LA's Vincent Price Museum Opens Environmental Art Exhibition

East LA College's cutting-edge art class opens doors for students to join Getty's PST Art project, mixing education with real-world art experience.

This class came about after years of trying to get students more involved in the art scene, combining science, environmental issues, and creativity. It culminated in an exhibition titled "We Place Life at the Center/Situamos la vida en el centro," currently on view at ELAC's Vincent Price Art Museum.

Joseph Valencia, a curator at the museum who co-taught the course, emphasized the importance of integrating community college students into the PST Art program. Back in 2019, Getty picked "Art & Science Collide" as the theme for this year's event.

The class took a trip to Xochimilco, just outside Mexico City, where they checked out the chinampas - these incredible floating gardens the Aztecs made to grow food. This experience informed their subsequent artistic work.

The exhibition features a collaborative mural designed by ELAC students in conjunction with Seres de río, a collective of water protectors in Colombia. Los Angeles-based artist Carolina Caycedo, who has roots in Colombia, was brought in to design the exhibition and work with the students.

Anaid Garcia, a recent computer science graduate who took the class, found the experience transformative. "Being in the class, being in Mexico, being surrounded by artists," Garcia said, "I was like: 'Wow, this is what I want to do.'"

You'll find all sorts of art spread across two floors in the museum - everything from paintings and photos to sketches and video installations. Caycedo spent four years researching this, talking to eco-warriors, and doing fieldwork.

On the ground floor, visitors can view drawings by Coyotl + Macehualli, a community organization focused on environmental protection in El Sereno. The second floor features a large green vinyl installation paying homage to the Colombian Network of Biomass Energy.

A photograph of a "geochoreography" - a group performance designed by Caycedo - serves as a centerpiece of the exhibition. The performance, which included ELAC students, local artists, activists, scientists, and farmers, symbolizes growth and commitment to ecological restoration.

The ELAC course and resulting exhibition demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex environmental issues through art. This program gives up-and-coming artists a shot at the big leagues, letting them gain hands-on experience and network with professionals.

Head over to the Vincent Price Art Museum at ELAC to catch the "We Place Life at the Center" show - it's a fascinating mix of art, science, and environmental issues all rolled into one.