The exhibition "Public Texts: A Californian Visual Language" at the University of California, Santa Barbara's Art, Design & Architecture Museum showcases the diverse and vibrant art scene in California. The exhibition features works by several artists who use text and image to represent different aspects of Californian culture.
One notable aspect of the exhibition is the focus on commercial production as a theme. Yezi Lou's paintings feature consumer objects in empty environments, highlighting the ubiquity of consumer goods in modern life. Sheng Lor's sculptures reimagining the sewing loom with yarn-covered forms that become unrecognizable also touch on the relationship between industry and art.
Eve Fowler's "This Always Comes to That" (2011-12), a letterpress poster printed at Colby Poster Printing Company, is another notable piece in the exhibition. The poster's use of text and image reflects the ways in which language and visual representation are intertwined in commercial production.
Alma Alvarado's videos depict animal butchering and curing in precise detail, highlighting the often-overlooked aspects of industrial production. ricardo nagaoka's "Shroud" installation features a steel coffin attached to a breathing apparatus, accompanied by a short film of shaving, also exploring the intersection of industry and mortality.
The exhibition highlights the importance of California as a hub for artistic innovation in commercial production, showcasing the ways in which artists engage with the visual representation of culture.