Calm Under the Waves in the Blue of My Oblivion (2021)
For Immediate Release
January 25, 2021
Clark College’s Archer Gallery presents
Calm Under the Waves in the Blue of My Oblivion
a virtual exhibition by Yulia Pinkusevich
Exhibition dates: February 19, 2021 - April 18, 2021
Artist Talk & Opening Reception: February 19, 12pm Pacific Time
Artist Workshop: March 12, 12pm Pacific Time
All events are open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom (links TBA at website below).
For more details, and to view Calm Under the Waves, please visit: www.archergallery.space
Artist Statement:
In this time of great division and uncertainty, I find myself longing for unity, embracing feminine intuition, and looking for answers from ancient wisdom. Last year, I learned that my maternal ancestors were indigenous Siberians who (likely) practiced forms of shamanism in the Sakha region of Russia. Siberia is one of the richest areas of biodiversity, known for its harsh climate and extreme landscapes. I spent my childhood summers in these environments with my grandparents - but because native Siberians were brought to the brink of extinction by white Russian settlers in the nineteenth century, very little indigenous culture remained there by the time I was a child. When Stalin's regime then systematically purged shamanism (and all other religions) in the 1920s, a multigenerational amnesia around native heritage and sacred practices afflicted the region. For my family, this amnesia left only the remnants of what seemed like strange, forgotten superstitions.
Seeking to both reconnect with my lost heritage and contribute towards healing the planet, I began to learn about Earth Living Systems and Gaia Theory, scientific insights built upon indigenous cultural knowledge, the practice of bio regeneration, and sustainable land stewardship. This ongoing project, including Calm Under the Waves, has led me to expand my knowledge and reframe my own beliefs about thriving pre-colonial civilizations. The Sakha series depicts my own journey through time, meditating upon my connection with an ancient Siberian lineage and exploring the spirituality of my ancestors as a source of inspiration and life.
Artist Bio:
Yulia Pinkusevich is an artist and educator born in Kharkov, Ukraine (USSR). Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union, her family fled the eastern block as refugees, immigrating to New York City. Since childhood, Yulia Pinkusevich’s world view has been rooted in change. Her ability to adapt and observe has served as a central tool for harnessing a unique and fluid vision, often presenting immersive visual environments and expansive drawings that pull inspiration from her everyday surroundings, architecture, and personal immigrant journey.
Yulia Pinkusevich’s work has been featured in the United States and abroad including site-specific installations for Cite des Arts, Paris, Google HQ, Facebook Menlo Park, Loka Art Space in New Mexico, a Jail Cell Residency at Alter Space in collaboration with Recology, San Francisco; and a public installation in Buenos Aires. She has received fellowships from the Headland Center for the Arts, The Goldwell Open Air Museum, and The Bay Area Public Art Academy. Her list of completed residencies has included the Cite Des Arts International Studio Residency in Paris and the Recology AIR program in San Francisco, among others. Yulia has also been the recipient of the The Helen Wurlitzer Foundation Residency Grant, The San Francisco Foundation Phelan Murphy & Cadogan Award, and a number of Stanford University grants, including; the SPARK SiCA grant, the SICA ASSU Grant, and the Stanford University Graduate Tuition and Stipend Grant.
Pinkusevich holds a BFA from Rutgers University and an MFA from Stanford University. Following her time as a lecturer at Stanford, she joined the faculty of Mills College where she is now Associate Professor of Studio Art. Yulia currently lives and works in Oakland, California, on unceded Ohlone territory.
Please contact Michelle Ramin, Director of Archer Gallery, for inquiries.
360.992.2246 | www.clark.edu/archergallery | mramin@clark.edu
