Tom Pazderka Explores Immigrant Experience in SBCAST Exhibit

Santa Barbara, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2018) – Conjuring memories from his childhood in the Czech Republic, Tom Pazderka explores a dark, morbid sense of the immigrant experience in a solo show of new works, “The End Is the Beginning,” presented by LUM Art Zine, at The Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science and Technology (SBCAST). The exhibit, “The End Is the Beginning,” will open with a reception at SBCAST on Dec. 6, 2018. There is an additional First Thursday exhibition on January 3rd, 2019 and the exhibition will run through to Jan. 11, 2019.

In burned and painted wood panels, Pazderka reimagines his old family, neighbors and historical context, to reference the ambiguous ‘incompleteness’ of a first generation immigrant. Pazderka’s practice involves burning, drawing, construction/deconstruction and painting, imbuing his work with strange keys of Czech fatalism and American optimism.

“The End Is the Beginning,” portrays the darker side of memory, history and nature. By utilizing ash and charcoal, Pazderka references the primordial—life-affirming and life-destroying—human connection to nature, history and memory.

An opening reception for “Tom Pazderka – The End Is the Beginning,” will be held on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at SBCAST, 513 Garden St., Santa Barbara.

In conjunction with the exhibit, on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m., SBCAST will host a one hour panel discussion on the condition of the immigrant in artistic representation. Participants in the panel are 1st District Supervisor Das Williams; UCSB Art Professor Marco Pelijhan; Artist Tom Pazderka; LUM Editor & Curator Debra Herrick, and Moderator Ted Mills, host of The Funk Zone podcast.

For more information, visit sbcast.org, lumartzine.com or contact editor@lumartzine.com.