We the People: A Conversation with Deborah Jack

An Arts Alive SDSU Discovery Series artist Zoom panel will foster conversation celebrating the Department of Women’s Studies’ 50th anniversary.

by Gabriela Romero

September 28, 2020

​September 28, 2020

The SDSU School of Art and Design and the Department of Women’s Studies are teaming up to celebrate 50 years of the Department of Women’s Studies. A lecture, We the People: A Conversation with Artist Deborah Jack, is in conjunction with One SDSU and Arts Alive Discovery Series. Set to take place Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m., this lecture will afford the panelists and audience the ability to explore issues raised by the We the People: 50 Years of Women’s Studies and Activism through Art exhibit that is postponed due to COVID-19.

Curated by SDSU School of Art Galleries Director, Chantel Paul and Associate Professor Graphic Design Area Head, Arzu Ozkal, community outreach programs related to the gallery exhibit will catalyze conversations about LGBTQIA+, body image, political constructs, sexual assault, gender equality and racism.

Appearing virtually along with Deborah Jack will be Lecturer of Art History, Amy Sanchez-Arteaga and Professor of Women’s Studies, Kristi Abrecht.

As the moderator, Chantel Paul states she will discuss Jack’s artwork and research, as well as “interconnectivity between geography, culture, memory, social consequences of natural disasters (hurricanes), and feminism.”

Jack’s work is based in video and sound installation, photography, painting and text. Currently, her art focuses on trans-cultural existence, memory, the effects of colonialism and mythology through re-memory.

Paul states, “while [Jack] may depict particular subjects and places, there is a universal aspect to her work that allows viewers from many different backgrounds and personal experiences to connect with the artwork and understand the story she is telling.”

“As an immigrant woman myself, [Jack’s] classes helped me a great deal to find my voice and talk about my story in my creative work,” says Arzu Ozkal, Associate Professor Graphic Design Area Head.

Designed to connect university produced art exhibits, performances and film screenings to studies in the humanities and sciences, the Arts Alive Discovery Series promotes inclusive and impactful research practices for contemporary learning.

“Essentially, we’re promoting the idea of artistic practice as a form of critical thinking, and the Discovery Series offers opportunities for students to explore important cultural and sociopolitical issues from multiple perspectives,” chair of Arts Alive SDSU, Professor Eric Smigel said.

The lecture is open to the public and Zoom registration for this 90-minute program can be found here.

While there are unknowns about when the We the People gallery exhibition will be available for visitors, digital content and a cataloge will be produced later this semester and beyond.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

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