All Photos taken by Julia Schlosser
On view now through April 4 in the Art Gallery is Passion for the Possible: The
Work of Sister Corita. The show is the first major retrospective in a decade of
the work of serigraph artist Sister Corita. Corita rose to prominence in Los
Angeles during the 1960s and is well known for her colorful, provocative
messages of hope and peace. Also famous for her inspirational pedagogical
methods as Professor of Art at Immaculate Heart College, Corita worked with
her students to produce dazzling 2 and 3-dimensional pop-art style artworks.
Guest curator Aaron Rose (Beautiful Losers) has transformed the gallery with
wall murals, a giant picture of Corita silk-screening as well as Corita’s images
and photographs of the time. The wall murals and box sculptures on view were
painted by art education professors Edie Pistolesi, Paula DiMarco and Ken
Sakatani and their students working under Rose’s direction.
Film director and graphic designer Mike Mills (Thumbsucker) led CSUN students
in a banner workshop, inspired by Corita’s teaching methods, in which they
designed and created 10-foot canvas banners which are now visible hanging on
the south wall of the Art Department.
A film screening of Rose’s documentary film about Corita’s life and two films by
Baylis Glascock, held in the Amer Theater, was well-attended by various CSUN
notables like Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication Dean Wm
Robert Bucker and Associate Dean Karen Kearns as well as actor Julian Sands,
who contributed to Rose’s film.
The opening reception for the exhibition, held on Valentine’s Day, featured silk-
screening stations led by designer Juliette Bellocq and CSUN students. Gallery
visitors were able to silkscreen Bellocq’s designs (inspired by Corita) onto small
cookie boxes and left for home with miniature Corita-esque box sculptures
filled with Valentines treats. A Ladies Choir comprised of members of the Silver
Lake music community sang songs inspired by Corita, one of which was featured
in Rose’s film. Red Hot Chili Pepper’s bassist Flea was spotted in the audience,
along with professors Lesley Krane, Peri Klemm, Samantha Fields and Patsy Cox.
Julia Schlosser
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