Rene Gortat
, a sculptor and graduate studio arts student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ , will present “Artist Shelter” during the “(W)here” exhibition at Buckwheat space, 11564 Tioga Dr., Morongo Valley, California. His work will be on view March 15-17 with hours on Friday, March 15, from 2 to 7:30 p.m.
Gortat is the first resident artist of Buckwheat. “Artist Shelter” is a functional container tiny house conceived and constructed by Gortat for housing future resident artists. The shelter is part of his master of fine arts thesis project for the School of Art. In addition, he will be exhibiting other works made on the desert site. Michelle Castillo of Palm Springs, California, another resident artist at Buckwheat, will also show work.
Gortat is a New York City-based artist of Polish descent. At age nine, he and his family immigrated to New York from a small village in Poland. Throughout his life he has moved, on average, once a year. This constant movement fostered a sense of adventure but also one of instability. His work explores the concepts of home and displacement and of abandonment and the search for security.
Gortat is best known for his soft sculptures created by meticulously hand cutting three-dimensional forms out of neon-colored, layered fleece fabric. Gortat uses the fabric, which was inspired by the softness and approachability of baby blankets, to share a basic human desire for love and connection.
Buckwheat space is a project of Yvonne Buchanan, associate professor in the School of Art, and artist Dorene Quinn. “(W)here” is a part of Desert X Parallel Projects. For more information about the exhibition, visit .
