Focus on the Masters: A Conversation with Rafael Perea de la Cabada

Focus on the Masters is proud to kick off its 25th Anniversary in a new venue in partnership with the Museum of Ventura County. The first Artist Spotlight interview will feature Rafael Perea de la Cabada, a multi-disciplinary artist whose work is steeped in the artist’s rich cultural heritage. The artist describes himself as a visual poet, offering a powerful dialog that resonates with the plight of humanity. His intuitive approach draws from his personal experience, incorporating deep narratives layered in symbolism. Concepts range the gamut of human experience, from humorous and playful to social and political discourse. Perea states, “Art for me has a transformative power, a delicate volatility that triggers our craving for a deeper perceptual level. I find art making an endless mystery, a choice and a calling.” Perea received a degree from the National School of Painting, Sculpture and Printmaking in his native Mexico City before earning his M.F.A. from UCSB. His broad range of expression includes painting, printmaking, mixed media, installation, public art and sculpture. With a foundation in Mexican modernism, he pursues his work as “a seamless merging of the mental/emotional intent, [where] the physical process and craft converge.” He shares his vast knowledge as a professor of drawing and painting at Santa Barbara City College. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is included in numerous prestigious public and private collections.

Special Invitation to Educators:
The Artist Spotlight is open to students attending as a class assignment free of charge. Focus on the Masters is happy to assist with tracking attendance and sign-in sheets. Reservations required.

AfterGLOW Fundraising Event:
The public is welcome to join the artist for a celebratory fundraising dinner at VITA Art Center, located just steps from the museum, immediately following the program. Paid reservations required prior to February 12.

RSVP www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or call 805.653.2501