Erin O’Shea

 

  • Erin has practiced and taught visual arts in Orange County, California for 20 years beginning with Orange County Department of Education's ACCESS programs for high school youth in our foster and correctional systems then continuing to the Visual Arts Conservatory of Orange County High School of the Arts. After earning her MFA in Illustration she began teaching at the college level for Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College. During her 7 years of teaching full time for Saddleback College she has taught a range of art studio, survey, theory and humanities courses that include: Renaissance: Science & Society, Foundations of Art, Color Theory, 2D Design, Drawing, Printmaking and Watercolor. Her professional work as an illustrator and an art consultant covers a range of collective processes that include designing accessible activities, space making and publishing.

    She strongly believes that while teaching technical skills, exposing students to a variety of artists and mediums allows them to develop an informed visual language. Erin encourages her student's to intentionally construct their visual identity by seeking out mentors in their areas of interest from any point in art history or contemporary culture. She is committed to the development of individual inquiry through studio projects that cultivate conceptual themes. Her projects require students to investigate contemporary society for areas of contrast or opposition in order to explore questions of equity and expression. Curiosity and courage are important tools for investigating one's capacity for visual expression and are fundamental focuses in her teaching/learning practice. Studio learning builds productive creative practices and community through the delivery and receiving of constructive critique. Her students develop the ability to apply feedback on their work through repetition of the creative process: divergent & convergent thinking, execution, revision & exhibition. Through studio experiences visual arts education has the capacity to create lasting social change and personal growth in a wide range of skill sets that are necessary for success in any career: time management, perseverance, communication skills and collaboration.

    As faculty advisor to Saddleback's Collaborative Arts Club, Erin works with students across campus to build a socially engaged creative community through zine publications, campus events and field trips. As a member of the Equity and Diversity Committee & Study Abroad Committee Erin works with her colleagues to create meaningful progress on campus for vulnerable communities as well as support student access to study abroad programming. She has organized and participated in interdisciplinary art projects with Anthropology, Language, Science and Math departments. As an advocate for STEAM integration, she embraces all opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and incorporates socially engaged projects into the art department curriculum. Her courses regularly participate in student exhibitions and gallery programming such as guest artists/workshops, transfer panels and annual community outreach events: Saddleback’s Family Night, Dia de los Muertos Art Festival, DACA Day of Action, Holiday Student Art Sale and Saddleback's One Book One College shared read programs.

  • Art Department Co-Chair - 2017-20

    Program Review, STEM to STEAM, SLO & Curriculum Development, Expansion of Campus Collaborations, Community Outreach via Gallery Programming, Development of Creative Entrepreneurs Certificate Program, Integration of Foundation Courses into General Education Pathways & Engaged Adjunct Program, Family Night Art Activities.

    Equity & Diversity Committee - 2012 to Present

    Safety Net Program/Logo to connect faculty & vulnerable students due to political environment, Removal & Replacement of the Gaucho Logo, Accessibility to Gender Neutral Bathrooms, LGBQT & Vulnerable Community Advocacy.

    Study Abroad Committee- 2012 to Present

    Spain, Santander Spanish Program Collaboration, Summer 2017

    Museum Visits- Madrid: Prado, Reina Sofia. Bilbao: Guggenheim Santander: Museo de Arte, Centro Botin. Barcelona: Picasso, Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Gaudi Architecture Tour

    Mural de Amistad- Mural Collaboration with Colegio Cumbres de Santander-22 year Anniversary Celebration with Saddleback College Spanish Study Abroad Program.

    Art Gallery Programming -

    2017-2019 - Spring Student Shows, Fall Holiday Sales, One Book One College Art-Pop Up Shows, Bloom California Ecosystems Show, How Very....Show, Japanese Tea Ceremony Show

    ArtSchool Transfer Panel-

    2017-2019- Art Department hosts a panel of representatives from top local transfer institutions including: CSUF, CSULB, UCSD, Laguna College of Art & Design, San Francisco Art Institute, Art Center of Pasadena.

    Guest Artists: 2017-2020

    Tim Musso-Printmaker, Art Professor La Sierra University

    Alvin Gregorio-Painter, Art Professor UC Boulder Colorado

    Bunny Reiss- Muralist, Freelance Artist

    Andrea Harris-Gallery Director, Publisher, Curator

    Mike Sheehan-Animator/Illustrator/Designer, Professor Fullerton College

    Jennifer Grey Olson-Children’s Book Illustrator/Author

    Chantal de Felice-Painter & Video-Sound Designer

    Yevgenia Milhacheck- Illustrator, Art Professor CSULB

    Dr Chris Hoff- Curator, Psychology Professor CSSB

    Yago Cura- Author, Zine Curator, LA Public Librarian

    Natalie Center-Risograph Printer, FaceBook Creativity Lab Director

  • Color Theory: Mural Collaborations

    2016 OC Great Park- OC History-Transportation, Entertainment, Housing &

    2017 OC Greenpeace-Resist-Climate Change, Ecosystem Regeneration & Sustainable Consumption

    2018 OC Homemaid - Houseless Community Needs & Collective Solutions

    2019 FA Courtyard- Albers Color Interaction Floor Mural

    One Book One College

    2016 Fives & Twenty Fives by Michael Pitre

    2017 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

    2018 Undocumented by Dan-el Padilla Peralta

    2019 Beautiful Boy- by David Sheff

    2020 Educated by Tara Westover

    Collaborative Arts Club- Faculty Chair

    2016 Movie Screening/Voter Drive: Idiocracy & Fall Student Zine,

    2017 Movie Screening/LGBT Collab: Moonlight, Day of Dead Photo Booth ‘Stand Here and think of Someone You’ve Loved’

    2018 Movie Screening/Equity & Diversity Collab: Ai Weiwei’s Human Flow, Bloom Student Zine, Display Case Interactive Drawing Space

    2018-19 ASG Grant Space Making- Courtyard Collaboration, Ceramics, Horticulture, Architecture, Student Clubs

    Day of Dead Art Festival

    2017 - Print, Ceramics, Culinary Collaboration included: Ceramic Bowl Sale,

    Salsa Competition, SteamRoller Printing, Tote Bag & BYO TShirt Printing, Taco Truck, Rocking Chair Printing, Public Altar to Ancestors.

    2018 - Print, 3D Design, Ceramics, Culinary Collaboration included: Ceramic Bowl Sale, Salsa Competition, Live Silkscreening on Totes & Tees, Sugar Skull Decorating, Danza Azteca Ceremony, Public Altar to Ancestors, DACA Art Action.

    Sequences and Spirals: Exploring Fibonacci Numbers through Music, Dance, Math and the Visuals Arts-

    2016- ART 40 2D Design, ART 60 Printmaking created original artworks centered on compositional use of Fibonacci rule of thirds and fractals.

    Happening-UnHappenings-

    2012, 2014, 2016- Contributor & Participant, Planning audio visual and performative works with human form, paint, fiber and sewing.

    DACA Art Action/Don’t Ghost the Vote- Campus Collaboration

    2018- ART 40 2D Design- Created designs that highlighted a range of cultural patterns and asked the public to respond in drawings or words to the following prompts: I feel supported by my community when______. My family emigrated from________. I am______ and I am not______.

    Tea Ceremony- Ceramics Collaboration

    2019 - ART 60 Printmaking- Developed artworks with the theme of Ukiyo-e- Floating World.

    Garbage Project- Flex Week Presentation

    2019-2020- Critical Committee Collaboration with Anthropology & College Campus-Flex week presentation, campus planning pre-pandemic.

  • Andrea Zittel-AZ West Encampment 2014-15, 2017 Sustainable Work Exchange Residency in Joshua Tree, CA, Liberation through Limitation, Individual Living Pods, Hour of Power-Desert Modification

    Open Engagement Conferences-Socially Engaged Practitioners & Artists

    2016-Oakland/Power- Angela Davis, Suzanne Lacey Keynotes “Power is the ability to make desired results happen. OE believes in the genius of the many so we invite presenters and attendees to define what power means for themselves as individuals and communities.” René de Guzman OE Curator

    2017-Chicago/Justice-Theaster Gates, María Gaspar Keynotes Highlighting the works of transdisciplinary artists, activists, students, scholars, community members and organizations working within the complex social issues and struggles of our time.

    2018 New York/Sustainability-Lucy Lippard and Mel Chin Keynotes Focused trainings to provide tools for impactful and sensitive creative work anchored in community building, social justice and opportunities for connection through femme fronted queer inclusive nightlife centered in the belief that transformative acts of change are deeply indebted to marginal spaces of collective joy.

    STEAM Conference- 2019 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics

    Supports educators' exploration of new ways to positively impact students' lives and opportunities. Highlighting inclusive strategies to creatively partner with local learning organizations to reduce learning loss, support social emotional development and hands-on activities for exploration learning. RISOgraph printer purchased by the Art Department and installed in Spring 2019.

    RISOlab, School of Visual Arts- Online Summer 2019- Zine and RISOgraph basics. Collaborative Zine Project with international students via zoom.

  • Professor of Visual Arts: 2012-Present

    Saddleback College, Mission Viejo

    Courses Taught- 2D Design, Color Theory, Drawing, Printmaking, Landscape Painting, Art Foundations

    Department Co-Chair-Administrative responsibilities included: curriculum development, program review, scheduling, communication with adjunct, gallery advocacy.

    Adjunct Professor of Visual Arts - Jan 2011-May 2012

    Fullerton Community College, Fullerton

    2D Design and Color Theory- Created hybrid curriculum to include digital & analog skillsets.

    Art Instructor - Jan 2011- May 2012

    Orange County High School of the Arts, Santa Ana

    Watercolor and 2D Design-Developed curriculum to include historical and contemporary themes, Expanded exhibition opportunities.

    Adjunct Professor of Visual Arts - Jan 2009-Dec 2010

    California State University, Fullerton

    Beginning Drawing- Created skill based grading system, Structured constructive critiques, Compiled multiple digital presentations from online databases.

    Art Instructor - June 1999-Aug 2000

    Safe Schools - Orange County Dept. of Education

    Teach art in county correctional facilities, transitional housing and continuation schools. Developed Visual Arts curriculum for diverse populations and capacities. Apply communication skills to foster a creative learning environment.

    Art Teacher - June 1997-June 1999

    Alternative Community Correctional Education Schools and Services (ACCESS) Orange County Dept. of Education, Garden Grove

    Teach Fine Art Focus Group at Chapman Lyceum Continuation School

    Developed an inclusive Visual Arts curriculum for various cognitive, social and developmental differences. Incorporation of humanities, maths and sciences with fundamental drawing, painting, silk screen, needle craft and woodworking.

    Designer/Owner - July 2005-2010

    Heiro Clothing, Anaheim

    Design T-Shirts using a range of creative digital softwares, sewing

    machine drawing & hand stitched embroidery.

    Process bookkeeping, marketing development and sales.

    Silk screening outsourcing and product delivery.

  • M.F.A. Illustration, California State University, Fullerton- May 2011

    B.F.A. Drawing and Painting, California State University, Fullerton- June 1997

    A.A. Art/Printmaking, Saddleback College- June 1995