Digital Oculus introduced by Biennial Award recipient Maria Elena González (’80)

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On Thursday, May 15th, Maria Elena González (FIU BFA ’80) introduced Digital Oculus to a crowded room of visitors at The College of Architecture + The Arts | Miami Beach Urban Studios.

An internationally acclaimed artist, González’s work is included in public and private collections throughout the world, and has been exhibited in major museums and galleries in the United States, Switzerland, and her native Cuba. Most recently, her “Tree Talk Series” was included in the 30th Annual Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts at the MGLC-International Centre for Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia, where it was awarded the Grand Prize in September 2013.

González has received numerous awards, including the Prix de Rome from the American Academy in Rome and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. She previously taught at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, where she is a board member, the Cooper Union School of Art, F+F School of Art and Media Design, Zürich, Switzerland and Visiting Critic at Yale School of Art. She is the sculptor member of the Public Design Commission of the City of New York.

She earned a BFA from Florida International University in 1980 and an MA in sculpture from San Francisco State University. While at FIU, she was inspired by Ralph Buckley, who taught by example and brought an incredible dedication and sense of discipline to making art that she still abides by today.

At the reception for Digital Oculus, González spoke about the digital realm, and their influence on artists and their creative processes. Additionally, visitors at the Miami Beach Urban Studios were invited to converse with González. One guest engaged in deep discussion with González about technology’s place in the art world, and how the historical significance of an artwork is affected by the passage of time.

After the reception for Digital Oculus, alumna Marilyn Loddi (BFA ’14) performed her piece “Eggplantian Spring Meditation” at the Washington Avenue entrance of the 420 building.

Information about Maria Elena González was written by Ashley Garcia, CARTA Advancement and Alumni Relations and Maria Claverie, Assistant Director of CARTA Advancement and Alumni Relations. Their original article can be found by clicking here.

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