SONOMA, CALIF.- SVMA will present Last West: Dorothea Lange’s California Revisited, featuring Lange’s iconic as well as rarely seen California images in dialogue with contemporary works by artists Erik Castro, Warren Chang, Lewis deSoto, Bruce Haley, Ken Light, Hung Liu, Narsiso Martinez, Joel Daniel Phillips, and others.

Coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Last West uplifts current movements for dignity in the lives of migrant populations upon which California’s robust economy and agriculture depend. This exhibition touches on the eerily contemporary issues that Dorothea Lange photographed nearly a century ago—mass migrancy and shelterlessness, damage to soil and landscapes, and internment.

The exhibition also includes a video installation and live theater performances based on the book Last West: Roadsongs for Dorothea Lange (2020), written by Tess Taylor, directed by Ciera Eis, with video projections by Ryan Yu. Set against an immersive projection of moving and collaged Lange images, five actors tell the story of Lange’s life and journeys, guiding us to see how her journeys might help us understand some of today’s contemporary issues.

“We’ve organized an exceptional group exhibition with works by California artists that, when paired with Lange’s images, highlight the ongoing issues of marginalized migrant workers and environmental harms that continue to be perpetuated today,” says Deputy Director Margie Maynard.

In addition to live theatre performances, SVMA will present a compelling fall program to coincide with this exhibition that will include hands-on art classes, speaker discussions, and other events.