Upcoming shows Fall 2019

I will be showing 2 pieces from my new ink on panel portrait series that examine the current social and political environment and put contemporary elements in context with historical events. I use the text from government documents or declarations from the past and use those words as my mark to make portraits of people standing strong in the face of government oppression.

The show will run Aug 22-Nov 21. 2019, in The W. Keith & Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery on the Cal Poly Pomona campus

Opening is Saturday September 7th, 2019 from 2-5 pm

“Grandfather” 60×37

This is a portrait is of my grandfather depicted as he was waiting to board a bus to the Internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II. The photograph I referenced for the portrait was taken by Dorothea Lange as she and Ansel Adams were commissioned to document the internment of Japanese Americans.  This portrait and how it relates to what is happening now was the starting point for this series. There is a common connection that is at once deeply personal and at the same time universal that I hope will inspire dialog and further research on the viewers behalf.

“Manzanar” 36×48

Using one of Toyo Miyatake’s iconic photographs from Manzanar as a reference I utilize words as my mark to reinterpret his image to show strength in the face of oppression. The words are Executive Order 9066 which authorized the imprisonment of West coast Japanese Americans and Executive Order 9102 which established the War Relocation Authority who oversaw the internment.

Bluerider Art