Exhibit Features Uyesaka’s ‘Long Story Short’
The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum opens the fall season with a diverse collection of art objects and images by third generation Japanese-American Dug Uyesaka Oct. 20- Jan. 14 in the museum. A free, opening reception for “Dug Uyesaka: Long Story Short” is Thursday, Oct. 20, from 4-6 p.m. in the museum.
Uyesaka enrolled at UC Santa Barbara in 1975 and was mentored by art faculty William Dole, Howard Fenton, Bob Thomas and Richard Ross.
“He is such an integral part of Santa Barbara’s art scene,” says Judy Larson, R. Anthony Askew professor of art history and museum director. “He is a UCSB art graduate; a frequent exhibitor at art exhibitions around town; and an art teacher at Laguna Blanca School. Our mid-career retrospective of Dug’s work will showcase his amazing oeuvre — from prints to paintings and drawings, from collage to assemblage.”
Uyesaka was born after World War II, but recalls stories of his immigrant Japanese grandparents who were interned in Arizona and Arkansas. As a baby-boomer, he was influenced by the popular culture of the 1960s, especially television and comics.
“Dug often uses humor to snag the attention of the viewer,” Larson says. “But once we are drawn in, the deeper meanings and messages of his works captivate our attention. The works are simple and clean, yet thoughtful and provocative.”
“Uyesaka embraces change in all of its forms in a variety of media, but principally through the juxtaposition of found objects in sculpture,” says art critic Charles Donelan. “Uyesaka grasps and preserves images of transition.”
“Uyesaka is beloved in Santa Barbara,” says former Westmont art professor Tony Askew. “This exhibition will be recognition of him as an educator, artist and community friend.”
The exhibition is sponsored by Michael and Nancy Gifford and Dana White with support from Peter and Becky Adams, Tony and Barbara Askew, Jill and John C. Bishop Jr., Susan E. Bower, Phoebe Brunner and Keith Albert, Ginny Brush, Patricia Chidlaw, Diane Dodds and David Reichert, Robert and Christine Emmons, Elaine Esbeck, Rita Ferri and Joseph Narkevitz, the Foil Family, Brandon and Karishma Gattis, Bill and Rosemarie Gebhart, Perri Harcourt, the Hayden Family, Joanne C. Holderman, Alice Gillaroo and Susan Jørgensen, Hideko Malis, Penny and Wayne McCall, Amanda McIntyre, Connie Connally-Michel and Hal Michel, Peter Morris, Leon and Elizabeth Olson, Ron Prokrasso, Nyla and Henry Rasmussen, Ro Snell and Rick Sanders, Dennis and Susan Savage, Marie Schoeff and Dane Goodman, Ed Shank, Middleton and Carol Squier, Clay Tedeschi, Herbert and Karen Tews, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tripi, Helene Eaton Winter, Siu Zimmerman and Seyburn Zorthian.
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and college holidays. For more information, please visit www.westmontmuseum.org or contact the museum at (805) 565-6162.