News release
California Institute of the Arts is scheduled Saturday to present “+ & Etc.: CalArts Reef Residency Spring Open House,” an evening of exhibitions and performances by current artists-in-residence alongside works by CalArts master of fine arts graduates and CalArts bachelor of fine arts undergraduates, the Valencia-based arts university announced in a news release.
Taking place at The Reef building and creative hub in Downtown Los Angeles, the event is scheduled to feature:
• “High Pass: CalArts 2026 Art and Photo Media BFA Postgraduate Exhibition,” a group exhibition organized by Erika Keck, featuring paintings, photographs, sculptures, moving images, and a range of hybrid, mixed media works. While some institutions have students caught in a predictable love affair with the letter A, the CalArts graduating class of 2026 locked into a different object of desire. For the uninitiated, a “High Pass” is the CalArtian mark of excellence, a distinction that suggests a student’s efforts are superlative, provided one abandons conventional accolades. This exhibition was made possible by the Zhuang family in honor of Menghan Zhuang (Emily King).
• “Where One Does Not Belong,” works by Kiko Thomas, Jake Thornton and Kyle Slevira about the dystopian feelings that surround us: from the hope of technology improving our standards of life, and a social landscape that has been influenced by capital and modernization.
“Crafting Justice: Waging Art Upon Law,” a group exhibition curated by Ishani Chokshi, in which 18 artists wage art upon the law through painting, poetry, photography, sculpture, installation, video, performance, and more. Presenting their work before the judge (critic) and jury (audience), these artists revive virtue in both fields, crafting justice for all.
• “Wasteprothene,” a performance by A’JaeCea Carlie.
• “Mitosis,” a solo exhibition by Chinning Liu. In the days of striving for survival in every crevice, those frayed edges and loose threads scattered daily then intertwined over another life cycle.
• “We Will Always Have Los Angeles,” a solo exhibition by Zengjie Chai, tracing how intimacy is shaped by the awareness that a future is never guaranteed, calling attention to the urgency to be present.
• “paintings about today & tomorrow,” a solo exhibition by Catherine Wang.
• “A Night In,” a performance by Alec Anderson-Carrasco.
The CalArts Reef Residency offers a transformative opportunity for newly graduated artists to immerse themselves in creative collaboration and production, providing the space, resources, and community needed to bring ambitious projects to life in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the release said.
CalArts Reef Residency Open House is scheduled 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at the CalArts Reef Residency Space at 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (12th Floor, suites 1207, 1209, and 1216). Admission is free. Paid parking is available on-site.
