Opening Reception: October 5th, 6-10m

Artist Collaborators' Talk: October 8th, 7-9pm

OCCCA is pleased to present underwater fine art portrait photographer Cheryl Walsh’s first solo gallery exhibition. Cheryl has created an immersive, multimedia experience celebrating not only her own work but the women artists she frequently collaborates with. She will showcase their unique wearable artwork along with behind the scenes videos telling the stories behind a number of her series. As an artist-in-residence she will be available to share her process and what goes into creating her unique art.

The Underwater World of Cheryl Walsh
Cheryl’s dream is to have something more than a “gallery show” but rather an “Exhibition Event,” a celebration of not only her work but the creative spirits that contributed to it and the peaceful relaxation she feels while creating it. Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts’ 6,300 square foot gallery, in her hometown of Santa Ana, has allowed her the familiar space and freedom to welcome the public into the world she lives in - full of magical sights, feelings, relationships and experiences. She explores the stories behind her images, their meanings, how they were created, and ultimately celebrates the amazing artisans that she works with. Without these fellow creatives, designers, seamstresses, milliners, metalsmiths, and models she would be very lonely, taking photos of clear, empty water. Almost exclusively women, their incredible talents and hard work as independent working artists has played a pivotal role inspiring Cheryl to create her images. On display are gowns, headpieces, wigs, corsets, crowns, videos, faerie wings and mermaid tails, alongside the finished fine art prints and their stories. All of the fine art prints, from nine of her most popular series, are printed by the artist herself. They showcase the multiple fine art papers that are an integral part of her finished art pieces, culminating in her own unique artistic signature. Along with large scale, elaborately framed prints on thick, beautifully textured, European, fine art papers are images on translucent, mulberry bark based, Japanese papers. Window coverings, wallpaper, hanging scrolls, small embellished cabochon necklaces and a large room divider, all printed with Cheryl’s art, create an experience for viewers beyond a traditional gallery show. Working with a lighting designer utilizing projection and environmental stimulus, Cheryl created an “Underwater Experience” room. This allows the viewer a glimpse into the sensations that Cheryl experiences at the bottom of her pool and offers a full sensory explanation into the reasons why she works underwater. As an artist in residence, Cheryl will give an artist’s talk with her collaborators and be on hand for conversation as she works at various times on recent projects.

On Oct 5th you and your friends and family are invited to the opening of
“The Underwater World of Cheryl Walsh”  at OCCCA, Orange County Center for the Contemporary Arts, in Santa Ana, Southern California. The show runs for 3 weeks in October, from the 5th to the 26th.