Having graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in 2008, Jeff is continuing his education in the Illustration graduate program at Cal State Long Beach. As an artist, Jeff is interested in investigating social issues within his works. This has led him to integrate journalistic reporting and graphic novels. These "visual essays" are similar documentaries which serve as a study of a social issue and the human experience behind it.
You can visit my website at www.jeffchangart.com
THRESHOLDS: voices from the 1.5 generation
“The principle is that ordinary people have extraordinary thoughts — I’ve always believed that — and that ordinary people can speak poetically. Also that no one else speaks like that and that there is no other person like that in the world.”
-Studs Terkel
Oral histories hold within them the life lessons of their authors. These stories do more than sing the struggles and achievements of an individual — They speak of the time and place in which the person lived.
Hearing their voices adds an undeniable human layer to the narratives that the printed word may struggle with.
I believe recording stories from a variety of individuals helps to inform and provide a better understanding of the world we live in.
I am interested in documenting these oral histories as an art form. This process begins with the journalistic nature of interviewing people on contemporary social issues. Their recorded stories become the source material to create a visual narrative. I have created time-based illustrations to partner with the audio recordings with the intention of embodying, rather than merely echoing, the spoken word.
My work explores social issues. As I approached the body of work for this MFA project, I found myself drawn to the stories of my peers, specifically those that dealt with the subject of immigration. What they have to say is compelling because of the uncertain nature and ambiguity of their situation. It is my intent that portraying their stories can offer a different perspective and insight into this social issue.
And I want to thank these storytellers.
You are truly the bravest individuals I know.
Jeff Chang
Illustration MFA Thesis
Worked on an illustration to accompany the New Time’s cover story about the SLO County’s sheriff’s plan to create a new special operations unit. Is this a Frankenstein monster in the making?
You can read more about the article, written by Matt Fountain, here.
My initial sketch for the piece:
Final image is done on 14.5” x 18.5” wc paper with watercolors and pastels.
“Dreamers”
7” x 10”
I chose not to include the name of the author for obvious reasons. I think it works better leaving this anonymous as the story it shares can be told by anyone.
This is the first book I’ve saddle-stitched and the experience of putting it together is rather sadomasochistic. Much like the class itself, but that’s a conversation for later.
This book is made from an interview I had with a courageous individual. I wish her well in her endeavors and hopes she continues the work she’s doing.
There was a page that is not included which had links one can go to learn more information. You can see them at:
Click on the image above to enter full-screen mode.
For the last edition of the Union Weekly this semester!
