Ridley Gallery, Sierra College
Black Lives Matter Tribute (kinetic typography), Naima Pagano
Spoken Word by Sebastian Carson
Sound design by Christopher Connor/Prodigi Arts
video
2020
"While the original video features five different poets, this kinetic typography highlights the spoken words of the artist Sebastian Carson.
The focus on the animated type is to emphasize the harsh reality of the Black experience in America as recited in the poem.
The choice of a black and white color palette is to stress the inequality that exists in this country between White and Black bodies, as expressed by Sebastian Carson.
This kinetic typography project finds its inspiration in the original video featuring five Memphis poets directed by Film Company Prodigi Arts." - Naima Pagano
Sierra College 23rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition
2021 Juror: Aida Lizalde
Juror’s Statement:
“The Ridley Gallery at Sierra College has over two decades of being a visual arts and cultural hub in Rocklin, CA. It was an honor to be invited to jury their Gallery’s 23rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition, not only because of its significance to the regional art community and its history of exhibiting high caliber international and regional artists but also because I was once a community college student who directly benefited from student exhibitions and the guidance of the faculty who run them. Juried exhibitions and college art galleries presented me with an opportunity to gain experience exhibiting artwork, to find my peers who were also striving for a life in the arts, and to gain confidence and critical thought about my work through being exposed to contemporary art.
Last year, students across the world were faced with an extreme shift in their learning environment, many lost the resources, community, and safe spaces that schools, and especially art classrooms, provide for us. I admire the creativity, commitment, and achievement of all the students who submitted artwork, and the fact that the Ridley Gallery adapted their curatorial practices to continue creating a space, albeit virtual, to welcome their student’s work.
This exhibition showcased a strong move toward new media. Much of the work challenged the categories that we are used to, including artwork that fit the traditional gallery space and a more widespread viewing experience of visual media structured through internet culture. Some works reinforced the importance of traditional media like painting, drawing, and ceramics, to interpret introspective and personal spaces in a time of isolation, struggle, and healing.
I was impressed by the quality of work, the range in media, themes, and experimentation of the submissions. Many works showed concerns for the current events that our country is facing like the pandemic, race inequality, and wellness, and they did so with care and originality. Black Live Matters Tribute (2020) is an honest and potent view on being Black with powerful spoken word poetry and graphics, Lost Connections (2020) by Michael Caspi and Science or Magic by Kevin Belcastro (2020) focus on narrative, and in the case of Belcastro, a humorous and imaginative perspective. I admired the technical skill in digital paintings from Sheryl Rivera and Christina Becher, the strong personal symbolism in Kristol Lopez’ Daughter of Buffalo Haired Woman (2019), the mystery and visual poetry of Kimberly Tagye in Train from Berlin (2019), and Michael Quinn’s Orion and Joshua (2020). These were just a few of many artworks that I viewed with enthusiasm, curiosity, and delight, but many more showcase a promising future in the field and dominance over media. The artists included in this exhibition represent the genuine diversity of backgrounds and skills that Sierra College nurtures, and the timely and highly creative interpretation of our current society’s struggle, vision, and adaptability.” - Aida Lizalde
Black Lives Matter Tribute (kinetic typography), Naima Pagano
Spoken Word by Sebastian Carson
Sound design by Christopher Connor/Prodigi Arts
video
2020
"While the original video features five different poets, this kinetic typography highlights the spoken words of the artist Sebastian Carson.
The focus on the animated type is to emphasize the harsh reality of the Black experience in America as recited in the poem.
The choice of a black and white color palette is to stress the inequality that exists in this country between White and Black bodies, as expressed by Sebastian Carson.
This kinetic typography project finds its inspiration in the original video featuring five Memphis poets directed by Film Company Prodigi Arts." - Naima Pagano
Sierra College 23rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition
2021 Juror: Aida Lizalde
Juror’s Statement:
“The Ridley Gallery at Sierra College has over two decades of being a visual arts and cultural hub in Rocklin, CA. It was an honor to be invited to jury their Gallery’s 23rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition, not only because of its significance to the regional art community and its history of exhibiting high caliber international and regional artists but also because I was once a community college student who directly benefited from student exhibitions and the guidance of the faculty who run them. Juried exhibitions and college art galleries presented me with an opportunity to gain experience exhibiting artwork, to find my peers who were also striving for a life in the arts, and to gain confidence and critical thought about my work through being exposed to contemporary art.
Last year, students across the world were faced with an extreme shift in their learning environment, many lost the resources, community, and safe spaces that schools, and especially art classrooms, provide for us. I admire the creativity, commitment, and achievement of all the students who submitted artwork, and the fact that the Ridley Gallery adapted their curatorial practices to continue creating a space, albeit virtual, to welcome their student’s work.
This exhibition showcased a strong move toward new media. Much of the work challenged the categories that we are used to, including artwork that fit the traditional gallery space and a more widespread viewing experience of visual media structured through internet culture. Some works reinforced the importance of traditional media like painting, drawing, and ceramics, to interpret introspective and personal spaces in a time of isolation, struggle, and healing.
I was impressed by the quality of work, the range in media, themes, and experimentation of the submissions. Many works showed concerns for the current events that our country is facing like the pandemic, race inequality, and wellness, and they did so with care and originality. Black Live Matters Tribute (2020) is an honest and potent view on being Black with powerful spoken word poetry and graphics, Lost Connections (2020) by Michael Caspi and Science or Magic by Kevin Belcastro (2020) focus on narrative, and in the case of Belcastro, a humorous and imaginative perspective. I admired the technical skill in digital paintings from Sheryl Rivera and Christina Becher, the strong personal symbolism in Kristol Lopez’ Daughter of Buffalo Haired Woman (2019), the mystery and visual poetry of Kimberly Tagye in Train from Berlin (2019), and Michael Quinn’s Orion and Joshua (2020). These were just a few of many artworks that I viewed with enthusiasm, curiosity, and delight, but many more showcase a promising future in the field and dominance over media. The artists included in this exhibition represent the genuine diversity of backgrounds and skills that Sierra College nurtures, and the timely and highly creative interpretation of our current society’s struggle, vision, and adaptability.” - Aida Lizalde