The Weston Collective’s Artist in Residence
Gina Weston, Jorge Torres, Zach Weston, Kim Weston and Martin Vargas at Torres’ exhibition
Weston Collective enlightens students of all ages and backgrounds through photography. Founded in 2004, the Weston Collective (TWC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Monterey County, where science, technology, and art meet through photography. TWC seeks to spread awareness of Edward Weston’s photographic legacy while preserving the rich photographic history of Monterey Bay.
TWC teaches afterschool and elective photography classes to fifth and sixth-grade students, holds community workshops and classes for adults, the annual Weston Scholarship, and hosts exhibitions and artist-in-residency programs. TWC is committed to preserving and teaching analog (film) and digital photography to students on the Central Coast of California, regardless of age and socioeconomics.
Program/Project Description:
Jorge Torres’ mural in the Weston Collective Studio
The exhibition of photographs and unveiling of the mural by Marina artist Jorge Torres (Thuumbzzy) in the Weston Collective (TWC) studio space at Martin Luther King Jr. School of the Arts in Seaside, CA, marks the completion of the first TWC Artist-in-Residency program. During the Residency (October 2022 - May 2023), Torres had access to the studio, computer lab, and professional archival inkjet printer to produce his work (Torres created both the mural and photographs at the Weston Collective studio in Seaside). The mural unveiling and corresponding exhibit is the first time Jorge has had a show and opening. The photos on view were created by Torres during the Residency and taken in Monterey County. Generous funds from the Arts4MC Community Arts Grant allowed the Weston Collective to establish its first Artist-in-Residency Program at its headquarters in Seaside, California.
About the Artist:
Marina artist Jorge Torres (Thuumbzzy) grew up in Seaside and moved to Marina at age 14. During the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions, Torres re-discovered his childhood dream of becoming an artist and decided to pursue it. He has since been pursuing his dream of becoming an artist while fully immersed in his community. While teaching a mural class at Rancho Cielo in Salinas, Torres also recently became more involved within the community by completing murals at the Covenant, La Tortuga Restaurant, and Lupita’s Bakery. He is also working on art projects with the Community Partnership with Youth in Seaside to spread the message that there are productive ways to engage with graffiti-based art. His vision is to work with adolescents who have been on the wrong side of the law with the use of graffiti and present them with a positive path while still cultivating their artistic talent. Torres views art as a form of therapy and has first-hand experience of how it can positively affect youth needing direction.
Exhibition Photos
Thank you to those who came out to celebrate the culmination of Jorge Torres' Artist in Residency with the Weston Collective! Torres exhibited 15 photographs taken in Monterey County and a 24ft long mural hanging in our studio in Seaside.
Jorge was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Legislature for completing his residency. Seaside Councilman Alexis Garcia-Arrazola presented Jorge with the award during the opening reception. Thank you to the Arts Council for Monterey County for sponsoring this program!
