Self-Made

Self-Made

When Vivian Kerr discovered a memory book from 12th grade at her childhood home in Arden, her answer to the question “what do you want to be?” surprised her.

“It said, ‘I want to be a writer, actor, director and producer,’” Kerr says. “Those are the four things I’m doing now. That’s nuts. I feel very lucky. I’m connected to everything I ever wanted to do.”

Kerr recently released her first feature film, “SCRAP,” which she wrote, produced, directed and starred in. The project culminated years of building confidence in a notoriously unforgiving industry.

Fresh Eyes

Fresh Eyes

Peggi Kroll Roberts confirms her identity in art. She says, “The ultimate purpose of painting and drawing is finding yourself. Otherwise, you’re an artist stuck in someone else’s format.”

Kroll Roberts will never be stuck in a stranger’s format. For six decades, wanderlust and curiosity carried her near and far for jobs and experiences.

She began as a fine arts major at Arizona State University. From there, she followed her mother and studied fashion illustration at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena.

New Direction

New Direction

John Moran is the first male to lead St. Francisc High School in its 85-year history, but his goals transcend gender.

“Of course I want us to be the best all-girls Catholic school, but I also want to extrapolate that to be the best school of any type, period,” he says.

The Brooklyn native plans to achieve excellence by strengthening current offerings at St. Francis while adding new programs that attract students with different backgrounds and interests.

“I want to have something for everyone, and I want each student to have a variety of choices of opportunity to become well-rounded people,” Moran says.

Urban Dreams

Urban Dreams

Midtown is alive with creativity and wonder with Midtown Association’s newest, most ambitious initiative yet, the Urban Dreams Art Experience.

The immersive art installation features 16 remarkable large-scale sculptures and art pieces. They transform rooftops, patios and public spaces into an open-air gallery.

Running through Sept. 14, the exhibition celebrates local talent with an eye toward whimsy and surprise. The project is monumental, with artworks ranging from 6 to 20 feet in height.

Civil Minded

Civil Minded

I finally have something nice to say about the Land Park Interstate 5 bicycle bridge fiasco. The mess proves civil engineers are civilized people.

Even when faced with angry clients and legal threats and questions about their competencies, civil engineers working on the bridge never blew their cool.

At least not in public. And never in writing.