From Sept. 12 to Oct. 17, the Diana Berger Art Gallery will showcase Mt. SAC alumni artist, displaying various forms of work as they share their evolution and journey with current students and the greater community.
Artists on display are:
Tyoni Aragon, Jeaneen Carlino, Hayley Dorling, Chris Dunlop, Simone M. Flores
Eddie Gonzalez, Mikka Huang, Bonny Jackson, Chin Ko, Damaris Leal
Anna Mendoza, Jacqueleen Munoz, Christopher Nolasco, Al Olalia Phillip Rincon
Edward Salas, Kevin Scianni, Jophen Stein, Marcella Swett
Adam Taylor and Mayra Villegas
Kirk Pedersen, the Director of the Diana Berger Art Gallery, shared that the event was to display the diversity and range of former students, who for some, have geared off into a different direction, experimenting with similar or new mediums as they progressed over the years.
“The theme of the exhibit was about diversity and the range of disciplines possible and ultimately about discovery and allowing yourself to change,” Pedersen said.
“Most of these artists were not doing this type of work when they were students,” he added. ”I appreciate diversity and I use it to help students find what they want to do. This show represents that because there is so much range connected to it.”
Pedersen has been teaching art at Mt. SAC for the past 26 years. Teaching painting and drawing, he favors the more physical and analog approach to art. However, recent advancements in technology, specifically artificial intelligence, has caused many educators and students to think critically about the influence, or take over, AI will have in their professional careers.
Its ability to produce work, especially creative material speedily, may result in a loss of genuine art over the coming years. “AI is a tool that I can see as potentially useful […] but I think we will face monumental issues with authenticity,” Pedersen said.
Kevin Scianni, a 2005 alum, and a CAL State Fullerton graduate, can agree to an extent. His artwork was inspired by video games and our relationship to digital technology. Scianni’s work explained how digital technology informs and shapes our understanding of the world, influencing how we relate to each other.
Though using digital software to create his pieces, Scianni knows that AI has its limits. Summarizing the New Yorker in an article titled “Why AI isn’t going to make Art,” by author Ted Chiang, Scianni shared that artists have to make thousands of decisions which are part of the creative process and leaving that power to technology removes the artist from the art.
Making decisions is how we discover our creativity. Decisions teach us the science and art of placement, color, tone, style, mood and other elements in creative work. However, Scianni still sees AI as a tool, like other software, but finding the boundaries on its usage is still a question for society.
Many artists at the exhibit shared the same sentiment. We are bound to make mistakes due to our imperfections. Yet, oftentimes it has been the imperfection, not perfection that has led to new avenues and perspectives in art.
The unintentional slip of the hand, the wrong color, shape, size and even word can create a new direction, giving deeper meaning to a piece and its message.
Marcella Swett, an alum from 1989, views art as “play” that can foster imagination. When discussing AI and its effects on artists, Swett said, “Imagination is going to be valued even more so. I’ve done some experiments with AI already and it’s turning out the same thing.
“I can see it as something to bounce off your ideas, but your touch, your skill, the way you draw, the way you work, that’s [expressing] individualism, ” she added. “A precious commodity that AI [can’t reproduce].
Swett, who is now an artist for Disney, began her career as a muralist and scenic artist for cinema. However, Swett discovered her love for chalk at festivals and now as a chalk muralist, has had Disney doing chalk programs for events such as Celebrate Soulfully and Pixar Fests.
When asked about the role and value of imperfection Swett said, “Imperfection is a driving force on how people develop. As an artist and a [teacher] I push play. When you put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect […] you tend to cripple yourself. You need to give yourself freedom and play like a kid […] mistakes are beautiful.”
Drive. Effort. Talent. Inspiration and development were other attributes seen among the artists and their work at the gallery. All qualities and characteristics of the real masterpieces are still in production – people.
