2020 California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) Scholarship Recipient
The annual report for the National Society of Arts and Letters Scholarship Fund was provided by CalArts, including information about the Fair Market Value of the endowment and the 2019/2020 NSAL recipient. For the past 33 years, the Fund has provided crucial support to more than 40 talented students studying in the CalArts School of Art. Established in 1987 with pledges totaling $42,2324, the fair market value of the NSAL Scholarship Fund on December 31, 2019 was $204,113.
In the 2019/2020 academic year, the Fund generated $6,900 in scholarship support and was awarded to Jorge Alexeis Reyes, a deserving students in the CalArts School of Art.
Jorge Alexeis Reyes is originally from the Bronx, NY but was born in Cuba. Reyes chose to enroll at the Institute because of the renowned faculty teaching in the School of Art. Currently a second-year MFA student in the Art and Integrated Media Program, he is working under the guidance of mentor and School of Art faculty, Michael Ned Holte, a writer and independent curator.
Most recently, Reyes was selected as a recipient of the 2019 Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation Travel Grant, which funds student travel in order to pursue artistic projects. As part of the grant, Reyes traveled to Cuba during the final weeks of the 2019 Havana Biennial to examine the effects of Decree 349, a law that strictly regulates artistic production in the country. This was his first time returning to the country in 35 years. He documented how the decree is affecting intercultural communication between independent artists and state-recognized artists. Reyes also investigated how state control of cultural activity operates against cultural production.
After graduating, Reyes’ plans for the future include applying to artist residency programs and submitting his work to be shown in international contemporary art exhibitions. Reyes expressed that he is committed to producing artwork that contributes to and furthers the dialogue on art at the global level. As an active teaching artist for the past seven years, Reyes also intends to begin teaching at the college level.
CalArts School of Art is grateful for the National Society of Arts and Letters’ generous support of its talented students.
Jorge Alexeis Reyes, 2020 CalArts Scholarship Recipient
Jorge Alexeis Reyes, lies about the lies we lie about, 2019; Linocut grenade print on burn victim gauche paper, human hair, motor with fake gold beads. Image credit: Jorge Alexeis Reyes
To view more of Reyes’ work, please visit: https://cargocollective.com/alexeisreyesstudio.
