In time for Sonoma State’s Big Blue Weekend, an alumna-curated exhibition opened at the Green Music Center featuring two accomplished alumni among the contemporary artists whose works were drawn from both private and the university’s own art collections.
“Bloom” is guest-curated by SSU alumna Kara L. de Lambert, who earned a B.A. in art history with a minor in arts management in 2012. For the past 12 years, she has been the curator at Imagery Estate Winery in Glen Ellen.
de Lambert, who started as a business major at Sonoma State, changed her major to art history after taking a course in modern art with Michael Schwager, SSU Emeritus Professor of Art History, to complete a general education requirement.
“I fell in love with this new world, one I didn’t even know existed as a career option,” de Lambert said.
Interning with former University Art Gallery Exhibitions Coordinator and Collections Manager Carla Stone for four semesters, de Lambert said she gained the tools, knowledge, and hands-on skills that made her successful in the industry after graduating. Walking through a door opened for her by Schwager to a semester-long internship at the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, de Lambert was able to deepen her experience in the field. Post graduation, she started her own art consulting and curating business, Lynae Arts, and began working with SSU Emeritus Art Professor Bob Nugent.
“Michael Schwager, Carla Stone, and Bob Nugent all paved the way for my success,” she said.
de Lambert has curated over 200 artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, nationally, and internationally. She has returned to Sonoma State as a guest lecturer for the Portfolio Practices art class.
Jenny Harp and Eileen Parent, Sonoma State alumni featured in “Bloom,” are both Sonoma State Studio Arts lecturers who graduated with Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees with printmaking concentrations. Parent was also featured in last year's de Young Open Exhibition in San Francisco.