The Chancellor's Gallery

CSU SUMMER ARTS 2020

Visual art students came to CSU Fresno in the summer of 2019 for an intensive and exhausting course as part of California State University Summer Arts program. Over the two weeks they were in attendance, students were taught by world class artists who were selected by CSU faculty who coordinate each course. Students attended lectures and demonstrations by the artists and put in many hours of painting and drawing in the studio. Students put in 10 to 18 hours per day and created many works of art over this period.

At the end of the two-week session the artists and coordinator select student works which are exhibited in the Fresno State Gallery. Of these pieces the artists and coordinator select a few works to become the Chancellor’s Gallery. These pieces hang in the CSU headquarters for the entire year.

This year Summer Arts is proud to present sixteen works which were created by students from throughout the CSU and the world.

Gerhard Richter says, “Art is the highest form of hope,” a notion that rings true in this selection of works. By illuminating their inner lives on canvases and film, these students lend us a rich glimpse into other worlds. We cherish this opportunity to explore and learn through the arts.

STEPHANIE RYAN | Fresno State

AllA-PRIMA OIL PAINTING

The practice of alla-prima is an Italian term meaning ‘wet on wet’. This painting technique allows the artist a means to capture subjects from life and in a brief moment in time. So rather than a more controlled studio technique of building successive layers of paint, the artist builds quickly, paint on top of paint or ‘thick over thin’. In this way the paintings have a distinct freshness and immediacy and moreover reflect how the human eye sees the world; in moments rather than in minute detail.

The paintings you see here are the culmination of extensive life painting practice which students experienced in class. In these larger paintings, they chose to paint from life subjects or from a photograph. But in each they are relating our class practice of painting boldly with gesture and then refining as the artist chooses their focus in the composition. Can you tell which painting is from life and which from a photograph?

The class was pushed to use more color and less muddled over-blending. To put the paint in front of them on the canvas before making another move, and to put into practice a more cohesive approach to building form. The opportunity of Summer Arts to immerse themselves in this process was invaluable and was such a joy to see each student truly advance their practice.

Adam Longatti, Professor of Art, Fresno State

BRIAN BOROSKI | CSU SUMMER ARTS

ATTIKA CHANTHAVONG | Fresno State

PAWAN POUNGJINDA | Cal State Long Beach

DANIEL THOMS | CSU Summer Arts

YING LIU | Office of the Chancellor

IXCHEL HERNANDES SANTIAGO | CSUN

SHIRIN RAWLS | Fresno State

JESSICA SHUBIN | CSU Summer Arts

Drawing Outside the Box: Hybridity in Contemporary Drawing

During an immersive two weeks, our students created work that expanded beyond the humble sketchbook and graphite pencil to assert the primacy of drawing as a creative practice. Under the tutelage of master artists Josh Dorman, Kyle Johnson, Fran Siegel and Marsha Steinberg they embraced experimentation, integrating traditional drawing practices with non-traditional materials and approaches.

Moving beyond the rectangle, exploding in scale, flowing onto or off the wall and ceiling, the students’ work pushed the boundaries of drawing. They found innovative ways to visually communicate via abstraction, figuration or a combo of the two what is important in a technological age while reinforcing a lineage that goes back to the caves. Their work is visible proof that drawing remains immediate, flexible and fresh.

Siobhan McClure, Professor of Art, Cal State Long Beach

MARTIN TOWNSEND | Chico State

CRISTIAN ERDAS | Accademia di Belle Arti

CIERA LAND | Fresno State

RILEY NATIVIDAD | Cal State Long Beach

ELENA SHAPOSHNIKOVA | Accademia di Belle Arti

PRISCILLA FLORES | Cal State Long Beach

SHARA MERCADO POOLE | CSU Summer Arts

Each year, the California State University welcomes a rotating collection of outstanding, unique and thought-provoking pieces of visual art created by the students of the CSU Summer Arts program. This program immerses students in study with world-renowned guest artists and CSU faculty.

The 2019-2020 Chancellor’s Gallery features selected student works created during two CSU Summer Arts courses held in July 2019 at CSU, Fresno. This exhibition will welcome employees and visitors alike to the Office of the Chancellor. It is a great honor to feature such outstanding examples of our students’ creative expression and visual storytelling.

This year’s collection, highlighted in this booklet, represents myriad perspectives and experiences, taken together they exemplify the CSU story and the ways they enrich our six-decade-old academic mission and commitment to the public good.

Indeed, these student pieces stand as testament of the dedication of current and future generations of Californians to tell their collective story and promote equity and understanding.

Sincerely,

Timothy P. White, Chancellor signature

Timothy P. White, Chancellor