2004 CALIFORNIA BIENNIAL
12 October 2004- 09 January 2005
THE ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
850 San Clemente Drive
LA
714.662.3366
www.ocma.net
Joel Tauber, Untitled from “Searching for the Impossible: The Flying Project,” 2003 2004 CALIFORNIA BIENNIAL
LARGEST AND MOST AMBITIOUS BIENNIAL INTRODUCING NEW ART FROM CALIFORNIA WILL INAUGURATE THE MUSEUM’S NEWLY-RENOVATED FACILITY
For Information please contact
Calleen Ringstad
(949) 759-1122 ext. 202
cringstad@ocma.net
Domenic Morea
(310) 479-9929 ext. 118
moread@ruderfinn.com
Newport Beach, CA – Demonstrating California’s increasingly influential role as an international artistic center, the Orange County Museum of Art will present the 2004 California Biennial, the largest and most ambitious Biennial at the Museum to date. The exhibition will be on view from October 12, 2004 to January 9, 2005 in the Museum’s newly renovated Newport Beach facility and new Orange Lounge at South Coast Plaza-the country’s first digital and video art space in a major retail complex.
The 2004 California Biennial showcases some of the state’s most exciting emerging contemporary visual artists. As the only exhibition of its kind in California, it brings together more than 120 works by 28 individuals, including large-scale installations, sculpture, paintings, works on paper, wall drawing and photographs, as well as digital and video art. The artists work in a wide range of styles and media and represent the multi-national, multi-ethnic character of California’s rich artistic environment.
In addition to presenting several new commissions and a performance series, the 2004 California Biennial includes two new artist residencies. Also, for the first time, it extends to the Orange Lounge, a new digital and video space at South Coast Plaza, where the works of three new media artists will be presented-Shirley Shor, Kota Ezawa, and Amy Franceschini.
“As part of our mission to explore the art of our time for a diverse and changing community, the California Biennial is a cornerstone of the Museum’s program,” said Director Dennis Szakacs. “The Biennial is the only exhibition in California that regularly takes the pulse of new art created in the state and presents work that is at the forefront of a constantly evolving art scene recognized around the world as a defining force in the field of contemporary art. We felt it was essential to open our renovated building with the Biennial and to establish the museum as a strong advocate for the next generation of important California artists. This extends to our collecting policy as well, with substantial funds set aside to purchase works by Biennial artists.”
The Biennial is organized by Elizabeth Armstrong, the Orange County Museum of Art’s deputy director for programs and chief curator, and the Museum’s curator of contemporary art, Irene Hofmann.
This year’s artists include: Libby Black, Mark Bradford, Marco Brambilla, Brian Calvin, Sean Duffy, Mark Dutcher, Simon Evans, Kota Ezawa, Kim Fisher, Amy Franceschini/ Futurefarmers, Karl Haendel, Glenn Kaino, Soo Kim, Michelle Lopez, Mads Lynnerup, Malerie Marder, Kori Newkirk, Ruben Ochoa, Kaz Oshiro, RIGO 23, Shirley Shor, Mindy Shapero, Joel Tauber, Josephine Taylor, Mungo Thomson, Kerry Tribe and the architectural study and urban planning collective, VALDES (Peter Zellner, Jeffrey Inaba).
MUSEUM INFORMATION
Newport Beach – Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach is located at 850 San Clemente Drive. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. OCMA is open free to the public every Tuesday thanks to the generosity of the Pacific Life Foundation. To reach the museum, turn south off Jamboree Road onto Santa Barbara Drive, then left on San Clemente Drive.
Orange Lounge at South Coast Plaza – The Orange Lounge is located at 3333 Bear Street in Costa Mesa on the third floor of the Crate & Barrel wing, next door to the Paul Frank Store. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Both facilities are handicapped accessible. For more information on: exhibitions 949.759.1122, membership ext. 212, education ext. 204, or public relations ext. 202. The museum’s fax number is 949.759.5623. The Orange Lounge phone number is 714.662.3366. The Web address is www.ocma.net
