Camarillo, CA - The Art Program at CSU Channel Islands (CI) is pleased to announce its next exhibition in the Art Gallery at Napa Hall: “Joe Fay – Recent Drawings,” which runs from Jan. 31 through March 1. An opening reception will be held Thursday, Jan. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Fay will exhibit two different series of drawings, all created within the last year and a half. His “Christo Project” drawings decry a controversial art project proposed by the artist Christo that would suspend large fabric panels over parts of the Arkansas River in Colorado. Fay opposes the project, as he believes it threatens wildlife and alters the river’s ecosystem. The drawings are a humorous, personal protest, portraying the animals’ and other citizens’ responses to alteration of the river.

The “Wild Bird/Animal” series is Fay’s interpretation of these particular birds and animals. An avid outdoorsman, he witnesses these creatures regularly on hiking, fishing and backpacking trips. Using the animals’ basic shapes, Fay creates bold and uniquely colorful and personal images, rather than realistic renderings. His intent is to bring about a greater awareness of nature.

Fay currently resides and maintains a studio in Livingston, Montana. He holds a bachelor’s degree in art from San Diego State University. He began his career in Los Angeles, where he was one of the founders of the downtown Los Angeles artist loft culture of the late 1970s. In 1982, Fay received the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Young Talent Purchase Award. His work is widely exhibited and can be found in numerous public and private collections, including the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Santa Fe Museum of Fine Art, and numerous others.

The Art Gallery at Napa Hall is located on Ventura Street on the CI campus. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

For additional information, contact the CI Art Program at 805-437-8570, email art@csuci.edu, or visit http://art.csuci.edu/gallery. To learn more about the artist, visit www.joefaysart.com.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is celebrating 10 years of education, innovation, growth and community enrichment during the 2012/2013 academic year. We salute our faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters, and partners who continue the CI mission of a student-centered education emphasizing international and multicultural perspectives with interdisciplinary and experiential service-oriented learning.

Together, we are solving the problems of today, preparing the leaders and innovators of tomorrow, and contributing to the vitality of higher education.

CSU Channel Islands – A Decade of Distinction