James Luna

Lecture: Monday, August 22
Workshop: August 22 - 23

A resident of California's La Jolla Reservation, James Luna has received wide acclaim for his deconstruction of stereotypes and notions of “Indian” identity. Luna's work has conceptual overtones and he strives for minimal means in his multi-media and video installations. He employs a variety of media such as objects, audio, video and slides, and believes that this complex expression, "offers an opportunity like no other for Native people to express themselves, without compromise, in the Indian traditional art forms of ceremony, dance, oral traditions, and contemporary thought." In addition to being an artist he works as a full-time academic counsilor at Palamar College.

Workshop: Personal Narratives – Performance Art Workshop
Luna will begin the workshop with a brief multimedia presentation of his performance and installation art. This presentation will include a slide/video program and selected readings. Luna will discuss his process in making art from concept to the final draft.

Topics to be covered will include:
Themes (Concepts): Cultural identity (ethnicity, Personal identities (social groups), Histories (past and present) and Issues (political/personal).

Use of Medias: Performance: Body & languages.
Technology: Video, photography, audio recordings and media combinations. Installation: Found objects, crafted objects and multimedia works.
The workshop will include audience participation and the development of an individual or group performance.

Notes: Participants are encouraged to bring a story to the workshop. The story should be short and can be fictional or non-fiction. The story should be based on visuals, that is to say a story that can be “seen” when read or spoken. Music and props for the story are welcomed.

Call for workshop application at 424 5050, or download online
Scholarships available.