Work from California investigates California-the state, and the
state of mind-as a subject for a graphic design exhibition.
Typically, region-based exhibitions collect significant work from
a particular location, in the hope that common themes may emerge
among the diverse individual practices presented. But in the
profession of graphic design, where the majority of work is based
on a client's content and thus never totally an autonomous and
personal expression of the designer, it can be harder to discern
regional thematics and commonalities. They can easily get blurred,
obscured, or reduced to pure style.
Work from California makes its focus clear: It features
exceptional works by graphic designers who are not only based in
California, but also directly interpreting or reflecting upon
California as subject matter. It is a portrait of America's 31st
state through the lens of graphic design. It examines the
fascination that California exerts over these creative individuals,
and reveals much about the makers themselves as well as the myths,
contexts, attitudes, and histories of the place where they live and
work.
The works, which include publications, posters, photographs,
prints, and installation pieces, explore subjects as diverse as
migration, frontierism, the West, celebrity, spirituality, the
vernacular, landscape, technology, architecture, film, and
California subcultures such as surfing, skateboarding, and
bodybuilding.
Work from California Featured Designers
Bob Aufuldish, Dexter Sinister, James Edmondson, Émigre, Ed Fella,
General Working Group, Holly Gressley, Hand Held Heart, Simon
Johnston, Mr. Keedy, Willem Henri Lucas, MacFadden & Thorpe,
Geoff McFetridge, McSweeney's, Emily McVarish, Jeremy Mende, Mike
Mills, MINE, Harsh Patel, Everett Pelayo, Casey Reas, Stephen
Serrato, Stuart Smith, Gail Swanlund, Martin Venezky, Volume Inc.,
Lorraine Wild, Women, and Michael Worthington
About the Author
Originally from Hawaii, Jon Sueda has practiced design everywhere
from Honolulu to Holland. After earning his MFA in Graphic Design
from CalArts in 2002, he was invited to North Carolina State
University to serve as a designer in residence, followed by an
internship in the Netherlands with Studio Dumbar. In 2004, Sueda
co-founded the design studio Stripe, which specializes in printed
material for art and culture. He is also the co-editor ofTask
Newsletter, and the co-organizer of AtRandom events.
Sueda has lectured, taught workshops and has been visiting critic
at: North Carolina State University, Raleigh; University of Hawaii;
École des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, France; Rutgers University;
University of Missouri, Saint Louis; Otis College of Art and
Design; Art Center College of Design; Southern California Institute
of Architecture (SCI ARC); and California Institute of the Arts
(CalArts). In 2007, Sueda relocated to the San Francisco area,
where he is an Assistant Professor in the Graphic Design Program at
California College of the Arts (CCA) and Design Director at the CCA
Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts. Most recently, he curated
the exhibition The Way Beyond Art: Wide White Space at CCA Wattis
Institute for Contemporary Arts.
