Looking for Art schools in the Grand Rapids MI area

[woodbert]

A student of mine is looking for schools in the Grand Rapids Michigan area. He's originally from there and wants to go back and he has a serious interest in animation. If anyone can recomend any schools in particular it would be a big help as I'm in NJ and know nothing about Michigan. Thanks

[Storyboard Dave]

The only thing I know of in the Grand Rapids area is Kendall School of Art and Design, which is now a part of Ferris State University.

http://www.kcad.edu/

There are also a bunch of other schools in the nearby area if they're interested in looking as well...http://www.aicad.org/bymap.htm

[woodbert]

Thank you.

[Gwendo]

I'm actually from the Grand Rapids area, and am studying Illustration at Grand Valley State University which is located in Allendale, MI, about 20 minutes from downtown GR. Nearly half our faculty in the art department used to teach at Kendall, and most of them have little good to say about it. As an institution, Kendall is mainly oriented on techical rendering skills without much emphasis on conceptualizing.
I am probably biased, but I love the art department and profs here at GVSU, and when I compare the portfolios of graduating students from Kendall with those from GVSU, I'm very thankful I chose to come here.

The down side for your friend? For some odd reason, GVSU's animation program is in the communications department, not art. Go figure.

[Storyboard Dave]

Gwendo, I'm not one to refute what half of the faculty there at GVSU have to say about Kendall. It might very well be true; I have no idea. But one also has to figure into the equation why they left. Was it sour grapes? Was it philosophical differences? Better pay at GVSU? There could be a myriad of reasons why they speak so poorly of the place, but generally for business practices one shouldn't bash their previous employers.

And it's also great to hear that GVSU is doing so well too (it was one of my initial choices fresh out of high school as well).