About
Unseen California is an arts research initiative cofounded by Karolina Karlic, Associate Professor of Photography at the University of California Santa Cruz and Joseph Gallegos, Assistant Professor of Film at California State University Los Angeles. Karlic is creative director/lead artist researcher. Working along side Gallegos, Unseen California engages diverse audiences and fosters urgent dialogue by producing short documentaries featuring the voices and work of Unseen California artists in residence.
Unseen California is a multi-pronged arts research initiative utilizing the public land resource, the UC Natural Reserve System, and does so through site specific research performed by a collaborative artist cohort, generating opportunities for field-based arts teaching and learning, public programming, and the creative creation a short documentary series which serves as an accessible archive and vehicle for a wide public audience to engage with the research, process, and resulting artworks.
The 10 year research initiative launched in 2021 with an invitation of its first cohort of photographers to collaborate in research investigating issues related to landscape and California histories.
2021-2023 Inaugural Artist Cohort
Lead Artist Researcher: Karolina Karlic, Associate Professor University of California, Santa Cruz
Artist Researcher: Mercedes Dorame, Assistant Professor California Institute of the Arts
Artist Researcher: Dionne Lee, Assistant Professor Ohio State University
Artist Researcher: Tarrah Krajnak, Associate Professor University of California, Los Angeles
Artist Researcher: Aspen Mays, Associate Professor California College of the Arts
Open Call for Applications 2024-2026
The next cohort of artist researchers, 2024-2026, will be selected through an Open Call Application Process . The inaugural cohort will review applications, along with the Unseen California Board and help guide the future of the research project. Coming soon!
Advisory Board Members
Assistant Prof. Mercedes Dorame - Arts Advisor and Indigenous Cultural Consultant
Prof. Jennifer Parker (Art UCSC) - UC Placemaking Arts Advisor
Assistant Prof. Jorgge Menna Barreto (Art UCSC) - Arts Advisor
Prof. Laurie Palmer (Art UCSC) - Arts Advisor
Shana Lopes Ph.D. (Assistant Curator of Photography at SFMoMA) - Arts Advisor
Rachel Nelson & Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS UCSC) - Arts Advisor
Gage Dayton Ph.D. (Administrative Director of NR & Coordinator of Field Studies at UCSC) - UC NRS Advisor
Rachel Berger - Graphic Designer
Sponsors & Affiliations
Norris Center for Natural History
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Unseen California AIR program has been seed funded by UCOP Placemaking Pilot Grant and the Arts Research Institute (ARI) at UCSC.