I am interested in using public art to promote discourse, engagement, and active participation in our democracy and society. Using a visual presentation to provoke a response, increase understanding, and foster a dialogue has been a goal of my public work which has focused on the community colleges. The Missing Student Project (on view CCSF Library) brought together 125 life-size, molded fiberglass figures developed at 60 different colleges to talk about what happens when the doors close to a college education. The exhibit traveled around the State, including the State Capitol and Union Square. I received a national award for innovation in the field of governmental relations from the American Association of Community Colleges, the Council for Advance and Support of Education, the National Association of State University and Land-Grant Colleges, and the American Association of State College and Universities. This was followed up with a soft sculpture project The Student Success Project (www.ccsf.edu/ccsss) , featuring community college student successes with the smiling faces of real people accompanied by recordings of their stories in their own voices. Again, this was a collaborative project involving students from colleges across the state, traveling to Sacramento, Yerba Buena Gardens, and the SF Hilton.
My ceramic sculpture is large scale, assemblage installations depicting organic subject matter, has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, the Crocker-Kingsley, auctioned at the Crocker Art Museum, received an Award of Excellence from the ACCI Gallery and shown at the Ceramics Annual of America.
Having spent much of my career as Associate Vice-Chancellor of Governmental Relations for City College of San Francisco, I strive to bring the political into the art world; the obligation of being human into the conversation.
THE MISSING STUDENTS MARCHING IN SACRAMENTO, CA, 2004
The Missing Students Marching in Sacramento, Mixed media on fiberglass, each statue 60” x 22”, 2004. The Missing Student project was created in response to proposed massive budget cuts and fee increases. Sixty different colleges created 125 statues depicting what lack of access to a college education would do to people. The Missing Students marched with the community college students, held a vigil while the real students were taking finals, and went around the State to advocate for community colleges throughout the budget season. The project was funded completely through donations and supported by all community college groups.
THE MISSING STUDENTS MARCHING IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA 2004
The Missing Students Marching in Sacramento, Mixed media on fiberglass, each statue 60” x 22”, 2004. The Missing Student project was created in response to proposed massive budget cuts and fee increases. Sixty different colleges created 125 statues depicting what lack of access to a college education would do to people. The Missing Students marched with the community college students, held a vigil while the real students were taking finals, and went around the State to advocate for community colleges throughout the budget season. The project was funded completely through donations and supported by all community college groups.
[TS-VCSC-Youtube content_youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpXuKBeuERU”]
[TS-VCSC-Youtube content_youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhOizosa5Kc”]
[TS-VCSC-Youtube content_youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTpTPdiLmX8″]
ARTICLES
‘Missing’ students on display in S.F., SF GATE, August, 21, 2004
Arvizu, Michael J. Raise Fees to $26 a Unit? No Way!, EL VAQUERO, April 2, 2004
Arvin, Michael J. Students protest proposed community college fee hikes, THE GLENDALE NEWS-PRESS, March 19, 2004
Gavilan students join protest, GILROY DISPATCH, March 16, 2004
Truberg, Betsy. Student’s march to fight fee increases, ON-LINE 49ER, March 15, 2004
Gavilan College students to join thousands in march on Sacramento on Monday, Gavilan College press release, March 12, 2004
Steegmans, Jerome. Budget Cuts Inspire Art, THE GUARDSMAN, December 10, 2003