By Sheena Hutchison
Staff Writer
T
he Cal State Dominguez Hills Art and Design program has received a $40,000 grant to support campus and community artists.
The grant was funded by the California Arts Council as part of it’s Creative California Communities initiative.
It’s all part of $80,000 in additional funding awarded to develop a specialized arts program at Dominguez Hills.
Art and design Professor Devon Tsuno has been at CSUDH for three semesters, teaching painting and drawing, as well as printmaking and installations.
Tsuno applied for the grant with a goal to help CSUDH students and community artists, and won it by working with community leaders and professionals.
“They don’t just fund anyone,” Tsuno said. “You have to apply and present a good idea. They want to make sure if they’re going to invest this money that the idea is successful.”
With the grant money, the department plans to fund guest visits from professional artists, award scholarships, buy art supplies, and establish an art program called the Praxis Studio.
“The major goal of the department is to bring in more voices to share their perspective on art making with students.” Tsuno said.
The Praxis Studio is envisioned as a collaboration among the CSUDH Art and Design Department, the university and Big City Forum, a local arts community founded by local artist, curator and educator Leonardo Bravo.
E.J. Hill, Anna Lonete, Mario Ybarra Jr. and team members Hazel Mandujan and Juan Capristran are all local artists who will be working on the CSUDH campus as part of the program.
Each featured artist will be in residence for a month, and the program will host workshops and discussions through spring 2017.
The program will be open to community college, university and high school students with the goal being to have artists work with members of the community. The program will also host community forums where artists will present their work.
“It’s an exciting time for artists in Los Angeles because artists and designers are actively involved in social change,” Tsuno said, “and allowing them to continue that work at CSUDH is exciting.”
Tsuno encourages everyone to come out and see some of the artists who will be in residence, as well as artists and designers who made the project possible.
Tsuno said some of the artists will also showcase their work, and the event will be a great opportunity for the community to get involved.
“We’re really excited and honored about the grant,” Tsuno said. “It’s very competitive, and I think for them to be as excited for the program as we are, [is] a step in the right direction.”
The Praxis Studio’s launch event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in LSU Ballroom C.
