Practices of Belonging

South Bay Arts Ecosystems & Creative Economies Symposium

The 2026 MFA cohort at San José State University (SJSU) will host a day-long public symposium at the San José Museum of Art (SJMA). This event brings together members of the Bay Area arts community to reflect on the evolving opportunities, challenges, and innovative practices involved in sustaining creative careers.

Through a series of panel discussions, the symposium will feature a diverse range of arts professionals, including practicing artists, teaching artists, museum and gallery representatives, members of community-based organizations, and public artists. Together, they will share practical insights and strategies for navigating the art world.

The event will conclude with a series of rapid-fire “lightning” presentations by the 2026 SJSU MFA candidates, offering a glimpse into the cohort’s current research, creative work, and future directions. These presentations highlight the symposium’s commitment to supporting emerging artists.

Register here

Advance registration is recommended. Walk-ins are welcome.

Schedule

11am: Museum Doors Open

11:20am: Welcome Remarks

• Welcome remarks from Noura Wedell, Lecturer in Creative Arts at SJSU. and Zoey Mubiru, MFA Candidate at SJSU

11:30am: Practicing Artists 

• This panel discussion will explore the practical realities of maintaining an active studio practice in the Bay Area as well as issues such as affordability, access to studio space, community building, and sustaining artistic momentum. The panel features Christopher Iseri, Studio Artist, Nimah Gobir, Artist/Painter, and Mitra Fabian, Multi-disciplinary Artist, Instructor of Sculpture and Ceramics at West Valley College, and Chair of the Department of Art. Moderated by Andi Palma-Robinson, SJSU MFA candidate. 

12:20pm: Teaching Artists

• A panel discussion that examines the role of teaching art within institutional settings, addressing topics such as curriculum design, pedagogy, and the balance between creative practice and academic responsibilities. The panel features Irene Carvajal, Artist & Educator at San José State University; Kathy Aoki, Professor of Studio Art, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Terry Berlier, Full Professor of Art and Courtesy Professor of Music at Stanford University. Moderated by Peter Scheiber, SJSU MFA Candidate.

2:05pm: Art Galleries and Community Spaces

• A panel discussion that explores the inner workings of local galleries and community art spaces, with conversations centered around curatorial decision-making, artist representation, sustainability, and strategies for community engagement. The panel features Joe Miller, President of the Board of Directors at Works/San José and Lecturer of Design at San José State University; Cherri Lakey, Partner and Curator of Anno Domini Gallery; Brian Eder, Partner and Curator of Anno Domini Gallery; and Demetri Broxton, Artist & Executive Director of Root Division. Moderated by Zoey Mubiru, SJSU MFA Candidate.

2:55pm: Collecting Institutions

• A panel discussion that offers an inside look at the behind-the-scenes work of art institutions. Panelists will share insights into acquisition, archival practices, collection care, and the collaborative processes between artists and institutions. The panel features Alena Sauzade, Gallery Director and Art Collection Manager at the Natalie and James Thompson Gallery; Lauren Baines, Assistant Director at the de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University; and Juan Omar, Assistant Curator at the San José Museum of Art. Moderated by Mary Morse, Practicing Artist.

3:50pm: Public Art

• A panel discussion that explores the evolving landscape of public art in the Bay Area. Panellists will share insights on navigating approval processes, collaborating with communities and city agencies, and the social impact of artworks in public space. The panel features Robin Lasser, Professor of Art at San José State University; Esteban Garcia Baravo, Assistant Professor of Art at San José State University; and Juan Carlos Araujo, Artist and Director at Empire 7 Studios (E7S) & San Jose Walls. Moderated by G. Craig Hobbs, Professor of Digital Media Art at SJSU.

4:40pm: MFA Lightning Presentations 

• Zoey Mubiru, Pictorial Art, SJSU
• Peter Schreiber, Spatial Art, SJSU
• Andi Palma, Photography, SJSU
• Roger Smith, Photography, SJSU
• Elisabeth Koss, Pictorial Art, SJSU
• Andy Nguyen, Photography, SJSU
• Jeevan Kracht, Pictorial Art, SJSU

5:20–5:30pm: Closing Statements 

• Closing statements from Zoey Mubiru, MFA Candidate at SJSU

5:30–6pm: Mixer

• Mingle and experience SJMA's new exhibitions, Christine Howard Sandoval: Move the Plot and Motherboards.

Panelists Bios

Alena Sauzade, PhD | Gallery Director and Art Collection Manager at San José State University

Alena Sauzade serves as Gallery Director and Collections Manager at San José State University, where she leads all aspects of gallery operations, including exhibitions, public programming, stewardship of the permanent collection, and integration with academic curricula. Her work emphasizes community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration, partnering with artists, scholars, and diverse audiences to create spaces that encourage reflection, dialogue, and critical inquiry.

Her curatorial practice connects contemporary art with both classroom learning and broader public discourse, fostering conversations around identity, memory, and social impact. Through inclusive and accessible programming, she champions the role of art galleries as dynamic civic and educational resources.

Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder | Co-Founders and Co-Curators of Anno Domini

Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder are co-founders and co-curators of Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design, a long-running independent gallery that has played a pivotal role in shaping the urban contemporary arts and culture genre. Together, they have developed galleries, festivals, and public art projects that connect artists with audiences and economic opportunities, including the monthly South FIRST FRIDAYS ArtWalk SJ the SubZERO Festival, Street Mrkt indie urban art faires, Phantom Galleries and a wide range of other community-centered arts & cultural initiatives in the SoFA District and other San José districts. Their work highlights emerging, experimental, and countercultural artists, with a focus on building sustainable platforms, nurturing creative entrepreneurship, and a resilient indie arts ecosystem. 

Individually, Lakey extends her advocacy for the arts as a contributing writer for KQED Arts, highlighting South Bay artists and cultural movements, while Eder is a co-owner of a global track-and-field site, through which he travels internationally photographing elite track and field events.

Christopher Iseri | Artist

Christopher Iseri is a mixed media artist using quilting and sewing techniques to create visually complex and precise abstractions that question, fracture, and reorient perspective. 

Christopher (b. 1986) lives and works in San José, California. He is represented by Moskowitz Bayse Gallery in Los Angeles, and his work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions; including Spatial Means at Moskowitz Gallery, Los Angeles in 2024. He received his BFA from California Polytechnic State University in 2011.

Demetri Broxton | Executive Director of Roots Division and Artist

Demetri Broxton is an Oakland-based artist and arts leader whose work bridges creative practice and community engagement. He serves as Executive Director of Root Division in San Francisco, where he leads a multidisciplinary nonprofit supporting emerging artists through studios, exhibitions, and education. His leadership centers building an inclusive and sustainable arts ecosystem while connecting artists to broader networks of curators, collectors, and institutions.

Broxton’s artistic practice explores ancestry, spirituality, and cultural memory within the Black diasporic experience. Drawing from his Louisiana Creole and Filipino heritage, he creates mixed media works that combine textile, beadwork, and archival imagery. Through screen printing and intricate embellishment, he reimagines historical photographs, reconstructing lineage and creating space for reflection and re-authorship. His work is informed by African diasporic spiritual and material traditions.

He previously served as Senior Director of Education at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), where he developed community-centered arts programs. His work has been exhibited nationally and is held in collections including the de Young Museum, the Norton Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Esteban Garcia Bravo | Assistant Professor of Art at San José State University

Esteban Garcia Bravo is a Colombian American artist and scholar whose work bridges computational art history, digital media, and public art technology. Trained at Purdue University, where he earned an MFA and PhD and later taught for over a decade, his research includes Cybernethisms (Purdue Press, 2015), contributing to the recovery of early computer art histories. His artistic practice focuses on large-scale, interactive installations that integrate code, light, and participation into public space. Works such as GEODE, Aurora Almanac, PRISMA, and Pearl of the Wabash reflect his commitment to placemaking, transforming civic environments into shared, immersive experiences through technology.

G. Craig Hobbs | Professor of Digital Media Art, San José State University

Professor Gary Craig Hobbs’ video projection mapping workshops involve collaboration with artists, students and communities working across cultures and borders. His projection mapping collaborations with Yannick Jacquet of AntiVJ, VPM3D, Robin Lasser, Migratory Cultures, 2014-2019 3rd Space Labs, Social Weavers, 2016-18, Hidden Lily, 2018-19 (India) and PUCP Entre la Tierra y el mar, 2024 (Lima, Peru) combine workshop and  peer-to-peer learning to develop community-based public artworks addressing issues of globalization and technology through large-scale video projection mapping. 

Hobbs received his BFA from California Institute of the Arts and his MFA from the Digital Arts and New Media program at University of California, Santa Cruz. He is currently Professor of Digital Media Art (DMA) in the CADRE Media Lab at San José State University in San José, California. 

His work has been funded by Intel, Microsoft, Autodesk, Xilinx, MadMapper, the John S. And James L. Knight Foundation, San José Sports Authority, and San José State University’s Central RSCA, the College of Humanities and the Arts, and the College of Engineering. 

Previous work as a project mapping artist and workshop facilitator have taken me to cities including San José, Oakland, Palo Alto, and Watsonville, California (2015 - 2016), Panjim City, Vadodara, Chennai, India (2016 - 2020), Lima, Peru (2024 - 2025) and CSU Summer Arts courses conducted in 2015, 2017, and 2022 with international visiting artists and students.

Irene Carvajal | Artist and Educator at San José State University

Irene Carvajal is a Costa Rican-American artist, working in printmaking, collage, video, performance and installation. Her work examines labor, gender and globalization through the lens of mass produced objects. 

Carvajal has exhibited and participated in residencies in the United States, Japan, Mexico, Greece and Costa Rica. Most recent exhibitions and art activations include “ El Peso del Deseo”at the Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo in San Jose, Costa Rica; “The Print Paradox” at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA, “Dejo Mi Huella” at the Museo de Arte Costarricense, San Jose, Costa Rica. “Essential Adaptations”, Thompson Gallery, San José State University. She has collaborated with Future Farmers and is a founding member of WEDAPEPO. Irene has taught at the San Francisco Art Institute, Stanford University and UC Berkeley. She currently teaches at San José State University.

Carvajal is a 2022 California Art Council Fellow; La Ceiba Grafica Artist Residency (2019, 2020); AEGP Grant recipient, “Essential Adaptations”(2025), AEGP Grant recipient “Taste of Home” (2022); AEGP Grant recipient, “Technologies of Print Symposium”(2021); Stanford University Art Catalyst Grants (2017, 2019, 2020, 2023); SJSU College of the Humanities, Dean’s Professional Development Grant (2018, 2019, 2023); Presenter at the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (2017); Root Division Artist Residency (2015-2016); Presenter at the National ACTFL conference Boston, MA (2016); Presenter at the National ACTFL conference Nashville, TN 2017.

Joe Miller | President of Works/San José, Principal of joe miller’s company, Senior Lecturer at San José State University

Joe Miller is a regionally to internationally recognized designer, design educator, arts administrator, accomplished local artist, poet, and regionally featured spoken word performer. He is president of Works/San José community art and performance center, principal of Joe Miller’s Company, where he has managed branding of numerous arts organizations, Senior Lecturer in Design at SJSU, and member of the Board of Directors of AIGA SF, regional chapter of the national organization for design. Joe’s work in design has been published in dozens of national and international books and publications, has received more than 130 regional to international awards, and has been included in dozens of exhibitions nationwide. In addition to many private collections, Joe’s fine art and experimental design work is in the permanent collections of the Triton Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Denver Museum of Art, and is in the AIGA National Design Archives.

Juan Carlos Araujo | Artist and Director of Empire Seven Studios (E7S) and San Jose Walls

Established in 2008, Empire Seven Studios (E7S), is a new contemporary fine art gallery and creative studio located in just outside the Japantown neighborhood of San José, California. E7S has been advocating for local/global artists by creating opportunities and providing a safe space for creatives.

E7S has enhanced the San José art scene by bringing life to the city through public art installations, innovative pop-up shows, and gallery exhibits to elevate and highlight emerging talents on a grand scale. 

In 2013, E7S took art into public places. The vision is for artists to participate in a community revitalization and beautification process that creates an awareness and a artistic presence in the city's neighborhoods. The development of public art installations enhanced Japantown's presence as a prolific arts district and destination. The Japantown Art Walk is a result of a unique vision which has greatly contributed to the successful development of mural projects expanding and reaching into the surrounding neighborhoods.

In 2017, E7S founded SJ Walls, Northern California’s branch of the Worldwide Walls network of public art festivals happening in over 20 cities around the world. E7S specializes in public art development and can facilitate public and private community partnerships as a catalyst for local economic development and a tailored client curatorial experience. Supporting public art initiatives not only builds confidence in our local talent, it also demonstrates experience with future clients who are exposed to new contemporary artwork with the utmost freedom to visual expression creating opportunities to hire artists for various creative work. The murals have also increased customer traffic for many of the businesses and has helped to create an arts hub identity for many parts of San José.

As an art production firm, E7S provides end-to-end project management and operations support for a variety of services including mural production, multi-dimensional mixed media work, digital/analog onsite immersive experiences, and in person/virtual events that foster team building and community connection.

Juan Omar Rodriguez | Assistant Curator, San José Museum of Art
Juan Omar Rodriguez (he/him) is an assistant curator at the San José Museum of Art. His recent curatorial projects include "Kambui Olujimi: North Star" (2024–25) and "Beta Space: Patty Chang and David Kelley" (2024–25) at SJMA. Juan Omar previously held curatorial positions at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, in addition to organizing several exhibitions as an independent curator. His writing has been featured in the Latinx Project at NYU's online arts publication, Intervenxions.

Kathy Aoki | Professor of Studio Art; Associate Dean College of Arts and Sciences at Santa Clara University

Kathy Aoki is the Lee and Seymour Graff Professor of Studio Art, Department of Art and Art History, and Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. As an award-winning visual arts practitioner, she combines art history, satire, and social commentary through a wide range of media including installation, printmaking, sculpture, video/animation, and performance. She is a 2025 Creative Capital Awardee and has held residencies at MacDowell, Montalvo Arts Center, Headlands Center for the Arts, Djerassi, Kala Art Institute, and Frans Masereel Centrum (Belgium). Her work can be found in the collections of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum, Harvard University Art Museums, and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Aoki received her MFA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Lauren Baines | Assistant Director at de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University

Lauren Baines holds over fifteen years of experience in the arts non-profit sector with positions in museums, art centers, artist residencies, and performing arts companies, in addition to her own practice as a professional choreographer and dancer. Since 2016 she has been the Assistant Director of the de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University, where she is responsible for developing exhibitions, interpretation, integrated education opportunities, and public programs. She also manages the museum's marketing, promotion, and outreach; builds collaborations with University and external partners; writes grants and develops fundraising campaigns; and supports aspects of collections activities. Additionally, Baines has been deeply involved in developing relationships, exhibitions, programs, and larger repatriation and reconciliation initiatives with Native partners related to both de Saisset and overall University efforts since 2018.  For 3 years, Baines served as Interim Director in addition to her Assistant Director responsibilities, leading the museum through the COVID-19 pandemic and University hiring freeze. Baines serves as Vice President of the California Association of Museums’ Board of Trustees and was a Steering Committee member of genARTS Silicon Valley for 10 years. Baines holds a M.F.A. from Mills College in Choreography/Dance and B.A. and B.S. degrees in Art History, Theatre Arts (Dance Emphasis), and Psychology from Santa Clara University.

Mari Morse | Artist and Educator at San José State University

Mary Morse is an artist, educator, and engineer based in the Bay Area. Her work is informed by embodied experiences and design histories of built infrastructure and the urban environment. Her work has been shown at the de Young Museum, ICA San Jose, and Southern Exposure. She holds an MFA in Spatial Arts from San José State University.

Mitra Fabian | Multi-disciplinary Artist and Instructor of Sculpture and Ceramics, West Valley College, Chair, Department of Art

Mitra Fabian is a San José–based sculptor and installation artist whose work explores materiality, human industry, traditionally gendered labor, and the natural world. Born in Iran and raised in Boston, she studied Art and Anthropology at Kenyon College and later earned her MFA from California State University, Northridge. She has lived and worked in the Bay Area since 2005.

Fabian has exhibited nationally since 1997, including a solo exhibition at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art in 2007, and completed multiple commissioned artworks for Google in 2021. Her work has been featured in galleries and museums throughout California and Oregon, and she is represented by Billis Williams Gallery in Los Angeles. Residencies include the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, and Centre d’Art Marnay in France. Her work has been reviewed by media outlets such as Spark, KQED Television, Square Cylinder, Create Magazine, Angeleno Magazine, and Artweek. She is a professor of sculpture and ceramics at West Valley College.

Nimah Gobir | Artist and Painter

Nimah Gobir is an artist and educator based in Oakland, California. She earned her B.F.A. in Studio Art and B.A. in Peace Studies from Chapman University before pursuing an M.Ed. at Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializing in Arts in Education. Through paintings and installations, her work explores the nuanced tapestry of Black identity. Drawing inspiration from personal archives, she creates figurative works that capture the ways loved ones are reflected in one another and illustrate how their everyday habits shape their living spaces. Her creative endeavors have been highlighted in Hyperallergic, 48Hills, and SF/Arts. Gobir has shown work at Root Division, Johansson Projects, SOMArts, and the Museum of the African Diaspora, where she was selected to be part of their Emerging  Artist Program.

Robin Lasser | Professor of Art at San José State University

Lasser is a Professor of Art at San José State University. She produces photographs, video, site-specific installations and public art dealing with public health, environmental issues and social justice. Lasser often works in a collaborative mode with other artists, writers, students, public agencies, community organizations, and international coalitions to produce public art and promote public dialogue. Lasser is a 2019 Eureka Fellow, awarded by the Fleishhacker Foundation. Lasser exhibits her work nationally and internationally. Recent exhibitions include installations at museums such as: Asian Art Museum, San José Museum of Art, National Gallery of Modern Art Bangalore India, the Museum of Goa India, Exploratorium Observation Gallery in San Francisco, Kohler Museum of Art, The Metenkov Museum of Photography, Yekaterinburg, Russia, The Recoleta Cultural Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and The Caixa Cultural Center in Rio De Janeiro. www.dresstents.com www.robinlasser.com www.MigratoryCultures.com

Terry Berlier | Full Professor of Art, and by Courtesy Professor of Music at Stanford University

Terry Berlier is an interdisciplinary artist who investigates the evolution of human interaction with queerness and ecologies. She has exhibited in solo and group shows in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia including the Marc Chagall National Museum in France, Museum of Old and New Art in Australia, Babel Gallery in Norway, Contemporary Art + Spirits in Osaka, Japan, EMPAC at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. She has received numerous residencies and grants including the Creative Work Fund Grant, Stanford Faculty Creative Project Seed Grant, Center for Cultural Innovation Grant, the Zellerbach Foundation, Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University, the Exploratorium in San Francisco, the California Council for the Humanities California Stories Fund, the Millay Colony for Artists in New York, and the Arts Council Silicon Valley Artist Fellowship. Her work has been reviewed in the Art in America, BBC News Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, published in the book ‘Seeing Gertrude Stein’ University of California Press, and ‘Slant Step Book: The Mysterious Object and The Artworks it Inspired’. Her sound sculptures can be heard on Earthly Records “A Kind Of Ache” with Sarah Hennies and The Living Earth Show. Berlier is a Professor of Art, by Courtesy Professor of Music, Director of the Sculpture Lab, and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Art and Art History at Stanford University since 2007. Berlier has served on the Recology Artist in Residence Advisory Board since 2012 following her residency there. www.terryberlier.com/TBFP