The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art is pleased to announce an upcoming solo exhibition of contemporary artist Camille Hoffman. The exhibition will span two separate galleries at the museum – the Gray Wing and McMeen Gallery.
Artist Camille Hoffman uses materials collected from childhood and her everyday life to craft imaginary landscapes that are grounded in accumulation, rehabilitation, personal narrative, and historical critique. Taking inspiration from the Philippine weaving and Jewish storytelling traditions of her ancestors, along with traditional techniques from her academic training, she interweaves images with found objects to reveal seamless yet textured transcultural contradictions.
Her focus for this exhibition is the 1587 first documented Filipino landing in what is now Morro Bay, in San Luis Obispo County. Using traditional pina cloth, made from the leaves of the pineapple plant, she has created custom individual paintings that will line the surfaces of the Gray Wing. The installation in the museum’s Gray Wing will be a deeply immersive exhibition that transforms the entire space – covering the floors, ceilings and walls.
In the Museum’s McMeen Gallery, the museum will exhibit iconic works from Camille’s oeuvre that deal with similar themes.
“Having the opportunity to work with this incredible artist is a dream come true,” said SLOMA Chief Curator Emma Saperstein “For a project like this, so many things have to come together perfectly in order for it to succeed. All those things happening at this specific moment in time, at this particular place in the world, means that the project was truly meant to be.”
Additionally, Hoffman is creating a public art piece to be installed on the Museum’s lawn as a part of SLOMA’s partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo. The sculpture, which will be installed mid-June, will further explore this 1587 Filipino landing. Inherent to Camille Hoffman’s practice is a deeply collaborative and social element. As a result, she has developed relationships with local Filipino groups, including the Filipino American National Historical Society’s Central Coast chapter and Cal Poly’s Filipino Cultural Exchange.
Hoffman’s exhibition will be complemented with educational and community programming including free family art activities, free lectures, and a catalog featuring essays by Ryan Buyco (Cal Poly Ethnic Studies Professor), Gina Apostal (award-winning novelist with a focus on Philippine colonial history), and Leilani Lynch (curator at The Bass Museum of Art).
“It is so exciting to me that an artist like Camille can teach us so much about our own community’s history and beauty,” said SLOMA Director, Leann Standish. “I can’t wait to see the project and all of the natural partnerships take shape.”
The exhibition is presented with support from sponsors including Pacific Western Bank and Hotel San Luis Obispo.
Camille Hoffman: See and Missed, May 28 – August 21
Member Preview: May 27, 6-8 p.m.
Public Sculpture: Will be installed on June 10 and celebrated with a community event on June 11, details TBD
Panel discussion: June 1 at 5:30 p.m.