UC Merced Magazine | Volume XIX, Issue V

(Continued from page 11)

“We engage with the arts globally on a number of di erent levels,” said UC Merced music and dance Professor David Kaminsky. “‘Globally’ in a sense of the various cultures around the world, and, ‘globally’ in that we engage in multiple di erent art forms and how they interact with each other. And we don’t privilege any particular part of the world or teaching style over another.” UC Merced music Professor Jayson Beaster-Jones explained that they didn’t want to duplicate programs at other universities. “As artists, we recognized that the arts themselves aren’t actually that separated, only by ideological terms,” he said. “Take opera for example. Not only is it acting, singing and dance, but it’s also stage design, costume design, lighting, sound and so on. “We believe it’s important for our students to see art from a variety of perspectives and how interconnected it all is,” Beaster-Jones continued. “ is is the ideology we all bought into.” Aditi Chandra, professor of art history and visual studies at UC Merced, acknowledged that, from the outside, it may look like they threw all the arts together for lack of a plan, but reiterated Beaster-Jones’s point about it being very intentional. “At other universities, you’ll nd a department where there’s an art history program here and a musicology program over there, and they’re all working in silos,” she said. “Having them all together allows us to push the disciplinary boundaries and, as a result, the collaboration amongst faculty happens organically.” Beyond University Borders is collaborative spirit extends to the community where GASP has taken on an active role in the local arts scene. One of the more visual manifestations is UpstART, a performance-based series led and curated by UC Merced

art faculty members. is is the group responsible for bringing household names such as Los Lobos and Bobby McFerrin to Merced, and plans are in the works for more world-class acts that, if not for their e orts, may not otherwise come to the area. GASP enjoys propping up local talent just as much, if not more, than bringing performers from elsewhere. A shining example of this took place in February when long-time Merced performer Cheryl Lockett was the special guest vocalist at the annual faculty concert held at the Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) in downtown Merced. “I love this community and I love the fact that the UC is positioned to bring in artists and create projects the community can be a part of,” said Continuing Lecturer in music Jenni Samuelson. “I think that’s something our department does really well, and I think the arts are a great conduit for community engagement.” Investing In The Arts e core of the faculty concert band — which includes Beaster-Jones, Kaminsky, Samuelson and UC Merced music Professor Patricia Vergara — strives to upli local musicians. Visual arts Lecturer Richard Gomez aims to do the same for area muralists.

collaborating on a theme with the community and engaging with the local artists. Gomez — who prefers bringing his brand of art into marginalized communities that tend to be overlooked — said that, before working in any space, it’s imperative to get buy-in from the community in which the piece will reside. “I, as an artist, do not have the right to go into a town and put up a piece that I’m into but has no relationship to the community,” he said, adding that there are sections in all of his murals for the community to add content that may not even be a part of the larger image. “ at’s what makes the mural e ective,” he said. “And the more participation we get, the more successful a mural is.” Gomez said there has been a noticeable investment in the arts at UC Merced since the arrival of Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. It’s a sentiment echoed by the university’s Executive Director for the Arts Collin Lewis, citing the recent additions of highly-visible art installations on campus, murals and the establishment of La Galería as testaments to Muñoz’s leadership. And, as the university’s footprint on the local art scene grows, Lewis believes its responsibility to connect with the entire community does as well.

Gomez has been producing murals up and down the Valley since 2010 with the assistance of his students. Taking his class “outside of the four walls” is a hallmark of his course and it involves much more than painting. Students participate in the entire process, which includes scouting locations,

A recent exhibit at UC Merced Art Gallery showed off the work of Chicanx artists.

12

UC MERCED MAGAZINE // ucmerced.edu