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Serving Students and Faculty of Orange County!

It has been a busy couple of weeks at Grand Central Art Center, with many classes visiting our current exhibitions.   Through faculty of Irvine Valley College, Fullerton College, as well as numerous class visits and individual critiques by our Cal State University Fullerton Department of Visual Art faculty, GCAC has been active.

CSUF Prof. Kyung Sun Cho class visits current exhibition of CSUF GCAC Residents exhibition.

CSUF Prof. Kyung Sun Cho class visits current exhibition of CSUF GCAC Residents exhibition.

Kyung Sun Cho, CSUF Visual Arts Professor and Program Coordinator in Drawing and Painting, brought her class to discuss the current exhibition that features the work of current CSUF MFA students who live on site at GCAC.   The exhibiting artists spoke about their individual work in the exhibition, than the class discussed the individual works and exhibition as a whole.   A very lively conversation!

Fullerton College Prof. Carol Henke's class tours with GCAC Director/Chief Curator John D. Spiak

Fullerton College Prof. Carol Henke’s class tours with GCAC Director/Chief Curator John D. Spiak

Fullerton College Prof. Carol Henke's class tours GCAC

Fullerton College Prof. Carol Henke’s class tours GCAC

Fullerton College Art Gallery Director and Professor Carol Henke brought her Exhibition Design class over for a tour.   Our Director/Chief Curator John D. Spiak spoke with the class about curatorial practice and opportunities in the museum and art world, shared his insights into the current exhibitions, and provided the group a full tour of the GCAC facility.   A great group of individuals who we know will be active in the local art scene.

Amy Grimm's Irvine Valley College class discusses the work of CSUF MFA student Patrick Faulk

Amy Grimm’s Irvine Valley College class discusses the work of CSUF MFA student Patrick Faulk

Amy Grimm's Irvine Valley College class is discussion with GCAC Director/Chief Curator John D. Spiak

Amy Grimm’s Irvine Valley College class is discussion with GCAC Director/Chief Curator John D. Spiak

Amy Grimm's Irvine Valley College Curatorial Practice class

Amy Grimm’s Irvine Valley College Curatorial Practice class

Amy Grimm, Assistant Professor of Art History & Museum Studies at Irvine Valley College, visited GCAC with her Curatorial Practice  class.   Once again, our Director spent time providing full tours and engaged with the class in productive conversation about the current contemporary art world.   The class was a very well informed and intelligent group of students that asked the right questions and were clear with their aspirations.

We know we will see many great activities generated by both the Irvine Valley College and Fullerton College individuals in the very near future.   It is clear that their instructors are inspiring, teaching and exposing these students to the multiple perspectives and approaches of museum and gallery practice.   We hope to see many of them soon as students in our own CSUF programs!

CSUF Prof. Joe Biel with CSUF MFA Student and GCAC Resident Kaitrin Sones Mathew

CSUF Prof. Joe Biel with CSUF MFA Student and GCAC Resident Kaitrin Sones Mathew

CSUF Associate Professor in Foundations 2D Design, Joe Biel, has been over numerous times in the past month, doing individual critiques with CSUF students who have work in the current GCAC exhibition.   He has spent quality time in the exhibition talking with the students about their concepts, techniques and vision for their work and directions they might take as the work moves forward.   The exhibition has provided a great opportunity for such engagement between faculty and students, a chance for the students to share insight and receive feedback while their work is hanging on our gallery walls, as well to interact at receptions with the public who are enjoying their creations.

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF Prof. Karin Schnell class presenting docent tours as class assignment

CSUF’s Museum Education program has been using the space as well.  Through classes taught by Prof. Karin Schnell, students visited Grand Central Art Center for a tour, followed by the students presenting practice docent/education tours of our current exhibitions.   Many of the students have been making visits to the center over the past few weeks to see and learn more about the exhibitions in preparation for the tours they created and presented to their fellow students.   It has been wonderful to have multiple visits by these students over such a short period of time, and to work with them as they develop the direction and perspective of their tours.

This is what GCAC is all about, the sharing of inspiration and information to enhance personal education, both formal university and general public, through the world of art and creativity.  We enjoy our role as educational outreach for the arts and invite teachers, professors and instructors from all across Southern California to connect with us.   Just call us, 714.567.7233, as we are happy to schedule a full tour for your class or group!