Until Nov. 20, Associated Students, Inc. is hosting Cal State Long Beach’s first-ever ARTSweek on campus, where students are invited to “just slow down the pace, look around, respond, and react” to the world around them by exploring the works done by both CSULB students and famed artists, according to founder and organizer Barbara Navarro.
Navarro, ASI arts commissioner, hopes ARTSweek will propel artistic forms of expression more widely into the CSULB community and “unite people through shared celebration [of the arts].”
“The idea came to me in form of impulsion — an impulsion that bubbled from my personal obsession with the artists and their doings on campus,” Navarro said. “It’s a full week of events to attend or activities to join, like the tours, or the chalk art.”
ARTSweek began with the opening of an exhibit at the University Art Museum featuring celebrity screen prints and Polaroid photographs taken by iconic artist Andy Warhol. Also featured at the UAM are exhibits titled “Maya Schindler’s: Present Progressive” and “Un-figuring the Body,” featuring live performance art by Dawn Kasper. All exhibits will be held until Dec. 14.
Other events throughout the week include an artist lecture by Tomory Dodge, student showcases held in the Theatre Arts building, and the first performance of “The Shape of Things” by the University Players, which will be held until Dec. 6.
“ARTSweek includes many student-centric events. There”s the ‘Hysteria’ show, which [opened] along with about three other shows Sunday evening at the student art galleries. The ‘Hysteria’ show is curated by the art history program, and, again, it’s a matter of exhibiting art formed out of unique concept,” Navarro said.
Daily tours of the art department and all the sculptures on campus will also be given throughout the week, beginning each day at noon at the USU Information Desk.
“Touring artists’ studio[s] should give us an honest glimpse of the creative environments of our school’s art students.” Navarro said.
There will also be chalk art by the Arts Education Student Association by the student galleries.
Though in the past CSULB had something similar to Navarro’s event, called “Week of the Arts,” Navarro said it is now a thing of the past and plans on refreshing plans for artistically-influenced measures on campus. She hopes ARTSweek will continue as an annual event at CSULB.
“Every day is a day of arts to me, anyway,” Navarro said.