, and animation historian, Charles Solomon, right behind Himself and meself.

She was very warm and kind and not at all snooty, like an award winning animator, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the department of Film, Video and New Media (FVNM) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, might have a right to be. She carries on the Starewitch tradition of traditional stop-motion through her own short films and through sparking the love of the art in her students*. My favorite of her clips I've seen so far is Woman Without a Past where she's employed cut paper and book leaves to tell the start of an intriguing tale.

There's something exciting about knowing there are young women artists out there loving the medium, making their art, and especially in Lisa's case, teaching others the love of it.

Very cool.

*From one of her animation class students: "Lisa is really great. she has interesting, varying projects, shows a lot of cool animation videos, shows some of her own stuff (but not flaunting). she is passionate about animation and it really shows. she is patient, kind and intelligent. i think she is one of the best teachers saic has. it is a time consuming class..lots of drawings & FUN!" and "Lisa is helpful, intelligent, and knows what she's doing. Her classes are a lot of work, but you will come out with a portfolio to be proud of. She is also willing to work with individual students whatever their ideas or situations. She is also not afraid to be honest about your work, which you will appreciate in the long run (really)."