FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. COC-07-081-SC
April 24, 2007
'Julian's Alums' to Showcase Artwork at Gallery Joanne Julian has served as chair of the fine arts department for 25 years and as gallery director at College of the Canyons for 12 years. While she has dedicated her life to teaching, she has never abandoned her own studio. A widely renowned artist in her own right, the COC Art Gallery will present the alumni exhibition "Julian's Alums" on May 15, 2007 in recognition of her impending retirement. This exhibition will showcase the work of students Julian taught during her career as an educator and artist. "I enjoyed locating my students, and was thrilled to have contacted them all over the United States and as far away as Germany and Japan," said Julian. "Many will be flying into the area in order to participate in the exhibition and the reunion. I was shocked to learn that many of them are middle aged, the first group is well into their 50s at this point. It brought home that I was only a couple of years older than them when I began teaching at 23," mused Julian. "I hope I will be recognizable." Along with the showcase of their artistic work and professional contributions, the exhibition will consist of the personal and professional successes of Julian's students, their families and memorable experiences and events from their days at COC as art students. Julian received her bachelor and master of arts degrees in sculpture and printmaking from California State University, Northridge and her master of fine arts degree in painting from Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design. Julian has studied and traveled in the Orient, which is immediately noticeable in her work. "Critics have often identified a Zen quality in her work...a gentle merging of natures, a unification of humanity and all living things, of yin and yang, the discipline and spirit of Taoist painting," said critic Robert McDonald, past Senior Curator of the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art. The reception will begin at 7 p.m. in the COC Art Gallery. Admission is free and the exhibition will run through June 1st. The public is welcome. The art gallery and store hours are from noon to 3 p.m. from Monday through Thursday. The gallery is closed Fridays, weekends and all college-observed holidays. For more information regarding the exhibition, call (661) 362-3613 or visit the college's website at www.canyons.edu. | 
