Irwin 2018: Identification
Opening Reception:
Wednesday, May 30th 5pm - 7pm
Awards ceremony at 6pm
The 2018 Irwin Scholars are:
Irma Barbosa
Krystal Barrera
Patricia Garcia
Jorge Gomez Gonzalez
Tom-Jhon Hamouzas
Kelly Leung
Ishmael Lipman
Soren Neumeister
Melissa Ortiz
Thovatey Tep
Veronica Wang
Vincent Williams
Drawing from personal experience, IRWIN 2018: Identification investigates the gray area between identity and being identified. The link considers the role of history, culture, trauma, and institutions and how they can form one’s identity through a personal or collective experience. The artists use their bodies or allude to the figure in their art as a way to explore and question the markers of identity.
The show will display an array of paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture and video installations as well as a live performance scheduled during the opening reception.
Identification examines the process of imposing identity on another and how the body is central to how we understand and express the fluidity of identity such as gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity. What happens when those constantly being identified choose to take back their bodies and dissect the categorization process?
“The Irwin Scholarship award recognizes promising young artists whose hard work, focus, passion, and achievement have been profoundly expressed in their artistic creations,” says UC Santa Cruz Professor of Art Jimin Lee. “This exhibition shows the proud fruits of the labors of many and not just the winners. The UCSC Art Department is proud of our twelve recipients. We look forward to their important future contributions as leaders of the next generation of young artists.”
This is a wonderful Scholarship called The Susan Benteen and William Hyde Irwin Scholarship (referred to as The Irwin Award) and is granted annually to undergraduate UCSC students for proven excellence in the arts. The students are nominated by the art department faculty to submit a portfolio of work and then they are selected by an all art department faculty vote. "This annual exhibition has become a tradition in the UCSC art department and for the Sesnon Gallery," says Director Shelby Graham, "We love working with the scholars every year!"
About the Irwin Scholarship
The William Hyde and Susan Benteen Irwin Scholarship Fund was established in 1986, with a modest donation by Sue Irwin, and now generates 12 annual merit scholarships to further the education of selected UC Santa Cruz students for proven excellence in the arts. The scholars are nominated by the art department faculty to submit a portfolio of work and then are selected by an all faculty vote.