October 27, 2006

From November 2 through December 7, Jacalyn Lopez-Garcia will be presenting her exhibit, Life Cycles: Reflections of Change And A New Hope For Future Generations in the Brandstater Gallery at La Sierra University (4500 Riverwalk Parkwalk, Riverside, CA). The presentation will be a part of Beyond Heritage in conjunction with the Riverside Art Museum and the Millard Sheets Gallery.

Jacalyn Lopez-Garcia is a professional photographer with an artistic vision to create reflections of the past while exploring new understandings of the present. She has been inspired to push the boundaries of politics and art through the integration of both traditional and non-traditional artistic practices. Her artwork encompasses a variety of different yet essential themes in this world such as cultural identity, gender roles, and religion.

Life Cycles is a series of documentary style photography and short videos that examine the history of immigrant and migrant farm workers that settled in the colonias of Coachella Valley, California. Lopez-Garcia documents the lives of seven migrant families and their involvement in the ever-changing social landscape of California. In essence, her documentation focuses on the personal struggles and accomplishments of each family. Because the settlements of these families are often located just outside of regular communities, many times they are not under the jurisdiction of any civic entity. Thus, they lack the infrastructural amenities such as water, electricity, sewage, and law enforcement. This particular environment is usually the necessary place where immigrant migrant laborers must live. In her exhibit, Lopez-Garcia captures the life of people who find themselves caught between harsh circumstances back home and the uncertain prospects of life in an unknown place.

The specific focus on these Colonias will critically examine the migrant lifestyle in order to reveal the motivating factors that cause individuals to embark on a difficult journey to places of incredibly harsh living conditions in the hopes of someday achieving a better life.

The Brandstater Gallery will be open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Friday, Saturday and university holidays. For questions regarding the exhibit, call (951) 785-2959 or e-mail brandstatergallery@lasierra.edu.

For more information about Jacalyn Lopez-Garcia, visit her website at www.artelunasol.com.