Angel Gonzales is a printmaker currently pursuing a B.A. in Fine Art at UC Santa Cruz.
Angel’s innovative and experimental approach to printmaking focuses on the transformative potential of materials which has led her to develop unique printmaking processes in intaglio, lithography, relief, and serigraphy. Her current work is heavily influenced by the ongoing changes of everyday life and uses toner washes to combine fine detail with abstraction, capturing chaotic moments in time and bringing them to states of stillness. As she reflects on her last four years in Santa Cruz, she contemplates the importance of individual growth on a day-to-day basis.
My work seeks to explore the passage of time during shelter-in-place. By documenting my daily environment, I’ve created an archive of moments in time from a place that will never be the same. It was a process that brought me comfort when I wanted to explore the places that made me feel most in touch with reality throughout the chaos of these past 10 weeks. “For the Last Time” is a collection of works created during these times of uncertainty.
For 64 days of shelter in place I journaled at the same spot in the forest. It was the only place where things weren’t chaotic. It wasn’t the constant stream of emails that started with “ we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe”, it wasn’t the fear of losing my housing and it wasn't the fear of losing my job. It was the place where nothing changed, where I could observe the subtle changes in the environment and slowly feel my anxiety melt away. It helped me keep track of the days as they passed me by and now it serves as a reminder of the uncertainty I felt during those moments.
Each day feels the same.
An overwhelming disconnect washes over every conversation as we all attempt to familiarize ourselves with new means of communication. The distance and lack of connection grows more evident with each passing day.
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Visit the Irwin 2020: Collective Solitude exhibition in the 3D virtual gallery.
The 2020 Irwin Scholars are
Aarón Martínez, Anastasia Oleson, Angel Gonzales, Chloe Murr, Dominic Ramirez, Edgar Cruz, Emma McWaid, Jocelyn Lee, Joshua Zupan, Morgan Tomfohr, Natalie Del Castillo, Rodrigo Ramos, Veriche Blackwell