An opening reception for the free exhibit will be held at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20, in the gallery, which is located in Soiland Humanities
Center on Memorial Parkway on the Thousand Oaks campus. The gallery is open
to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“The Principle” features works by Michael Pearce that were inspired by
the natural philosophy of renaissance alchemists, whose explorations into
the phenomena of the universe resulted in some remarkable achievements in
early science and were paralleled by their mystical belief in God. Large oil
paintings created over the course of seven years document Pearce’s study of
alchemical philosophy imagery.

Pearce, of Granada Hills, is an accomplished oil painter, installation
designer and award-winning theatrical scenic designer. His paintings are in
many private collections including those of Andrew Getty, Snoop Dogg and the
Carsey Werner Company. Pearce began teaching at CLU in 2001 and became a
full-time faculty member in 2005. As curator of the Kwan Fong Gallery, he
has organized continuous exhibitions by many well-known outside artists as
well as CLU faculty and students. His Web site and blog can be found at
http://gildedraven.com.
 
For more information, contact Pearce at (805) 493-3316 or visit
http://www.callutheran.edu/kwan_fong/.

Greetings, my name is Erika Pruitt and I’m going to be working along side Michael and Sydney(J ) to help manage the Kwan Fong Art Gallery. I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. I’m a transfer student from northern Santa Barbara county, and I’m a junior communications major. Some of my interests include shopping, fashion, gardening, jogging, and of course my girls, Princess and Precious (my dogs) whom are two of my best girlfriends. I’m excited about the opportunity to work in the gallery and I hope to gain a wealth of experience. Moreover, I’m looking forward to meeting those of you who support, visit, and enjoy the wonderful exhibits that the Kwan Fong Gallery has to offer. I’ll be posting news of gallery events and behind-the-scenes stories on the blog.

 There’s a stark simplicity to the materials Duncan Simcoe uses to create his works, yet a depth to his images that is simultaneously challenging and moving. He’s concerned with suburban living and the challenge of searching for the divine in the course of our lives – the distance between us and God. The works are religious, but contemporary, and they work effectively to encourage our individual searches for the mystic Christ, always distant, but always personal.

In addition to his suburban works Duncan has made drawings in paint about the battle between the descendants of Abraham, using unexpected renderings of boxers, oil gushers, pigs and shopping carts as jarring images to bring his observation that the conflict is mythical in proportion. Perhaps surprisingly for such controversial material the works don’t take a side in the contemporary struggle between Palestinians and Jews, they simply observe that this is an epic that has been happening for centuries.

The Kwan Fong Gallery exhibit of Duncan Simcoe’s works is now open! Visit the gallery and see what one of Southern California’s most interesting religious artists can do.

The Black Drawings are the result of a long-running conversation about the way large stories or myths play upon and intervene in contemporary experience. In the past, he has particularly focused on the generative myth of Abraham and Ishmael, while more recent works have responded to the Palestinian Intifada. His first explorations of this controversial subject matter included studying the works of Goya, and making and collecting images of boxers fighting.

Duncan has a wonderful website where you can get a preview of his work at http://www.duncansimcoeart.com/

Join us to celebrate this unique exhibit of portraiture. We will provide snacks and beverages – join us at the Kwan Fong gallery. 

“Mother’s Child” will be on display from Friday, June 27, through Sunday, Aug. 10, in CLU’s Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture. The opening reception is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27.

Paintings depict mothers and special needs children

Noble A. Powell III of Camarillo will hold the first major exhibit of his paintings depicting mothers and their special needs children at California Lutheran University.

“Mother’s Child” will be on display from Friday, June 27, through Sunday, Aug. 10, in CLU’s Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture. The opening reception is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27.

Best known for his renderings of golf courses, Powell stepped into new territory a few years ago when he painted a portrait of his wife and their oldest daughter, who has Down syndrome. Since then he has been producing a series of paintings of special needs children and their families that reveal the bond they share and the love, devotion and respect the mothers have for their children.

Powell is an abstract expressionist and portrait artist who has worked primarily in oils on canvas for more than 30 years. His focus on color, movement and emotion draws viewers into the scenes he paints. The recipient of many regional and national awards, Powell has exhibited his paintings in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia. 

The Pebble Beach Company commissioned Powell to create a series of images for the Pebble Beach Golf Links and the Links at Spanish Bay. Other courses featured in his works include Pinehurst, the Augusta National Golf Club and British Open venues.

CLU’s Art Department is sponsoring the free exhibit. The Kwan Fong Gallery, located in Soiland Humanities Center on Memorial Parkway, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit http://www.callutheran.edu/kwan_fong/ or call (805) 493-3316. 

Here’s your chance to visit the open studios of artists living and working in Thousand Oaks. The tour begins at the Kavli theatre on Thousand Oaks Blvd. Start by viewing a large exhibit of works by the participating artists, then visit the studios of your choice.

There are four places to visit on CLU’s campus: the Kwan Fong gallery (for the senior students’ show), K2 (Larkin and I), and the A Building, where watercolourist Terry Spehar Fahey and internationally renowned sculptor Lynn Creighton have their spaces.

We have provided maps in the gallery and signs to point the way. Join us! Enjoy!

Recently, Computer Graphics students were challenged to create a portrait of themselves as they might appear as eighty-five year olds. Demonstrating their compositing skills in Photoshop and their knowledge of the aging process, they created a series of amazing, aged portraits. Our special guest judge for this challenge was CLU’s Dr. Robert Meadows E.D., Ph.D. Professor of Criminal Justice. Our thanks to Dr, Meadows, who after years of service in law enforcement, brought a trained and experienced eye in determining which student did the most visually convincing portrait of themselves as a senior citizen.

The winning portrait was created by Sophia Naranjo. You can visit the Aged To Perfection Show in the Spies Borman Building right next to Media Services. Try to identify participating students before checking their names on the tags below their pictures. It’s fun!

The California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch would like to invite students to participate in a free skateboard deck design art contest.
 
The entry deadline is NEXT Monday, May 12th, 2008.

For additional information including the contest flyer, official rules, entry form and skateboard deck template contact Chi Siu at the California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch at chi.siu@cdph.ca.gov or 510.620.3730

Students will design a skateboard deck that will be used as part of a college vaccination awareness campaign in late August 2008. The contest is open to any student in California. Prizes include gift cards to Apple, a skateboard deck with their original design, and recognition from the California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch. 

There are some really good opportunities for an enterprising student. Did I mention that these are PAID internships?

You can do an internship as an elective, check with your advisor.