Staff Spotlight: Winter 2023
UCLA Arts staff are an essential part of our community. Their work underpins every aspect of our operations. Staff Spotlight highlights the creative, scholarly, and professional contributions of our staff, many of whom maintain impressive artistic and creative practices outside their campus roles. Learn more about our remarkable staff in this list of recent activities, accolades, and current and upcoming virtual and in-person exhibitions, performances, lectures, and more.
Achievements
Image courtesy Bahareh Ebrahimzadeh
Bahareh Ebrahimzadeh: Has a background in dance and has been performing with Keith Johnson/Dancers, a contemporary dance company based out of Long Beach since 2007. This past weekend, they presented a full evening concert in San Francisco at the Joe Goode Annex called Drifter. It was a piece that investigated both the hope and the demise of the 1960s—a divisive decade where feminism, civil rights, and social norms were challenged. Follow them on Facebook to catch the next performance in L.A.
Grape Bag in Neon Green. 100% polyester giant yarn. 9 x 7 inches with handle
Nancy Lee: As a second generation Korean-American born and raised in LA, Lee absorbed Korean language and culture growing up in Koreatown and keeps up with trends thanks to family and friends. Through her @handmadebynensh brand and in collaboration with MOCA, Lee makes giant yarn bags and other cozy creations.
Jane Orr: Hired as the new Summer Institutes Manager for the School of the Arts and Architecture. Prior to this appointment, Orr was the Summer Art Institute Director for the UCLA Department of Art. As the School of the Arts and Architecture Summer Institutes Manager she will provide strategic planning, analytical support, and resource management for all summer programs across the school.
Lynn Tatum: Accepted the position of Academic Personnel Analyst in the Dean’s Office, School of the Arts and Architecture. Lynn joined the Dean’s Office on February 21, 2023. She will provide support to Architecture & Urban Design and Design and Media Arts on academic recruitments, appointments, and advancements for all Senate and non-Senate faculty, Unit-18 Lecturers, Visiting appointments and TA/GSR payroll processing.
Upcoming Exhibitions, Events, and Performances
Verlena Johnson: Was a panel participant in the "Sinister Wisdom: A Multicultural Lesbian Literary and Art Journal" hosted the roundtable where 3 visual artists pondered how their work fits into their Lesbian identity and how the theme of Lesbianism functions in their work.
Brenda Williams: Teaching UCLA Extension Class “Contemporary Los Angeles Art,” exploring locations that are not generally accessible to the public. In-person visits focus on private collections, artist's studios, and curator-led gallery tours of current exhibitions. Insights into collecting, the business of art, and the importance of art in a designed environment (such as a home, retail, or hospitality location) are discussed. Each meeting includes multiple locations and guest speakers from the art world. Tours, examination of work, and discussions are held in person.
Interviews
Self-Portrait: Raven and Owl, 2019. Watercolor on paper, 22" x 30"
Verlena Johnson: Was featured on the SOREN LIT podcast with interviews of all our published writers. Showcase writers who are women, femme-identifying, and/or non-binary creatives with connections to the lingering South.
Stay engaged. Use #UCLAarts to stay connected.
