News Summary
The Orange County Museum of Art has launched the 15th California Biennial, themed ‘Desperate, Scared, But Social,’ with a vibrant opening day block party. The event featured family-friendly art activities, food trucks, and a live performance by a local punk band. The exhibit runs until the end of the year and includes works from twelve California artists, focusing on youth culture and the punk ethos. The exhibition encourages dialogue around the emotional realities of adolescence and fosters community engagement through art.
Costa Mesa – The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) has officially launched the 15th California Biennial, themed “Desperate, Scared, But Social,” with an exciting opening day block party. Taking place at the museum, which is located at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the event featured a vibrant exploration of the art exhibit and a host of engaging activities, drawing family and friends from the surrounding community.
The block party, which took place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., included a variety of family-friendly activities such as art-making stations and food trucks, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy. Attendees were able to interact with the exhibition and take part in projects that emphasized creativity and self-expression. The day concluded with a live performance by the Orange County punk band Emily Sassy’s Lime, who performed tracks from their 1995 album that shares the same name as the exhibition’s theme.
This year’s California Biennial will run through the end of the year and features works from twelve distinct California artists, including several local talents from Orange County. The pieces on display reflect on the experiences of young adults, exploring themes that resonate with the punk culture and the emotional realities of adolescence.
Exhibition Details and Artists
The exhibition is curated by Courtenay Finn, Christopher Y. Lew, and Lauren Leving, who together acknowledge the influence of personal histories and collective experiences on youth culture. Notable artists included in the biennial are Brontez Purnell, Griselda Rosas, Miranda July, Seth Bogart, Laura Owens, Woody De Othello, and Joey Terrill, each contributing to a diverse array of works that cross various artistic disciplines, including photography, painting, video, and music.
Among the key installations featured are large-scale presentations by Deanna Templeton, showcasing teenage diaries and photographs, and Heesoo Kwon, who uses artificial intelligence to enhance childhood images. These works aim not only to reflect the challenges faced by youth but also to empower and inspire the younger generation.
In a unique collaboration, OCMA’s Orange County Young Curators program contributed to the biennial, with 15 local high school students curating their own segment within the exhibition. Additionally, the exhibit integrates works from the Gardena High School Collection, which boasts a nearly century-old collection curated by high school students, highlighting the intersection of youth empowerment and art.
Exhibit Themes and Objectives
The overarching theme of the California Biennial—“Desperate, Scared, But Social”—focuses on the importance of social interaction and community engagement rather than despair, creating a platform for young artists to express their narratives and perspectives on adolescence. The exhibition encourages conversations around youth culture, infusing the punk ethos with messages of hope and solidarity among the younger population.
The Orange County Museum of Art has recently opened in its new building and is dedicated to providing access to art for all, remaining open and free to the public from Wednesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This significant relocation in 2018 marks a new chapter for the museum, aiming to foster a deeper appreciation for contemporary art within the community.
As the California Biennial continues through this year, OCMA encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the dynamic and thought-provoking works of art that reflect the complexities of youth experiences, while celebrating the vibrant history and culture that defines California’s punk scene.
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Additional Resources
- OC Register: OCMA Throws a Biennial Block Party
- Wikipedia: California Biennial
- Opera Wire: Performa 2025 Biennial Premieres Eight New Commissions
- Google Search: California Biennial
- LA Times: OCMA California Biennial Fall Arts Preview
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Biennale
