Photographer Eileen Cowin Featured as Annual Artist in Residence

PCC’s artist in residence, accomplished photographer Eileen Cowin unveiled her most recent two-part installation at the PCC Art Gallery with a public presentation on Monday. Cowin, through the use of digital media and short film delves into the relationships between affectionate gestures and intimate moments between individuals, and explores the realms of the ordinary.

Cowin’s work often reflects her interests in the different aspect of the human experience.

She is an “important figure in the story of contemporary art in Los Angeles” according to artist and Managing Editor for the contemporary art journal X-Tra, Shana Lutker.

Several PCC faculty members became subjects in Cowin’s sixteen-channel installation “Blow Me a Kiss”, including this year’s Artist-in-Residence Chairman and Photography Instructor Matthew Jordan.

“The kisses fluctuate between robotic movements and heartfelt gestures, and this is how the viewer experiences them on a screen,” writes Lutker on Cowin’s current exhibit at PCC.

Before a showing in the PCC Gallery, Cowin gave a public lecture in the Vosloh Forum where she talked about her work.

She showed brief excerpts from her previous work in a non-chronological order and introduced the audience to her creative thought process.

“I’m interested in the ordinary,” said Cowin as she described a piece that explores how artists come up with their ideas.

“As an artist, I find it inspiring to hear other people talk about their work,” said artist and PCC student Gloria Newton after hearing Cowin’s lecture.

Cowin is also scheduled to work with small groups of students to produce videos as part of her week-long stay at PCC.

“This is great because it gives students a chance to meet the artist,” said gallery operator and animation student Andrea Aguillar.

“The artist becomes accessible and helps the learning process for those who want to become fine artists.”

Since 1987, PCC has hosted an array of various national and international artists to participate in the college’s Artist-in-Residence program.

This program invites prominent artists to display their work in the PCC Art Gallery, interact with students and the Pasadena arts community, and allows for the artist to create a new work for PCC’s permanent art collection.

Donated works by past artists-in-residence can be found in the Shatford Library and the Boone Sculpture Garden.