In 2002 I attended CCA’s undergraduate program to be a part of a community in addition to developing as an artist. After my first semester I felt the need to counter academia’s dependence on medium and style-specific orthodoxy, and the emphasis put on individual over group effort. I found two other artists interested in collaborative art practices, Mike Shankman and Yes Duffy, and the three of us created a community where artists could live, have studio space, and collaborate. It was later named Million Fishes by the 16 resident artists, and since then has hosted innovative gallery exhibitions, happenings, readings, classes, and workshops open to the community.