Artist Shanguo (Sam) Jia and his abstract paintings inspired by Pasadena Senior Center members (Photo – Pasadena Senior Center)
Internationally renowned conceptual artist Shanguo (Sam) Jia will unveil a series of abstract paintings inspired by members of the Pasadena Senior Center community who immigrated to the United States.
By News Desk
The works will debut at the opening reception for his exhibition, Our Stories in Art: Diversity and Symbiosis, on Saturday, April 4, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Pasadena Senior Center (PSC).
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artist as well as the project’s participants. Light refreshments will be served.
The event is free, and reservations are requested. To register or for more information, visit pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Activities and Events, then Special Events, or call (626) 795-4331.
Diversity and Symbiosis is a series of 30 abstract works inspired by the immigrant stories of PSC members. Two years in the making, Jia began the project by conducting personal interviews, asking each participant to share a meaningful thought from their journey. He then translated those reflections into a collection of abstract canvases, each paired with a video interview featuring the individual who inspired the piece.
The exhibition will be on display in PSC’s Fireside Lounge through July.
Jia, who immigrated to the United States from Shandong Province in China, drew inspiration from PSC members’ experiences to explore how leaving one country behind shapes the process of rebuilding a life in America. As part of the project, he asked each interviewee to write down a sentence that “influences them the most” in their immigrant journey.
This yearlong project is part of the Pasadena Senior Center’s celebration of 65 years of service to older adults in the San Gabriel Valley. Participants in the project represent a wide range of countries, including India, Ecuador, China, England, Austria, Canada, and the Philippines.
Jia, who holds an MFA from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, developed the concept for this project after arriving in California in 2022, seeking to expand his career and establish a stronger presence on the international art stage.
Meet Shanguo (Sam) Jia at Opening Reception: Our Stories in Art; Diversity and Symbiosis Saturday, April 4 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Location Pasadena Senior Center 85 E. Holly St. Pasadena, CA 91103 RSVP for free here.
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