CSUSB CAL Talks

Get an an inside look at the person who runs RAFFMA on the campus of CSUSB, the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art. Eva describes growing up in communist Poland and how she was always surrounded by art and naturally fell in love with the medium. Eva joined the museum as Director in 1998. During her long museum career, Eva has curated close to one hundred exhibitions. She has published close to one hundred articles and catalog essays both in Polish and English. Ms. Kirsch holds an MA in Art History from the University of Wroclaw, Poland and also an MA in Exhibition Design and Museum Studies from Cal State Fullerton.

The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art opened in 1996. It is one of the jewels of the Inland Empire cultural scene.

RAFFMA is best known for the Egyptian antiquities collection which is the largest display of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the western United States.

Dr. W. Benson Harer is a longtime supporter of Cal State San Bernardino and the university’s Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA). His Harer Family Trust has provided the museum with their considerable collection of Egyptian antiquities as gifts to CSUSB. These incredible artifacts are on permanent loan to RAFFMA. Listen as Dr. Harer explains how he came to live in San Bernardino after growing up on the East Coast. He discusses acquiring his first Egyptian artifact and how that led to a lifetime of collecting ancient Egyptian pieces. Dr. Ben Harer provides an endearing interview during this CAL podcast. It will inspire you to visit RAFFMA to view one of the most extensive assemblages of Egyptian artifacts west of the Rockies. 

Professor Katherine "Kathy" Gray is a glass artist who teaches various glass courses at CSUSB and has her work displayed in museum glass collections. She is also a reality TV show participant! Kathy talks about her background very far away from Cal State San Bernardino in the Great White North and what led her to be the resident master of glass on our campus. What is it about glass blowing that captivates her? Professor Gray is featured in the second season of the Netflix hit series "Blown Away." She talks about how she got involved and some background information on the show. In this era of virtual learning, can glass blowing be taught on line? Kathy lets us in on that. Glass blowing - it's a whole other world!

Dr. Garcia specializes in philosophy of race and epistemology. His focus is on epistemological questions raised by race and racial injustice.

He also works on the nature of race concepts and categories and the degree to which, if any, we are disposed to categorize each other using them.

His teaching interests are in Latin American philosophy, philosophy of hip hop, ethics, social-and-political philosophy, philosophy of mind and philosophy of cognitive science.

During this episode Eric talks about his Queens NYC upbringing and the path that led him across the country to CSUSB. He also remembers the exact time and thought that got him interested in the vast world of philosophy.

Listen also for the fascinating course descriptions of the classes he teaches at CSUSB and how they have transferred to learning in the COVID-19 virtual era.

Dr. Eric Bayruns Garcia: he presents a lot of things to think about!

Dr. Stacey Fraser, CSUSB Music Department Chair, Professor and Opera Theater Director discusses her background and how she came to be at CSUSB. Plus, we talk to her about her Amazon streaming short film, "Still Life After Death." The film also ties in with a Grammy submission for one of her songs which we feature in the podcast. Here are some of the details of the film which the soprano produced and stars in:

Still Life After Death

One of the main concepts behind the staging was to develop a neutral awareness in the gestures and movements of performers, allowing them to flow beyond the recognizable and familiar associations. As the lead character—the living—embarks on a ritualistic, spiritual journey towards the end of life, the search to obtain an insight into the great beyond eventually points to the dissolution of self. A fully realized and awakened state sheds physical attachments and maps a way out through the process of acceptance. Matter, mind, perception and consciousness are encouraged by the Monk, the ever-present, undetectable companion. Both roles, essentially representing Life and Death, move in and out of the shadows to change places, but always keeping the balance.

The film is an adaption of the following:

"Still Life After Death" 1995

It is a music theatre theater work inspired by an ancient Cambodian ritual that traditionally takes place at an individual’s death bed. A Buddhist monk would be invited to a home to preside at this ritual, which assists a dying person in his or her transit from life to death. The monk chants short phrases in the ancient language of Pali, and the dying person would repeat each phrase after the monk, until the very last breath. In "Still Life After Death," the female vocalist represents the dying person and the male vocalist represents the Buddhist monk. 

The above note was written by Susan Ung.
 

Mihaela describes her participation and direction on the virtual lab at California State University, San Bernardino. This is the student run lab where they practice augmented and  virtual reality. She starts with her fascinating story about coming to the U.S. from Romania. Plus, you'll hear how she will incorporate AR/VR at home during the pandemic. She's funny and engaging! Enjoy!