2007-2008

Fall 2007

Moving Cultures (…all over the map)
10/2-11/21/07

Artists include Michael Arcega, Vic De La Rosa, Kent Manske and Nanette Wylde, Eugene Rodriguez, Marta Sanchez with Norma Cantú, Christine Wong Yap.

Curated by Jan Rindfleisch with community consultants: Nancy Hom, Consuelo Underwood, Christine Wong Yap. Collaboration with the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement, Filipino American Historical Society (Santa Clara Valley Chapter), and California History Center.

Moving Cultures was an exhibition of art related to moving cultures, whether from one location to another, changing/shifting over time, or changing interpretations. Art ranged from landscapes and poetry to interventions, actions, satire, and cultural Meaning Makers. Artist Marta Sanchez and author/poet Norma Cantú exhibited a series of collaborative prints that addressed the history and beauty of Texas railroad culture. Cantú, a major force in Chicana/o studies for more than 30 years, spent a day speaking with students about the collaboration. Interdisciplinary artist Michael Arcega exhibited work from his El Conquistadork series, a humorous critique on issues of colonialism and cultural exchange, including maquettes for his 10' Manila galleon, made primarily of Manila folders. On a campus visit, Arcega used humor with language to discuss subjects such as globalization. Kent Manske and Nanette Wylde created a Meaning Maker installation with pamphlets to make sense of our changing culture(s). What began with a migration story grew to reflect today's cultural complexities and questions of communication, meaning, and values.

View ancillary materials for the Fall 2007 exhibitions.

Spring 2008

Graphic Storytelling as Activism
2/11-4/17/08

Artists include Seyed Alavi, Oliver Chin, Charisse Domingo and De-Bug, Sharon Hing, Keith Knight, Lingshan, America Meredith, Favianna Rodriguez, Shorty Fatz.

Curatorial concept: Keith Knight. Curated by Jan Rindfleisch with community consultants: Nancy Hom, Jianhua Shu.

Graphic Storytelling as Activism presented art forms including cartoons, political posters, digital art, book art, and more to explore imagery with an activist bent. It began with graphic storyteller Keith Knight who exhibited work from three series and the book Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts, which features graphic stories about artists, educators, and activists across the U.S. Cartoonist, rapper, and Hip-Hop musician Knight also spent a day giving presentations, including a multi-media show of his nationally syndicated comic strips. Favianna Rodriguez exhibited colorful silkscreens, political posters and personal art. Her art tells a history of social justice. Rodriguez gave presentations about national and international grassroots struggles, inviting students to consider how art can encourage civic dialog and participation, and to construct small artworks for the Building Together collaborative art fence project on the construction site of the new Euphrat. Charisse Domingo exhibited a photographic series on East Palo Alto and Gila River revealing a major untold story about toxic waste in Silicon Valley. This was one of a number of series Domingo has done for Silicon Valley De-Bug magazine. America Meredith's paintings featured less known historical events involving Native Americans. Her spokes-cards for bicycle wheels focus on the preservation of the Cherokee language.

View ancillary materials for the Spring 2008 exhibitions.