Exhibition dates February 5 – May 16, 2014
Juried by Julio Cesar Morales
California DREAMin’ includes painting, photography, collage and sculpture by San Francisco Bay Area foreign born artists.
This exhibition explores subject matter which addresses the idealizations and realities of living in America as an immigrant, as well as the artistic impulse of immigrant artists inspired by other cultures. The title is borrowed from the American folk rock group, The Mamas and The Papas, who released the song of the same title one year after the Civil Rights Act was passed as law fifty years ago. The song signified the arrival of the counterculture era that was an historic cultural phenomenon in the Bay Area and still inspires much of the art being made today.
Almost two and a half centuries after its founding, the United States continues to be a nation of immigrants, with newcomer contributions at all levels socially, scientifically, economically, and politically. Today, immigration policy remains an important yet vexing issue, and President Obama and the Congress are considering reforms that would affect lives all around the globe.
As California continues to grapple with the effects of a broken immigration system, art can provide an expressive outlet to consider a range of sociopolitical issues and can play an important role in strengthening public awareness. Diversity preserves individual and group identity, strengthens communities and increases respect among all people.
Artists include: Anna Landa, Bao Hoang, Christopher Sicat, Damian O’Brien, Edith Hillinger, Javier Rocabado, Jose Alvardo, Kathleen McDonald, Lana Citowsky, Maria Billings, Najib Joe Hakim, Nga Trihn, Noris Binet, Olya Dubatova, Plinio Hernandez, Raheleh Zomorodinia, Sonia Melnikova-Raich, Sophia Sattar, Tianxing Wang, Van Nguyen, and Wayne Dollemore.
From the Latino Photography program through Gallery Route One in Point Reyes: Agustina Martinez, Ariana Aparacio, Gisela Alvardo, Imelda Macias, Maria Mercado, Francisco Olea, Juana Romo, Maricela Mora, Mario Garcia, Martina Roque, Ruben Robledo, and Isabel Valenziela.