RETIRED FACULTY MEMBER HELPS RAISE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Although faculty member Matt Jackson retired in July 2021, he is still contributing to the education and well-being of Citrus College students.
An exhibition currently on display in the college's Art Gallery, located in the Visual Arts Building, features abstract paintings Mr. Jackson created during the 20 years he taught digital arts at Citrus College. The pieces featured in "Matt Jackson – Paintings 2001-2021" are all available for purchase, with 100% of the proceeds going toward digital arts students and their educational endeavors.
"Fundraisers like this don't come along often. There aren't very many art scholarships knocking on students' doors," said Dyane Duffy, coordinator of the exhibition and visual arts instructor. "Matt cares about the college's visual arts programs and is particularly interested in the growth of the digital arts program, which he helped build over the past 20 years. This show is important to him, to the division and to our efforts to help deserving students pursue their goals."
The exhibition opened with a reception on Sept. 21 and will be on display through Nov. 9. The gallery is open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Additionally, the college's ArtsWatch speaker program hosted Mr. Jackson on Zoom on Nov. 3. Created in 2016, ArtsWatch provides educational opportunities for students, such as art openings and film series.
"The pieces in the show are evidence of Matt's love and experience with printmaking. This can be seen in the many layers of transferred images, collages, drawings and paintings. He also loves color, as well as the materiality of the paint and surfaces. He has always been interested in textures and layering," Ms. Duffy continued. "He was a large part of the visual and performing arts division for two decades, and he has been missed since his retirement. It is nice to still have him with us here in the gallery! His work will inspire and engage all viewers."
This article originally appeared in the November 2021 edition of the Citrus View.