In 2020, a series of catastrophic wildfires devastated landscapes and communities in California. Although California is often associated in the international imagination with big cities, beautiful coastal scenes, and mountain resorts, the majority of the state consists of forests, farms, orchards, pastures, and rural small towns. The fires burned primarily in these remote inland regions. This exhibition showcases and celebrates that “other” California.

For more than 18 months, the American multimedia artist Scott Ordway traveled throughout California conducting interviews with survivors and documenting the impact of fire and drought through photography and video. He combined these materials to create The End of Rain, a critically-acclaimed multidisciplinary project that weaves together music, poetry, and visual art. Images from The End of Rain presents photography and video from the collection. The February 7 opening reception will include an artist talk by Scott Ordway and a concert by the Arneis String Quartet. Another musical program will be featured on March 7.

Scott Ordway (b. 1984, California) is an American composer, writer, and multimedia artist. His widely recognized work integrates text, music, and visual media to explore the relationship between landscape and culture in the contemporary United States. Heard in major concert halls around the world, Ordway’s music has been praised as “exquisite” (New York Times), “soul-stirring” (BBC), and “haunting and beautiful” (San Francisco Chronicle). He is Associate Professor of Music Composition at Rutgers University.