Coastline's second art exhibition of 2021, The Ides of March, is not about doom and gloom. Tragedy is not around the corner and debts do not need to be paid. This exhibition is a celebration of a new beginnings, marked by performance, play, creativity, and self- reflection.
The words of William Shakespeare, "Beware the Ides of March," have since given mid-March a reputation of dark foreboding. But in fact, the origins of March's Ides refers to the month's full moon and was once the celebration of a new year. It does make sense, after all, to celebrate a new year with the coming of spring and new life in nature! Click and view this fun virtual art show all the month of March.
The purpose and goal of any art exhibition is to create conversations between artwork, artists, and the community. This becomes much more difficult when exhibitions are taken away from their architectural spaces and realized in a digital platform. But the impact of art remains important. And the networking opportunities of an opening reception bring artists, art enthusiasts, and curious minds togehter.
Coastline Art Gallery regularly has exhibitions - as many as six times a year. The program varies; there is often one major exhibition each semester either curated by the college, a guest curator, or from an art collective. In an effort to also support our faculty, once a year we celebrate them through some sort of survey. Additionally, we host a community-based show that brings in members from across the spectrum of the arts. There is also a student pop-up exhibition each year to highlight the successes of our student body.
Under normal circumstances exhibitions are scheduled two years before the reception even happens. Through the curatorial process ideas are patched together, fine-tuned, and presented to the arts committee at the college. Social distancing circumstances have challenged how we deliver these experiences. While potentially still engaging, nothing can beat a fully tactile experience in an art gallery.
For a list of past exhbitions, check out Coastlne's Art Gallery Blog - Exhibitions.
When school campuses reopen, Coastline's Art Gallery will again hold workshops, exhibition programs as well as receptions, artist lectures and other art-related events. It has even been recognized as one of the top 15 excellent on-campus art galleries in Southern California.
In an effort to continue outreach to the community and students body the Lunchtime Lecture series at Coastline Art Gallery provides a roster of working professionals who have balanced their creative art careers. See a complete list of participants on the Coastline Art Gallery Blog.
If you're interested in obtaining an Associate of Arts Degree with art as your major, check out Coastline's Art Program as part of our Visual & Performing Arts Department.