The LAndscape I Belong

The LAndscape I Belong Nov 20–Dec 5 | Step Gallery Opening reception | Nov 20 | 6–9 p.m. “The LAndscape I Belong” is an animated project inspired by the fascinating, ever-changing metropolis of Los Angeles, created by artist and ASU School of Art animation faculty Sandro Del Rosario. Having lived, worked, driven, biked and walked in the city for several years, the artist became immersed in its eclectic architecture, diverse multicultural communities, complex layers of history and evolving arts scene. At street level, hand-drawn, faded murals coexist with neon lights and stylish signs. Layers of text, colors and images reveal stories of history and decay, cultural icons and collective dreams. Seen from above, through the summer haze or the piercing clarity of rare winter days, Los Angeles unfolds as a vast, intricate landscape. Hillsides and flat valleys, the geometry of its street grid, pockets of natural wilderness and sprawling urban and suburban developments all intertwine. A constant flow of cars and people moves through this ever-expanding environment. Everything stretches toward an endless horizon, embedded in a landscape that is at once self-contained and unforgiving, boundless, luminous and elusive. The exhibition at ASU’s Grant Street Studios presents the first immersive chapter of this long-term project. Large-scale projections bring together animations created with soft pastels on paper and digital experimentation. “the LAndscape I belong” continues the artist’s ongoing exploration of personal, geographical and cultural identity. It also extends his research into experimental animation as a way to express emotions and bring photographs and paintings to life. Image: “Landscape 5” | Sandro Del Rosario | soft pastels and charcoal pencils on black paper | 11 x 17 in.