30 May 2008

CalArts MFA Exhibition Takes Over Chinatown Galleries in Los Angeles

In an unprecedented move, graduating MFA candidates from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) will hold their culminating exhibition, We Want a New Object , in some of the leading art galleries of Los Angeles' Chinatown.

CalArts' exhibition will be integrated into one of Los Angeles' most vibrant art scenes--with work shown at Acuna-Hansen Gallery, Black Dragon Society, David Salow Gallery, Fifth Floor Gallery, Kontainer , Peres Projects and Telic Arts Exchange. Beta Level and the Mountain Bar will host screenings, performances and additional surprises. Within walking distance of each other, participating galleries are located in Chinatown

For this groundbreaking exhibition, the graduates enlisted the assistance of writer, performer and faculty member Malik Gaines who recently curated Read Me! Text in Art at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, and Christine Y. Kim, Associate Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

'I do think that the CalArts graduates, in general, have greater latitude of play in their work,' said visiting faculty member Benjamin Weissman. 'It's the lush intellectual environment, minus the ghoulish pressures that other schools apply. The lovely CalArts vibe is palpable, joyous and necessary; the unprecedented Chinatown hookup is a testament to the school's multi-decade clout.' Weissman's writing will appear in the exhibition catalog.

MFA candidates participating in the show include: Ian Arenas. Allie Bogle, Michael Buitron, Mike Chang, Munkyung Chung, Louisa Conrad, Mariechen Danz, Diana-Sofia Estrada, Bart Folkerts, Lindsay Foster, Nate Garcia, Liz Glynn, Sayre Gomez, Quinn Gomez-Heitzeberg, Nicholas Grider, Betsy Hunt, Kichul Kim, Sidonie Loiseleux, Justin Long, Suzanne Mejean, Alex Olson, Stephanie Owens, Akosua Adoma Owusu, Nate Page, Daniel Pineda, Nikki Pressley, Chris Revelle, Guan Rong, Alejandro Sanchez, Megan Sant, Astri Swendsrud, Kara Tanaka, Miller Updegraff, Carlin Wing, and Aaron Wrinkle. The exhibiting artists represent the programs that comprise CalArts School of Art--Art, Photography, and Integrated Media.