Where we foster excellence in education that challenges students of every background to develop their intellect, character, and abilities; to assist students in achieving their educational and career goals; and to be responsive to the greater community.
As former gallery director and current Humanities Chair, I am so pleased to introduce my friend and colleague, Jose Bernardo Olmedo, as the gallery’s new director.
Mr. Olmedo has taught art classes at IVC for 20 years. That entire time, he helped with exhibitions, creating posters and other graphic design work, and helping to organize and promote shows. He was active even after the college lost its old gallery to fire in 2005, and we had some shows in our art classroom space. He has been an enormous help in the new gallery, which opened in June 2011.
Mr. Olmedo has a deep background in instruction and art gallery experience. He is a talented and enthusiastic artist and teacher. He has art exhibits planned for the academic year. A new show will be opening soon!
Please welcome Jose Bernardo Olmedo!
Carol Hegarty
I am Jose Bernardo Olmedo Flores, former IVC alumni. I was born in Mexicali, Baja
California and graduated from Central Union High School. During my senior year I was
awarded along with three other students the California State Summer School for the
Arts scholarship in animation 1992.
I obtained an associates in arts at Imperial Valley College and was awarded best art student of the year 1995. Later I transferred to Long Beach State and earned a BFA in illustration from CSULB in1999.
I created a comic strip named “Ganglio el Chupacabras” which was published at Al Borde Magazine in Los Angeles. “Ganglio” was awarded best best comic strip by New California Media year 2002.
During 2004 I started teaching Graphic Design and Life Drawing classes at IVC. Also I have been teaching Art and Typography at CETYS Universidad at the Graphic Design and Digital Engineering Graphic Design schools. At Calipatria State Prison I taught Mixed Media Art classes.
I became an arts commissioner at Calexico Arts Council where I co-organized art exhibits as well as created graphic design material.
I was co-founder-organizer of the collective art exhibitions “Madrecitas” (Small Art Format) from 2009 - 2017. Madrecitas was exhibited at Mexicali in CETYS, Casa de la Cultura and local galleries. In California, Madrecitas was exhibited at SDSU Calexico Steppling Art Gallery, IVC Juanita Lowe Art Gallery, Desert Museum in Ocotillo, Fallbrook Library and Studio “C” Gallery at El Cajon.
I published comic strips, Illustrated book covers and designed event posters. I exhibited
at collective shows in Baja California, Guanajuato, California and Arizona. I had
solo shows at CEART Mexicali and Ocotillo Desert Museum. I was invited to teach Life
Drawing workshops at CEART Mexicali and at Piso 25 Congreso de Diseño Grafico at CETYS.
I have been invited to an education panel talk “Teachings in Illustration” during
UABC Book Fair in 2018 and participated in Southwest and Holtville High Schools with
a talk on Career Opportunities in the Arts during “Career Days”.
I have been creating graphic design material for IVC Juanita Salazar Lowe Art Gallery in the past and now I am honored and thankful to be its gallery director.