Faculty Q & A with Garrick Imatani

August 06, 2009

Garrick Imatani, Assistant Professor of Art

Education
M.F.A. 2000 Columbia University; B.A. 1996 University of California, Santa Barbara

Research and Teaching Interests
Sculpture fundamentals and special topics, graphic design, new media

What most excites you about joining the LC community?
While I have attended and taught at large research-driven institutions in the past, I come to Lewis & Clark from an even smaller liberal arts college so I’m impressed by both the academic diversity on campus and the significant scholarship of faculty that seems on par with equally strong teaching skills. I’m also excited to work with a student body that I perceive as being not only committed to my particular discipline, but simply balanced and large enough within my new department to form a critical mass that enables students to inspire and push one another as much as any faculty member. Lastly, as my own teaching and artwork is informed by interdisciplinary and ‘public-based’ practices, the importance of the school’s proximity to downtown Portland and other nearby institutions and resources cannot be understated.

What kinds of hobbies/special activies do you enjoy outside of work?
A lot of my down time is saved up for my two little boys so I’ve been having fun discovering the Portland park and museum circuit with them. However, being back on the west coast after 12 years, I’m also looking forward to getting back into surfing. The coast is still far enough away that I may need to find a fellow staff or faculty member who wants to carpool otherwise I think I will be more apt to make use of the running and cycling trails that I’ve heard so much about. Portland also has some fantastic venues for live music and I’ve already seen a couple of great shows here.

What were your childhood goals/aspirations?
I don’t remember fixating on any specific career choice or goal as a very young child, but at one point as an early teenager I distinctly remember wanting to become an FBI agent.

What are you listening to in your car right now?
Pit Er Pat. I love music but I’m horrible at describing it. According to Wikipedia, they are ‘a female fronted indie/Nu Jazz group from Chicago that has an atmospheric sound and ambiance similar to other instrumental avant-garde groups in the indie genre.’ For whatever its worth, they don’t sound that sophisticated or pretentious.

What was your favorite childhood story?
Goodnight Moon.