Opening Reception: during Open Studios on Sunday, May 16, 2-4pm
Mass Emergencies is inspired by the work of the Disaster Research Center which conducts field and survey research on group, organizational and community preparation for, response to, and recovery from natural and technological disasters and other community-wide crises. Recent history has elevated the level of attention that emergency management and crisis relief have received due to the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina, the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes, the tsunami of Indonesia and the attacks of 9/11.
In direct relation to the history of Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, which was a former military base originally commissioned to protect the harbor and its facilities, Mass Emergencies focuses on artworks that deal with natural and man-made disasters. Chosen artworks deal directly with the theme of disaster by addressing issues of entropy, terrorism and post-disaster militarization. Other works deal more indirectly with the concept thru spirituality, life after death and immortality while simultaneously playing on the religious etymology of "Angels Gate" and its location in "San Pedro". This exhibition showcases alumni, faculty and current students of California State University Long Beach. Artists include Carleton Christy, McLean Fahnestock, Luis G. Hernandez, Darren Hostetter, Kiel Johnson, Nathan Huff, Suan Logoreci, Siobahn McClure, Jon Measures, Kimiko Miyoshi, Shinichi Ono, Elisa Salcedo, Marie Thibeault and Andre Woodward.
Mass Emergencies is a collaborative project between Cypress College, Angels Gate Cultural Center, Concrete Walls Projects and the California State University Long Beach Fine Arts Round Table. Part of the process of organizing the exhibition was to allow Cypress College students to participate in a "shadowing" mentorship that would lend support in the curatorial process and aide in the design and installation of the show in addition to attending a "studio day" with an artist of their choice. The project was spearheaded and organized by instructor Devon Tsuno.
This exhibition is sponsored in part by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.