A glimpse of Su Yu-Xin’s Searching the Sky for Gold at Orange County Museum of Art. PHOTO BY YUBO DONG, OF STUDIO
Searching the Sky for Gold at Orange County Museum of Art
In her first solo exhibition outside of Asia, Los Angeles-based artist Su Yu-Xin investigates the often overlooked aspects of color as it relates to the natural world. On view through May 25 at the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA), Searching the Sky for Gold presents landscapes depicting the power of unseen phenomena that form the earth’s geology. “Su Yu-Xin’s captivating process—collecting natural materials from Malibu to the coasts of Taiwan and crafting her own pigments to create fluid contemporary landscapes—is both innovative and inspiring,” says OCMA CEO and director Heidi Zuckerman. As a representation of interconnected earthly realms, Yu-Xin’s art invites onlookers to connect with the natural world in a fascinating, new way.
Unearthed at Orange County Museum of Art
Running parallel to Su Yu-Xin’s Searching the Sky for Gold through May 25, Unearthed at the Orange County Museum of Art similarly explores the deeper meaning behind earth’s raw materials—this time, through ceramic vessels. Featuring the work of Shuyi Cao, Tony Marsh, Keita Matsunaga, Yūji Ueda, Masaomi Yasunaga and Alex Anderson, the exhibition investigates the earth’s role as a timeline—permanently recording geological changes over millions of years. Whether used as primary materials or points of reference, elements such as clay deposits, silica sands and mineralized rocks ground ceramic artistry in a specific time and place, embedding it with historical significance.
Beginning May 24, Bowers Museum brings the beloved terra cotta army back to Orange County with much more to discover. In collaboration with the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, “We are incredibly proud to be hosting this historic exhibition in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the original discovery of the warriors,” shares Bowers Museum president Sean O’Harrow. Longtime O.C. residents will recall the 2008 and 2011 exhibits showcasing the soldiers, but this time, the World of the Terracotta Warriors arrives with 110 newly unearthed treasures from royal tombs making their North American debut. Expect Qin Dynasty relics such as jade and gold ornaments, chariot regalia, ceremonial outfitting and other nearly 4,000-year-old artifacts from the walled city of Shimao.
The terra cotta warriors are back at Bowers Museum during World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SHAANXI CULTURAL HERITAGE PROMOTION CENTER
Carole Caroompas: Heathcliff and the Femme Fatale Go on Tour at Laguna Art Museum
Through July 13, explore the feminist works of the late Carole Caroompas, a visionary artist who used her incredible imagination for a powerful purpose. In a series of artworks created from 1997 to 2001, this multifaceted exhibition combines the famed character from Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights with the daring allure of rock ‘n’ roll to make a statement about gender and power relations. In her bold and bright collages, the Newport Beach-raised artist incorporates aspects of embroidery and other “women’s craft” art forms to challenge gender norms further. “Carole Caroompas was a bold, groundbreaking artist whose work was ahead of its time,” says exhibition curator Rochelle Steiner. “Her investigation led her to consider power— between individuals and within society—and to take a stance and propose alternatives that resonate well beyond her era.”
Carole Caroompas’ “Hester and Zorro: In Quest of a New World: Master and Servant” (1996, acrylic on found embroidery on canvas) will be on view at Laguna Art Museum through July 13. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAGUNA ART MUSEUM
Guy Dill: Nomad at Laguna Art Museum
Best known for his bronze works, Guy Dill was re-inspired during the pandemic when his sculptures sat concealed under white sheets in his studio. Until Sept. 1, Nomad—Dill’s unique art-to-artist exhibition—displays 14 captivating abstract sculptures crafted from plaster, wood and concrete. Mimicking the mysterious effect that first drew him in, the artworks appear wrapped in sheets yet are the product of attentive sculpturing with the artist’s fingerprints etched into every detail. Alongside these pieces is a series of charcoal prints that showcase the artist’s plan of action from its inception for a unique glimpse into his artistic process.
Donna Schuster: An Independent Brush at Laguna Art Museum
With the ability to practice art freely in her upbringing, acclaimed artist Donna Schuster broke boundaries in the industry with her one-of-a-kind works and as the co-founder of the Group of Eight, which facilitated the sale and exhibition of Modernist art in Southern California. Though she hasn’t had a solo exhibition in nearly 40 years, Schuster’s impressive range of artistic works will be on view through Sept. 7 at Laguna Art Museum, a testament to her independence and capabilities in the field during the early 20th century.
Photography by: Yubo Dong, OF Studio
