SANTA MONICA COLLEGE ART MENTOR PROGRAM MAGAZINE

I n t ro d uct i o n

Art Mentor Program

Lichen to immensitiesby Gary Frederick Brown

Spring 2009

Content

About

Faculty

events / exhibitions

student art works

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34

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ART MENTOR PROGRAM MAGAZINE spring 2010

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Currently helmed by Professors

Ronn Davis and Ichiro Irie, the Art Mentor

Program serves as a unique learning

experience for a select group of students

in the Santa Monica College Art Department.

Students have the opportunity to work

intensively with faculty members, visiting

artists and fellow students toward the

development of individual bodies of work.

The program consists of frequent visits to

galleries, museums and artist studios, in

addition to focused discussions and critiques.

Through conversation and interaction,

students are challenged to explore their

own work and those of others, and to solve

problems in relevant and innovative ways.

About

Students are also exposed to different

aspects of becoming an artist including

the preparation of individual portfolios,

collaborative work in small groups, and

gallery level preparation and installation

practices. Students are also introduced to the

art world and the dynamics of working with

galleries, museums, curators and collectors.

One of the main objectives of the Mentor

Program is to serve as a stepping stone; to

help students become better prepared and

more competitive at the university level, and to

provide the intellectual tools and awareness to

present themselves as professional artists in

the local and international visual art

communities.

Art Mentor Program Class

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L.A. based artist Ronn Davis received his

B.F.A. from Cal State Long Beach and his

M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University.

Professor Davis has been teaching for over 30

years at the college level, and currently resides

as Chair in the Art Department at Santa

Monica College. He has exhibited his work in

group shows including Santa Monica Museum

of Art, Museum of African American Art, and

recently had a solo show at LA Contemporary

gallery. He is also a founding member of the

artist collective Zip Zap.

Ronn Davis

Ronn Davis, Show Bizz

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faculty

Born in Tokyo and raised in Los Angeles,

Ichiro Irie received his B.A. from University of

California, Santa Barbara and his M.F.A. from

Claremont Graduate University. In 2001, Irie

went to Mexico City on a Fulbright fellowship,

and has maintained an active relationship with

the visual art community in Mexico. Irie has

exhibited his work internationally in galleries

and museums such as Bank Gallery in Los

Angeles, CSW Museum in Warsaw, and Museo

Carrillo Gil in Mexico City. In 2009 he has had

solo shows at Casa del Tunel: Art Center in

Tijauna, CAM Contemporaneo in Guadalajara,

and Yautepec Gallery in Mexico City. More

recently he has been featured in group

exhibitions at Museo del Chopo in Mexico City,

and Torrance Art Museum in Torrance, CA. As

a curator he has organized over 30 exhibitions

at venues such as Raid Projects in Los

Angeles, Art & Idea and MUCA Roma in

Mexico City, and Kyubidou Gallery in Tokyo.

Irie currently lives and works in Los Angeles,

teaches at Santa Monica College and Oxnard

College, and is an artist in residence at the

18th Street Arts Center.

Ichiro Irie

Ichiro Irie, Untitled

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Events / exhibitions

“Seminal Transmissions”curated by Ed Schad

Oxnard College McNish Gallery

“Intimate Oddities”curated by Ronald Lopez

18th Street Arts Center

“117 - AMP Juried Exhibition”curated by Pilar Tompkins

Pete & Susan Barrett Gallery

Santa Monica Airport Artwalk

The 4th Annual Pico Art Walk: Virginia Park

F E B RUA RY

M a rc h

j u n e

o cto b e r

117 Amp Juried Exhibition,Pete & Susan Barrett Gallery

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Studentart works

Rosalie MillerUntitled2010

Photograph on transparency film

Although in its early stages, my new work is

a direct indication of my thoughts about forms

of self-exposure, reproductive rights and

health for women, including conventions of

beauty and body image.

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Francisco CabasThe Closed Heartm

2010

Oil on Canvas

In a process that is so much like dancing,

I articulate technique, spirit, texture, color,

and emotion into powerful composition

fecundated by multiple layers of personal and

public meaning. The nature of my work is

inherent in the dichotomy between the

personal and the political, male and female,

devastation and healing.

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Gary Frederick BrownLichen to Immensities2010

Oil on canvas

I embrace the fortunate accident. Much of my

work is about collaboration with the universe.

Studentart works

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Anna KondoMother Ocean -Detail2009

Sumi on moon paper

“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination. “

- John Lennon

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Elizabeth Mary WeberFuture Regret2010

Soluble oil paints, zero voc house paint

The ritual of the dinner party and the role of the

hostess fascinate me. The female hostess is

a role that entails a myriad of prescribed,

gracious duties. In my paintings, the hostess is

portrayed nostalgically in scenes reminiscent

of the 1950s, though the duties of the hostess

are just as relevant in present day culture.

Studentart works

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Claudia HirschRebirth2010

Digital print

Rebirth is part of a series of discovering

an inner dialogue with response to getting

back a lost persona. The pieces begin with

something that was lost a long time ago. It is

the process of rebuilding.

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Studentart works

Jose Guadalupe Sanchez IIII am flawed. I am perfect. I am human. 2010

Oil on wood

My art work is about bringing social and political

awareness to myself and the viewer.

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Kathleen MelianIn the Garden (Dog Burial)2010

Oil on Canvas

My current work is an observation of how

children navigate through life with pure

intentions and truth. I imagine their existence

in a world without adult influence or interference.

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ART MENTOR PROGRAM MAGAZINE spring 2010