April 26 – May 25 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays 1-5pm Veterans Community Media Center
An exhibit of Latonia Dixon’s paintings, Ryan McClymont’s photographs and photographic weavings and and Mark Pinto photographs and part of his GI Joes series.
Latonia Dixon
I have been devoted to the sacred and beauty in art, and female creative power through mask-making, performing poetry, plays and story-telling, displaying her paintings, and singing. Recently, I am healing from P.T.S.D. with anxiety through art as well holistic modalities. I’m a California native, an artist, teacher, a disabled army veteran, 2nd Vice Commander of AMVETS Post 34, and the first African American Woman Commander of the San Francisco’s American Legion Robert Basker Post 315. I served as a medic in the Army from 1982 to 1989 and later re-enlisted to become a nurse (91C). I was a volunteer Director of Arts and teacher in collaboration with other veterans and non-veterans in the San Francisco Community. I have a M.A. in Philosophy and Religion with a concentration in Women’s Spirituality from California Institute of Integral Studies with a thesis titled, “A Sacred Journey to Wholeness,” in 2005 and a M.F.A in Creative Inquiry, Concentration in Interdisciplinary Arts from New College of San Francisco with a poetry performance after taking a lead as the project manager in 2007 at the Minna Gallery.
Latonia M. Dixon, R.N. M.A. M.F.A.: 415 671-5559, oshun45@gmail.com
Ryan McClymont
I grew up outside of Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Grand Valley State University with a double Major in Photography and English. After graduation I joined the United States Army spending two years working as photojournalist and public affairs specialist and four years as an Engineer officer. I was deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I finished my MFA in photography at the Academy of Art University in May 2013. I am a photojournalist/videographer for the US Army Corps of Engineers and an instructor for the Photo Safari Network and live in Oakland, CA.
Ryan McClymont; 256 653-7540, RJ.McClymont@yahoo.com, RyanMcClymont.com
Mark Pinto
I am retired Marine helicopter pilot, Gulf war veteran, former Buddhist priest, and Teaching Associate at San Jose State University. I am currently a grad student earning my MFA in photography. I create installation and multi media art projects that deal with veterans’ reintegration issues, as well as the larger, complex issues of war. My first exhibit was a digital photo project called “Joes Come Home“, utilizing GI Joe dolls in scenarios meant to bring the statistics of veteran reintegration to light. This project led me to create other war related projects, each one going deeper into the subject of war, and deeper into myself as well. Creating these projects has been both cathartic and at times personally treacherous, yet the motivation to create more projects burns strong, as each day brings more terrible statistics to light.
Current Exhibits
- Homeless Joe, Suicide Joe, and PTSD Joe are all in a one-year exhibit for Veteran artists. This is the first ever Veteran art show there. If you are taking the Pentagon tour, ask to see the Veteran Art Exhibit, on the 2nd floor. Now through November 2014
- MFA Thesis Show Gallery 2 San Jose Sate University Art Building, Reception: May 6, 2014, 6pm, Show: May 5-9, 2014, 12-8p
- MFA Thesis Show: Lift Off 2014 Art Ark Gallery, 6th St., San Jose Reception May 2, 7-9 pm, May 2-22, Tuesday – Thursday, 12-4. Show also features the work of all of my fellow SJSU MFA Graduates of 2014.
Mark Pinto: 714 747-1985, MarkPintoArt@gmail.com, MarkPintoArt.com
Veterans Community Media Center of San Francisco 