Students were inspired to meet Rex Ray after studying images like this one, entitled Coccophorum 2005 Medium: Oil and Acrylic, Mixed Media on Linen.
What started as an assignment in Lecturer Brenda Jamrus’ Art 14 Color class soon turned into an opportunity to garner airtime in the 2010 documentary, Rex Ray: How to Make a Rex Ray, airing soon on PBS.
Students Jessica Votaw, Jessica Ottavis and Gizelle Orbins were challenged to seek out and meet with an innovative artist and they chose celebrated San Francisco artist Rex Ray. Upon arrival at his studio, the students found themselves in the middle of a documentary shoot.
According to Ottavis, “We had no idea of what to expect. None of us had even been to an artist studio before and then Rex Ray himself greeted us at the door, with a PBS film crew – we were really nervous!”
Votaw summed up the experience for the group, “He was so cool; we couldn’t believe he included us and answered all of our questions. We were truly inspired!” The documentary will air nationally on PBS in June and is available in DVD format.