Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery Past Exhibitions

About Hunger & Resilience in Dialogue with Circuit

March 31, 2025 – June 6, 2025

About Hunger & Resilience transcends the dehumanizing abstraction of statistics by intimately documenting lived experiences of hunger in America. Over four and a half years, Michael Nye traveled the country collecting portraits and oral histories, while building relationships with people who have faced food insecurity. Through this diverse set of voices, the exhibition reflects the complex reasons for hunger spanning mental health issues, addiction, socioeconomic inequality, war, and natural disasters. In these stories, we see hardship as well as profound dignity and resilience in the struggle for food security. This exhibition invites visitors to view hunger not as a distant concern, but as an urgent human rights issue in our communities and country.
Michael Nye practiced law for ten years before dedicating himself full-time to photography and multimedia storytelling. Approaching each project with a deep sense of connection and honor, Nye spends several days with each participant and ensures they approve the final edit. Exhibited nationally and internationally, his body of work makes visible the social issues and people who have been systemically obscured.

Artists: Michael Nye & Morgan Yacullo
Curator: Sloane Harris

Events

April 18: Opening Reception and Artist Talk

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About Hunger & Resilience: Cowell’s art exhibitions focus on hunger, resilience, and campus food systems
By Stephanie Silva – April 24, 2025

“It’s About Not Forgetting”: New Exhibit Captures Images of Hunger & Resilience
By Adviti Aleti and Paulina Garcia – April 29, 2025

KZSC and the Art of Radio: Creation and Community

February 14, 2025 – March 14, 2025

In 1967, college radio at UC Santa Cruz started in a Stevenson dorm room with KRUZ.In 1974, KRUZ became KZSC when a group of students received an FCC license to broadcast at 10 watts. Today, KZSC is a 20,000 watt FM radio station that educates and serves the local and student community by providing a 24/7 mix of music, information, and community-engaged conversation.KZSC and the Art of Radio embodies the 55 years of creativity, community and collaboration from the students of UC Santa Cruz and the non-student volunteers. This exhibition examines the visual art-making practice of this college radio station alongside archived historical documentation and photographs. We invite you to explore the four primary elements that define KZSC as a radio station: Educational/Student-Run Radio, Community Radio, Non-Commercial/Non-Profit Radio, and Radio Technology.

Events

February 22: Opening Reception

Recipes for Life: Cultures of Food and Sustainability in Okinawa

January 21, 2025 – February 8, 2025

Today, Okinawa is one of 47 prefectures in Japan. But the people of the island emerged into world history as the Kingdom of the Ryūkyūs in the late 14th century. Populated by people coming into the island chain from throughout the East and Southeast Asian regions, Okinawans have, over centuries, developed a distinctive culture and way of life that is grounded in island environments, fed by bountiful ocean currents and subject to the forces of big powerful neighbors (especially China and Japan). A term Okinawans often use today to describe their particular culture is “champuru,” a word that derives from stir-fried dishes that are composed of a lively mix of several ingredients. “Champuru” aptly evokes not just the mix of influences from inside and outside the many-island chain, it names a value expressed through many other dimensions of Okinawan culture: openness to the outside world, sensitivity to the diversity of the environment and an embrace of cultural differences.

Teacher of Traditional Ryūkyūan cuisine, Keiko Tsukayama, our guide in this exhibit, talks about three settings in which the cuisine of the island has developed: Hospitality, Ceremony and Daily Life. Given the necessity of regularly hosting ambassadorial visitors from powerful neighbors, Ryūkyūan cuisine emerged from the development of a rich culture of hospitality (utuimuchi), in which the careful preparation of complex dishes suited to the tastes of visitors was used to express gratitude and high regard. In a society that values and regularly nurtures ancestral spirits, Okinawans have a rich cycle of ceremonies (ugan) that bring families together, eating food that is carefully prepared by the women–from grandmothers to young girls–to reaffirm the durability of human bonds. Finally, Okinawans consider food to be “medicine for life” (nuchigusui), so that one eats with a clear understanding of how one feels physically and emotionally and how food can heal and sustain balance.

Food is one of the first things we think of when we think of a culture, and one of the most enduring. This exhibit invites us to think about what food means to a culture, and what changes in the world mean to food. Chef Keiko encourages you to use this exhibit to think about how you approach food in your own life: how it can fortify both your relationships and your health.

Sponsored by:
Okinawa Memories Initiative | The Humanities Division | The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Events

February 4: Kanzashi Flowers Workshop (Art Friday)
February 8: Closing Reception

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Recipes for Life: The Cultures of Food in Okinawa Exhibit
By Stephanie Silva – January 29, 2025

A Sign of Hope: The Art and Teaching of Corita Kent

April 1, 2024 – June 22, 2024

In 1966, Eloise Pickard Smith curated an exhibition at the UCSC Field House: “Serigraphs by Sister Corita Kent.” Speaking to the Santa Cruz Sentinel at the time, she stated, “It is our hope in Cowell College to make the visual arts an essential part of a student’s total education.” Close to sixty years later, the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery continues the mission of its namesake and the work of Corita Kent is returning to campus to spark fresh conversations about the role of art in education, radical faith and social justice.

A Sign of Hope: The Art and Teaching of Corita Kent explores the art and teaching of Corita Kent. Corita (b.1918-d.1986) was a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Los Angeles. The exhibition emerges from the connections between the life and work of Corita and “The pursuit of truth in the company of friends,” that defines the ethos of Cowell College. Exhibition curators Sheilah Lynch and Ziggy Rendler Bregman were directly influenced by Corita during their time at Immaculate Heart High School. Corita was Chair of the College Art Department and her classrooms were in the basement of the High School where they observed her radical teaching and were inspired by her joy. 

Corita shook up the traditional Catholic institution with her serigraphs drawing attention to social justice issues including hunger, racism and war through her vibrant pop-art iconography and innovative teaching. Lynch and Rendler-Bregman went on to study at UCSC and spent portions of their careers at Cowell, where they carried lessons from their time at Immaculate Heart with them to their work. A notoriously inspiring teacher, Corita created rules for art making such as “Don’t try to create and analyze at the same time. They’re different processes,” and “We are breaking all the rules, even our own rules.” She encouraged students to look at the familiar with fresh eyes. She was so committed to seeing the world in new ways, she even told her students not to blink when watching films. In recent years, her contributions to pop art have been recognized by major museums and institutions. Corita produced nearly 800 serigraphs in her lifetime. This exhibition celebrates her significance as an artist while also emphasizing her legacy as an educator. 

Co-Curated by Sheilah Lynch, Ziggy Rendler, Martabel Wasserman, and Malia Reid

Sponsored by:
Lenz Arts | Watson Fine Art Conservation

Events

April 7: Opening Reception
April 12: Alumni Reception
May 9: Screenprinting Workshop with Jon Fischer (Art Friday)
May 9: Rebel Hearts Film Screening with Special Guest Lenore Navarro Dowling

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Art of hope: Celebrating the teaching and activism of Corita Kent
By Stephanie Silva – April 9, 2024

Power From the Roots: Favianna Rodriguez

January 8, 2024 – March 9, 2024

The Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition Favianna Rodriguez: Power From The Roots. Favianna Rodriguez is an Oakland-based activist and artist beloved for her work tied to social justice movements, such as her iconic image of a butterfly with the text “Migration is Beautiful” mobilized in support of migrant justice. In recent years, Rodriguez has focused on figurative work related to plants, animals and climate justice. This exhibition asks: how do portraits of species relate to an ecology of social movements? The show is organized around local species impacted by climate change including coastal redwoods, mountain lions, coho salmon and butterflies, among others. These portraits of species are in dialogue with activist posters, demonstrating how social issues are fundamentally intertwined with environmental justice. For example, a collaged portrait of coho salmon, a keystone species that the Ohlone people relied on for food, will be surrounded by posters about decolonization and food justice. Viewers will explore activism from the roots- both in terms of systemic issues impacting our world today and the actual roots of the trees that inhabit our shared local ecosystem.

Co-Sponsored by
The Humanities Institute | Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas | Institute of Arts and Sciences | Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives

Events

February 7: In Conversation with Favianna Rodriguez
Art and culture surround us all the time. They shape our identity and forge our collective imagination. Cultural change precedes political change, and therefore, we must build vibrant cultural practices that inspire new ways of thinking and catalyze justice and solutions. Favianna will give a dynamic lecture about how art can inspire, educate, and help spur the imagination toward social change. She will show examples of her art over the last decade, and speak about how her work addresses racial justice, climate justice, migrant rights, and gender justice. She will also talk about and show examples of the evolution of her creative practice in printmaking and public art.

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We are all in this together: Favianna Rodriguez and the ecology of social movements
By Stephanie Silva – January 30, 2023

Never Again is Now: Japanese American Women Activists and the Legacy of Mass Incarceration

October 3, 2023 – December 2, 2023

Japanese American women who experienced the World War II mass incarceration have a long history of activism that includes protests within the camps, participation in the social movements of the 1960s, and the successful campaign for a national apology and monetary redress. They, their daughters, granddaughters, and non-binary individuals continue to invoke memories of the World War II injustice to defend the rights of all people of color in their activism and art. 

Showing the powerful connection between the past and the present, this exhibit highlights how women’s historical memories helped win redress, challenged racial and gender stereotypes, promoted intergenerational ties, and developed coalitions with other communities fighting discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, immigration status, gender, and sexual orientation.

This exhibition was sponsored by:
The Humanities Institute | The Humanities Division | California Civil Liberties Public Education Fund

Curated by Alice Yang, Chair of and Associate Professor of History; and Martabel Wasserman, Curator of the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery

Events

October 7: Opening Reception
November 17: The Japanese American Mass Incarceration, Art, Activism, and Multiracial Solidarity
Panel discussion featuring Karen Tei Yamashita and traci kato-kiriyama, moderated by Alice Yang

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Remembering the grave injustices to Japanese-Americans in the 1940s through female activism
By Grace Stetson – October 24, 2023

Duet: Robert Chiarito and Richard Deutsch

April 4, 2023 – June 3, 2023

Brushing, scraping, wiping, sanding, applying, shaping, shading, welding, burnishing, coloring, pushing, and pulling all generate the development of paintings and sculptures. After several decades of art making, however, painter Robert Chiarito and sculptor Richard Deutsch find that their best art is more like a treasure hunt where searching and discovery are at the heart of the creative process. As friends for over 30 years, they share and delight in each other’s artistic inquiries and challenges. 

Three years ago, Richard invited Robert to his studio to install a group of paintings in anticipation of a visiting curator. Alongside Chiarito’s paintings was a large sculpture by Deutsch, and the unexpected relationship between form and sensibility was a surprise. Eager to continue this dialogue, they were excited when invited to show their work together.

While each artist retains their vocabulary, they view this exhibition as a collaboration or a duet, exploring their initial response to seeing and experiencing their work together.

Events

April 8: Opening Reception

Gaining Perspective – Angelica Glass

January 10, 2023 – March 11, 2023

Six years. 4,121 streets. Angelica Glass walked the entire County of Santa Cruz, learning photography as she went. We are excited to bring you a story of finding beauty, listening to your heart, and gaining perspective in all sorts of ways. This exhibit is a marvelous experience of the diversity in our county. What is out there and what can we derive from such a journey? It turns out, a lot. Come and see for yourselves.

Events

January 14: Opening Reception

Bodies of Water: The Unseen World of Plankton
Jenni Ward and Ari Friedlaender

September 20, 2022 – December 3, 2022

Planktons are defined as marine drifters and while extremely tiny compared to whales, they make up 90% of the mass of all marine life in the ocean. They are vital to sustaining all life on our planet, they signal changes in our climate, and yet these microscopic creatures are often overlooked and rarely strike us with awe. This exhibition shares the ecological importance of plankton and how we are all connected.

Featuring ceramic sculptures by Jenni Ward and ocean science research by Ari Friedlaender

Events

September 24: Opening Reception

Warp & Weft

March 28, 2022 – May 29, 2022

The talented artists assembled here have each found, in both woven forms and imagery, their own path to deep expression. The relation of weaving and cloth to story-telling and community is as old as language itself, and yet each artist has found a unique, clear voice for articulating personal experience, reflection and care. We offer visitors some history of string, thread and fabric, and invite all to take a moment at the loom to lend their own hand to the rhythm and weight of weaving beauty into the world.

Artists: Christine Adcock, Michael Adcock, Vicki Assegued, Ann Dizikes, Holly Downing, Bridget Mary Henry, Kindy Kemp, Victoria May, Janet Pollock

Events

April 22: Artist Reception

Sikh Art in America: The Kapany Collection

January 8, 2022 – March 5, 2022

This unique exhibition introduces Sikh art alongside a historical look at the Sikh migration and history from Punjab to America, more specifically California. Through the Kapany Collection we introduce the Sikh culture, history and ethos. Our timeline highlights the Sikh journey, calling attention to their important contributions to agriculture, science and community.

This collection from Narinder S. and Satinder K. Kapany, an unparalleled assemblage of both antique and contemporary art, does well to establish the history of the Sikh people, not just their religion but rather art that is by and about Sikhs. Through these works we hope to illuminate opportunities to build unity, connectivity, and a richer shared understanding of each other and of our Golden State.

This exhibition is made possible with support from the Sarbjit Singh Aurora Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies and Cowell College.

Events

March 5: Closing Reception

A Remarkable Woman: Eloise Pickard Smith

September 20, 2021 – December 11, 2021

Eloise Pickard Smith was a force of nature when it came to creating art and bringing art into the lives of the myriad lucky souls who entered her orbit. She was a gourmet cook, gardener and mother, raising four children who themselves went on to become respected artists. Eloise was a passionate community activist, successfully helping to block the building of a nuclear power plant. She did it all and she did it remarkably well.

Bringing together her art, personal and family life alongside her many professional accomplishments, this exhibit exemplifies the full breadth of her insight. It seems fitting that the beloved celebration of her one hundredth birthday shines here on the walls of the gallery she was determined to establish and now bears her name. 

With key loans from The William James Association we exhibit work from one of her most outstanding achievements, the California Prison Arts Project. Five decades since she launched it, it continues to bear witness to her belief that people could be redeemed by the act of making art. We thank Peter Merts for his compelling photography, beautifully illustrating the humanity art brings within the prison walls.

Be inspired and engage in following your own aspirations, be tenacious and always speak the truth. Eloise showed us that one person can have an enormous impact on the many.