Camarillo, Calif., Sept. 25, 2014 – Students from CSU Channel Islands (CI) will showcase artwork from their summer course in Paris in a free, public exhibition at the CI Palm Gallery in Camarillo. Running from Monday, Oct. 6, through Thursday, Oct. 23, “That One Time in Paris" displays drawings, paintings, sculpture, and video work created and inspired by the trip. At a reception on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., students will be on hand to answer questions about their artwork, travel and learning experiences.
The exhibition is the culmination of an UNIV 392 international experience course, Art in Paris, taught by Art Professor Liz King. During the three-week course, 16 students visited the many outstanding museums of Paris, including the Louvre, Musée D’Orsay, Grand Palais, L’Orangerie, Georges Pompidou and Rodin museum, as well as historic sites like the Palace at Versailles and Monet’s home and gardens at Giverny. While in Paris, students created their artworks in the Left Bank ateliers (art studios) of the The Paris American Academy, as well as in the museums, gardens, and streets of Paris.
"This priceless experience has changed me and the way I will create art, forever,” said senior art major Sebastian Torres. “Being able to see firsthand the many artworks we learned about in our art and art history classes gave me a deeper appreciation of art in general. I enjoyed standing in front of a painting, and counting the brushstrokes, determining which layer came first by looking at which color overlapped the other. As I tried to dissect the artwork, I imagined I was experiencing how the painter felt while painting it. Seeing such artistic talent and amazing artwork has influenced me greatly and caused me to become curious about how far I can take my own art.”
Funded in part by CI's Instructionally Related Activities, the trip brought together a diverse group of students majoring in Art, English, and Sociology.
“Providing students with the opportunity to travel internationally and experience other cultures changes their lives." said King, “Many of them have never traveled far from their homes and communities. They return with a new world view and endless inspiration that will influence their future endeavors."
The participating artists are Maryflor Alegria, Ryan Alexander, Justine Avila, Melissa Baran, Meaghan-Thalia Bermudes, John Duff, Cailey Elliott, Gabriela Garcia-Alvarez, Donna Gustafson, Liz King, Evan Murray, Brandon Newcomer, Alayna Petretto, Riley Polek-Davis, Walter Rodriguez, Rylann Smith, and Sebastian Torres.
The CI Palm Gallery is located at 92 Palm Avenue, Camarillo, inside the Camarillo Smiles Dental building. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. The gallery is closed Saturday and Sunday. For further information, visit the Art Program, call 805-437-2772, or email art@csuci.edu.
# # #
About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.