Affectionately referred to as the “Creative Capital of the World,” Los Angeles is a major arts center of international repute, geographically positioned to be a significant contributor to 21st century culture. Located in Los Angeles County, Biola University’s annual art symposium on March 5 to 6, 2010 will focus on the metropolis and how artists interact with it, drawing students and established artists to the symposium.

Biola launched an interdisciplinary Urban Studies major that takes Biola back to the city and influenced this year’s symposium, themed “Metropolis.” The diverse group of gifted artists and speakers will discuss various questions concerning art and the city, particularly how art in the city influences our beliefs and actions.

The relationship between artistic practice and the city will be addressed from three distinct arenas: the power of art in the lives of the disadvantaged, the potency of public art with inspiring stories and images, and ways to connect with and contribute to the established Los Angeles contemporary art scene.

Biola’s 2010 Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Lynn Aldrich, is a Los Angeles visual artist, whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Her sculptures are included in the permanent collection of both the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Biola is pleased to present Lynn Aldrich in an exhibition of sculpture, titled VOTIVE, which features a major new outdoor work — her first. A public opening reception will be held at Biola University Art Gallery on Saturday, March 6 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

View Art Symposium schedule.

Artists and Speakers

Artists and speakers include Aldrich; visual artist Janet Echelman who specializes in transformative public art sculpture installations that adapt to natural forces like wind, water, and sunlight; Paul Hebblethwaite — an artist and Executive Director of the Salvation Army Alegria and founder of Art and Shelter in Los Angeles; Biola alumnus Charlene Melhorn is a Artist-in-Residence and Director of Artology for BuildaBridge (a non-profit arts education and intervention organization primarily serving families and children coping with homelessness in Philadelphia, Penn.); artist and curator/administrator Marc Pally specializes in public art, has taught at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. and has held several significant art administration positions, currently he is the Artistic Director of “Glow,” a biannual dusk-to-dawn arts festival; and Liza Simone — founder and owner of Phantom Galleries LA, an Arts Organization that transforms vacant storefronts into temporary art galleries.

About the Symposium

This is the sixth in a series of symposiums created and hosted by the Biola University Department of Art. Over the years these events have engaged both the Biola academic community as well as the larger Southern California arts community in stimulating and thoughtful dialogs regarding contemporary art and Christian faith. Goals of the Symposia are four fold: 1) to create a compelling forum for artists to gather to discuss and think about their vocation in a contemporary context; 2) to open space for dialogue between Christians and non-Christians regarding the relationship between art and faith; 3) to foster rich cross-disciplinary discussions concerning contemporary visual culture; and 4) to positively contribute to a broader regional Christian academic discourse.
This event has always been free and open to anyone wishing to attend.

Visit the Art Symposium website.