Catherine Opie, a renowned photographer, and Daniel Neuman, professor of ethnomusicology, were recently named to the Art Career Project’s list of “15 Noteworthy Art Professors in Los Angeles.”
Opie, who is professor in the UCLA Department of Art, is well-known for photography with social/political commentary and for capturing the concept of community in many diverse forms. Among her recent works is a series of photographs — called the Portrait of Los Angeles Project — that will introduce millions of travelers passing through LAX to the city and its mayor, Eric Garcetti.
“Opie has both the real-world experience and academic know-how to make an excellent professor ...,” said the citation on the Art Career Project's website.
Neuman, who is also associate dean of the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture and interim director of the Herb Alpert School of Music, specializes in the music of India, in particular the Hindustani and Rajasthan regional traditions. He is also an expert on social organization of musical specialists; anthropology of music; multimedia applications in ethnomusicology; and geographical approaches to the study of music traditions. Neuman's listing notes “his knowledge and passion of the subjects and also for being helpful and approachable in class.”
The Art Career Project is a national organization dedicated to helping educate aspiring artists, writers and designers about what they need to know to preare for a career in art. The organization recently decided to branch out from its focus on practicing professionals and highlight the work of those who teach art at the college level.
“In many cases, these people are the behind-the-scenes contributors who not only influence the art world through their own work but also by helping groom the next generation of young artists,” the organization wrote on its website. The list of L.A.-area art professors was the first in a series of lists that will cover the rest of the country.
