This Broadcast is brief, but oh-so-sweet. Maira Kalman, children's book author, illustrator, product designer, librettist, and critical mass of inspiration, innovation, and imagination, teaches a class at the School of Visual Arts MFA Designer as Author program, where each year she conceives new ways of telling stories. This year, for her "suitcase project," students are invited to create three-dimensional, autobiographical visual narratives. Steven Heller, co-chair of the MFA program, caught up with Maira during the formative stages of the project.

After a rundown of some of the suitcases (one emits light and sound; another telescopes out to tables and chairs), the conversation moves to the take-away. "And what are YOU getting out of it?" Steven poses. Maira responds, "A headache."

Perfect charm.

Oh: Special thanks to Randy Hunt for co-production on this Broadcast; Photo: Rebecca Pollock.

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