Renowned Artist Josiah McElheny Leans Into Learning During UC Davis Residency
Josiah McElheny, a renowned glass artist whose installations, sculptures, paintings and films engage with a wide array of concepts, recently spent a week with UC Davis Department of Art and Art History students and faculty as part of his residency with The California Studio: Manetti Shrem Artist Residencies. McElheny was the spotlight artist for the winter quarter.
McElheny has exhibited widely and received numerous awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship, for his art. His works often combine glass, or mirror with other materials, to emphasize the importance of appearing “as a subject in and of itself.”
While on campus, McElheny conducted six individual critiques with M.F.A. candidates, taught a two-part seminar – one with Distinguished Professor of Music Pablo Ortiz, another with Distinguished Professor Andreas Albrecht, Department of Physics and Astronomy – and hosted a conversation in the Department of Mathematics with Assistant Professor Roger Casals and Professor Jesús De Loera. The departments are all part of the College of Letters and Science.
“I appreciated Josiah McElheny’s openness and generosity while participating in lectures and discussions on campus,” said graduate student Jamal Gunn Becker. The M.F.A. candidate said McElheny had a unique way of inspiring the cohort to use their practice as a call to action.
“In mentioning how 'Your art and who you are is deeply connected,' McElheny’s prompt to 'Be the most engaged person you can be’ provided perspective into the role of the artist in the world,” Gunn Becker said.
As part of his residency, McElheny held a public lecture on Feb. 1 at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum, discussing the crossdisciplinary foundations of his recent work, which explores the relationship between color and sound. He also discussed the scientific and artistic theories underlying color and light.
“Josiah set an example about how art does not exist unto itself, but rather in harmony with other systems of knowledge and human experiences,” said Darrin Martin, co-chair of the Department of Art and Art History.
McElheny expressed gratitude during his public lecture for being invited to campus and the warm welcome from both faculty and students. “And, also, the opportunity for me to learn as I come to this institution of learning,” he said.
“I've been lucky to work with music, the math department and the astronomy department, and I definitely have learned an immense amount,” he said. “I think the students in the art department are really fortunate to have the support of somebody like Maria [Manetti Shrem] who makes this all possible. And I think it's a really wonderful group of students here now.”
Watch a recording of Josiah McElheny's public lecture here.
Photos by TJ Ushing/UC Davis.