CSU Channel Islands (CI) student Han Nguyen’s passion and talent for ceramic art has been rewarded with a scholarship and solo exhibition. The senior in CI’s Art Program won a Jeanne Ward Scholarship from the American Ceramic Society – Design Chapter of Southern California (ACS-DC) on Sunday and will open “Re-Imagining,” a month-long exhibition of her work, this week at CI’s Grad Wall Gallery in Napa Hall. The show kicks off with an opening reception Thursday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m.

“To have my work acknowledged with a scholarship and solo exhibition is a wonderful affirmation that my art has value and that the path I chose is correct and rewarding,” Nguyen said. “CI's Art Program has been a great stepping stone in my career. I have had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside great mentors who made me a better student and artist, and also taught me how art can make a positive contribution to the community and society.”

Nguyen, a native of Saigon, Vietnam, immigrated to California in 2001 with her mother and siblings, and is a first-generation college student. She discovered her passion for ceramic art in high school and entered CI’s Art Program to study ceramics and sculpture in 2010. She plans to attend graduate school next year, with the goal of becoming an art professor, professional ceramicist and sculptor.

“Re-Imaginings” is a beautifully crafted exhibition of porcelain forms, inspired by the creation stories of Nguyen’s native Vietnam, where people are believed to be descendants of dragons and celestial deities. Each installation reflects carefully researched traditional Vietnamese ceramic techniques and explores the rich and heterogeneous nature of the Asian American experience at its very best.
The Jeanne Ward Scholarship awards promising ceramic art students from Southern California $200, annual membership to the ACS-DC, and admission to workshops to broaden their exposure to special techniques and processes. Nguyen was also the 2013 winner of a Barbara Brooks Scholarship, presented annually to one promising CI art student.

“Han Nguyen is a dedicated student who embodies how the university experience can broaden the world view and sense of possibility and opportunity for first-generation college students,” said Amiko Matsuo, the CI art faculty member who nominated Nguyen for the award. “Through her time at CI, it has been exciting to see her sense of the ceramic community expand to the Los Angeles, national and international communities. Her experiences traveling to Vietnam and Japan to investigate ceramic communities and attending the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference have played an important role in her work and development as an artist.”

Ceramics education at CI takes a highly innovative interdisciplinary approach, exposing students to the intersection of subjects like art, science, history, literature, language, and business, as well as opportunities to learn from renowned artists, exhibit their work, engage in international study, and participate in professional conferences and workshops.

“Re-Imagining” will be on display through Friday, Feb. 21, in CI’s Grad Wall Gallery, located in Room 1154 in Napa Hall on Ventura Street. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 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 artist at nguyen.hantn@yahoo.com; or Amiko Matsuo at amiko.matsuo@csuci.edu or 310-936-0855; or the CI Art Program at 805-437-2772 or art@csuci.edu.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.