UCLA alumnus’ exhibit reflects on public transport as communal space
Design Media Arts alumnus Jesse Stecklow (B.A. '14) presents a new exhibition, "Staging Grounds" at M + B Gallery in Los Angeles. Stecklow said he decided to create a narrative from the communal space he found in the public, confined spaces of buses. “Describing the bus as this shared space allows you to interact with people from all different types of neighborhoods and areas and backgrounds that you may not come into contact with in the comfort of your privacy.” "Staging Grounds" is on view through May 12.
"Jesse Stecklow lifts his knees and presses them up against the seat in front of him when he rides the bus, allowing the slow ride to serve as a space for reflection.
The 2014 design media arts alumnus said he places a meditative value on public transportation – and urban life as a whole – which he aimed to showcase in his exhibit “Staging Grounds.” Stecklow’s exhibition opened at the M + B gallery April 7 and runs until May 12. While each piece in the exhibition can stand alone, Stecklow said they all work together within the gallery space to reveal the hidden moving parts of cities.
Growing up, Stecklow lived in Boston, London and Paris, where he noticed that each city’s residents used their central bus stations regularly. Upon his arrival in Los Angeles, however, he found public transportation didn’t have the same function as in other locations.
“The bus system in LA doesn’t have the same kind of efficacy,” he said. “And that got me thinking that if this is not the fastest or easiest way for me to get around – but it’s the only way for me to get around – what other aspects of this experience can be useful or interesting?”
Stecklow said he then decided to create a narrative from the communal space he found in the public, confined spaces of buses. Stecklow said he finds it unfortunate that many people think of public transportation as a vehicle for those without access to cars."— Anna Tingley, Apr. 17, 2018
This post is an excerpt, read the full article on the Daily Bruin website.
Stay engaged. Use #UCLAarts to stay connected.
