‘Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935–1942’ Opens October 1 at the Great Park Gallery

The City of Irvine is pleased to present the upcoming exhibition Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935–1942 at the Great Park Gallery opening Sunday, October 1, and concluding Sunday, December 31. A free, opening reception will be held Sunday, October 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. This exhibition will also feature a two-part acting series, Brain Science: Acting, Writing, History, and Memory!, which brings the subjects portrayed in Lange’s photographs to life through performance art.

Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935–1942 Exhibition:
In her government photography in 1930s and 1940s California, Dorothea Lange exposed the complexities of American identity in a time of economic and civil insecurity. Throughout the Great Depression and World War II, Lange captured some of the most evocative images in American history. Lange’s commitment to a democratic society and to documenting the dignity of people enduring hardship challenged the idea of the California dream. The exhibition highlights Lange’s government work in California, drawing upon her extensive archive of images housed at the Library of Congress.

Brain Science: Acting, Writing, History, and Memory!  
Great Park Gallery, in collaboration with the Irvine Theater Company, will be hosting a two-part acting series, Brain Science: Acting, Writing, History, and Memory! The events serve as supporting, interactive experiences that provide deeper insights into the people captured in Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935-1945 on view at the gallery. All events are free with no advanced registration needed.

• Acting Workshop: Sunday, October 22, 1–3 p.m.
  Participants will learn to bring characters to life from the images of Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935–1942 as inspiration using brain-based techniques that help foster the creation and embodiment past experiences.
• The Real Story of the Migrant Mother — A New Play: Sunday, December 3, 1–3 p.m.
  This new stage production tells the relatively unknown story of the Migrant Mother, one of Dorothea Lange’s most famous subjects from her photography series depicting the lives of struggling Americans during the Great Depression. The play will unpack the Migrant Mother’s life and how she reluctantly became one of the most famous, iconic faces in modern American history.

Great Park is located at 8000 Great Park Blvd., in Irvine. Great Park Gallery hours are Thursday–Friday, Noon–4 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. All events and parking are free. For more information, visit yourgreatpark.org/arts or call 949-724-6247.

Since its incorporation in 1971, Irvine has become a nationally recognized city, with a population of 303,051 that spans 66 square miles and is recognized as one of America’s safest and most successful master-planned urban communities. Top-rated educational institutions, an enterprising business atmosphere, sound environmental stewardship, and respect for diversity all contribute to Irvine’s enviable quality of life. This family-friendly city features more than 16,000 acres of parks, sports fields and dedicated open space and is the home of the Great Park. For more information, please visit cityofirvine.org.  

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