The third edition of Campus Creatives opened March 25 at CCAE

The third edition of Campus Creatives now up at CCAE.

The California Center for the Arts Museum in Escondido opened its doors to the public on Friday, March 25, after two years of being closed due to the pandemic. Celebrating the third edition of the biennial juried exhibition Campus Creatives: Featuring San Diego’s Fine Arts Faculty, both exhibiting artists and art patrons alike were finally able to gather unlike the second edition which was mounted in 2020 but postponed to 2021 (and eventually closed with only one day open to the artists). It was fantastic to see the community come out to support the artists and to have so many of my colleagues there to honor each other’s work outside of the classroom.

I had the great fortune of having images from two bodies of work featured in this show: The distance between us (brought me back to you) and Take me with you. I must say, the work looks fantastic and even better installed in a space.

Curator Beth Marino along with Kaila Martinez and community members during the opening reception.

My pieces on display would not have been possible without the support of Craig Hill at Southwestern College, Erik Schumacher of Swift Frame, Michael Coelho of Giant Photo Service, and of course Beth Marino, Kaila Martinez, and the team at CCAE. Thank you!

Working with Erik to select mat and framing choices at Swift Frame in Mira Mesa.

Catching up...'Shape' at KromArt Gallery, Rome, Italy

I’m remiss for not updating my website blog earlier and highlighting PH21 Gallery mounting the exhibition Shape at KromArt Gallery/Centro Sperimentale di Fotografia Adams in Rome, Italy, which ran October 15-24, 2021. One of my mandalas was included in the show — Red Rock (No. 3). As always, my gratitude to Zsolt Batori and the team at PH21 Gallery for their support and hard work in organizing the show.

Exhibition text for Shape at KromArt Gallery in Rome. Image Credit: PH21 Gallery / Facebook

Exhibition reception with artists and guests in attendance. Image Credit: PH21 Gallery / Facebook

'The Distance Between Us' make their debut in Barcelona and Wichita

Two selections from a new series called The distance between us (brought me back to you) are included in two shows that opened in August. The Art of Photography — mounted at Valid World Hall Gallery in Barcelona, Spain, and organized by PH21 Gallery — recently closed on August 29. Out There — Into the Wide Open is still on view at the Midwest Center for Photography until September 10. Many thanks to Zsolt Batori and Linda Robinson and their respective teams at each of the galleries for their support.

Installation view at Valid World Hall Gallery. Image Credit: PH21 Gallery / Facebook

The distance between us (brought me back to you) (No. 3), 2021

The show that was/not was - Campus Creatives at the California Center for the Arts

Pandemic be damned!

What was supposed to have opened in the Spring of 2020, was postponed, virtually cancelled, then resurrected for the Winter of 2021 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido — the 2020 incarnation of the regional biennial Campus Creatives comes to a close. Due to public health restrictions, the exhibition that was could not be open to the general public the entire time it was installed. Beth Marino, Associate Director of Museum and Visual Arts at CCA, generously opened up the space for the participating artists and one guest each to see the show on the closing date, Sunday, March 7.

And damn…it was a beautiful show.

I was happy to see And then he kissed me… hung and at least a few people got to see the images. Perhaps another opportunity for them to be shown again and in other venues will come my way. As always, I’m grateful to Beth and the team at the Museum at the CCA for their hard work and support.

And then he kissed me… (2019)

Exhibition view of the piece at the Museum at the California Center for the Arts - Escondido.

New work in 'Significant Colour' at PH21 Gallery

I close out 2020 with a new work included in the current show at PH21 Gallery called Significant Colour. Technically a working ‘sketch,’ The Brown, skinned (Rejoice, for when You inflict pain, pleasure is the prize) (Study No. 2) was made in reaction to the Trump administration’s cruelty towards people of color and other marginalized communities. Other versions of this study (and similar images) are circulating around. Also included in Significant Colour is Take Me With You (Green No. 2). This show closes December 12. Thanks, as always, to Zsolt Batori, Anita Spingar-Westerlund, and the team at PH21 Gallery.

The Brown, skinned (Rejoice, for when You inflict pain, pleasure is the prize) (Study No. 2), 2020

Installing work at PH21 Gallery according to color. (Image Credit: PH21 Gallery / Facebook)

Show installation process. (Image Credit: PH21 Gallery / Facebook)

'Drive In' at Mesa College

Two pieces have been included in Drive In: A Drive-Thru Art Exhibition at San Diego Mesa College, which opened on November 13. Given the crazy times we find ourselves in, it’s so wonderful to physically engage with art in person with so many art museums and performing arts venues closed due to mandated (very necessary) public health-restrictions. The Museum Studies program headed by Alessandra Moctezuma devised this novel solution of installing work in the campus parking lot and I’m fortunate to have two images included from the Take Me With You lowrider series. Much gratitude to the Alessandra, Jenny Armer, and the Museum Studies class for curating, organizing, and installing this show.

‘Home As Situation’ opens online at Bolivar Art Gallery

I’m excited that Home As Situation has gone live online at the Bolivar Art Gallery, University of Kentucky - Lexington. A huge thank you to Rebecca Alley and Rae Goodwin along with the team at the gallery for all of their hard work and support to make this happen. This was supposed to be a physical show, but because of the pandemic and the need to turn the gallery into a socially-distanced classroom facility, the decision was made to go fully online. Regardless, it’s a fantastic show with interesting work in dialogue with each other and I’m pleased and honored to be a part of it.

‘Urban’ at Valid World Hall closes

The show Urban, organized by PH21 Gallery, as closed at Valid World Hall Gallery in Barcelona, Spain. I wish I could have gone, though given the pandemic and the banning of Americans pretty much all over the world, even my lack of resources was the least of such obstacles preventing me from going. In any case, I’m pleased and humbled that my images of California — the Bay Area, Hollywood, San Diego, and the U.S.-Mexico border at San Ysidro — found their way to Europe and onto the walls of a wonderful show space. As ever, thank you to Zsolt and the PH21 Team as well as those at Valid World Hall Gallery for this opportunity to show.

Hollywood / Berkeley from Wandering (Topographies).

Opening reception at Valid World Hall Gallery. Image Credit: PH21 Gallery / Facebook