Graduation, Mini Hole Pizza Party

Artist Statement: Julian Ou Window Box

Text Me Exhibition July 2023

Creative Growth artist Julian Ou approaches the window box where he worked in collaboration with Creative Growth facilitator Martin Segobia to select work, design and install his installation for the gallery’s “Text Me” exhibition. When the installation was complete Julian took a look from the street where he stood just inches from the glass window, "I see the letter H,  I see ice cream, I see big red and green tomatoes!” he exclaims. Julian proceeded to point to his artwork, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6….24! 24 pieces.” Staff and studio facilitators approached the window box to applaud and congratulate Julian on his debut, of sorts. Julian greeted everyone with the correct name and enthusiastically asked, “Do you see the art gallery?” He’s asked how he feels and what his favorite piece might be. He responds, “Happy!” and adds with emphasis and repetition, “Graduation, Meeting Hall Pizza Party!” Thus the title of the installation.  

Much of the imagery in Julian's work comes from car rides to and from church with his dad. While Julian sings along to hymns, he observes street signs and logos through the window that he later reproduces on paper.

Images L to R: Creative Growth Artist Julian Ou jumps for joy alongside artist facilitator Martin Segobia in front of his window box display; Julian Ou and Martin Segobia work to put the finishing touches on Julian’s window box display; Julia Ou admires his finished window box display as part of the “Text Me” exhibition at Creative Growth Art Center

Upon viewing the completed installation Julian responds to questions about art and his role at the art center. With excitement and joy he responds, “Art is amazing. Julian is artist.” Adding emphasis with his signature catch phrase, “It's amazing!” 

Within the structure of the window box we see the evolution of Julian’s prolific and skilled art practice. In just over a year since Julian joined our community of artists, his inexhaustible and positive energy has enlivened and energized the art center. His passion for text, shape and color guided the experimentations in mediums offered by different facilitators in the studio. On the left inner wall of the window box we see configurations of letters, numbers, shapes and words created with ink and stamps in Sara Lankutis’s printmaking class. On the right inner wall he uses shapes to separate and overlay names of the familiar signage seen along the freeway and city streets, as well as lyrics, titles, and iconic characters from his favorite Disney movies. Over time Julian began to scale up the size of the signage and food, letters and numbers in a multitude of sketchbooks. Martin Segobia, his painting and drawing instructor, took notice of Julian’s dexterity and skill with scissors and offered him large sheets of paper and adhesive paste. Centered in the window box are these collage compositions of shapes outlined in black marker and filled with generous pressure to colored pencils and sticks.

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