Image courtesy of Cal State Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) Department of Art and Art History.
CAMARILLO — Cal State Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) Department of Art and Art History will open the new academic year with “Double Landing,” a solo exhibition featuring the work of acclaimed artist Rafael Perea de la Cabada.
Opening Monday, Sept. 14, at the campus’ Napa Hall Art Gallery, “Double Landing” brings together dozens of original works that showcase Perea’s distinctive creative approach and the wide range of media he employs in his practice. The exhibition presents a diverse collection shaped by experimentation, keen observation and the interplay of construction and continual revision.
Although the breadth of work on display might initially suggest a retrospective, the exhibition instead reveals the varied creative terrain Perea simultaneously inhabits. His inquisitive and playfully introspective nature emerges through expressive paintings, charcoal drawings, assemblages and ceramics. As its title suggests, “Double Landing” features works that never quite settle into a fixed form. Instead, they are animated through layers of gesture and movement.
“At times, Rafael’s processes and his materials defy easy delineation,” said Professor of Art Luke Matjas, director of the Napa Hall Art Gallery. “Drawings act like paintings, paintings become richly layered and sculptural, and sculptures act like drawings in three-dimensional space. At its core, Rafael’s work is very performative.”
Born in Mexico City, Perea earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the National School of Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking in Mexico City and a Master of Fine Arts from UC Santa Barbara.
His work has been exhibited at numerous galleries and museums throughout Southern California, including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Forum, Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, and the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena. His work has also been shown in New York, Washington, Tennessee, Texas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Croatia, Spain and Germany, and was featured in the recent Tijuana International Triennial at the Centro Cultural Tijuana.
A free public reception will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., with Perea in attendance. The public is also invited to hear Perea discuss his work during an artist talk Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the gallery.
“Double Landing” will remain on view through Friday, Oct. 23. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the exhibition, reception and artist talk is free.
The Napa Hall Art Gallery is located at the entrance to Napa Hall on the CSUCI campus on Ventura Street near the corner of Santa Barbara Avenue. Visitor parking is available at the A4 Lot with a few parking spaces free for 30 minutes, or visitors may purchase a general parking permit for $6.
The University welcomes people with disabilities to participate in its programs, activities and events. If you need disability-related accommodation or have questions about accessibility, please visit Event Access as early as possible, preferably at least 10 business days before the event.
About Cal State Channel Islands
Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI) is Ventura County’s only public university. Opened in 2002, CSUCI is part of the California State University — the nation’s largest and most diverse four-year public university system. Located near Camarillo, the campus serves more than 4,800 students across more than 90 academic programs. A proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, CSUCI is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education for its commitment to excellence and opportunity. Learn more atwww.csuci.edu