Dorothea Lange’s California at Great Park Irvine: 1935–1942

The City of Irvine has announced that the upcoming exhibition, “Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935–1942,” will be hosted at the Great Park Gallery. It is set to open on Sunday, October 1, and will conclude on Sunday, December 31. A free opening reception for the exhibition will take place on Sunday, October 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. Additionally, the exhibition will include a two-part acting series titled “Brain Science: Acting, Writing, History, and Memory!” This series aims to bring to life the subjects depicted in Lange’s photographs through the medium of performance art.

In her government photography work during the 1930s and 1940s in California, Dorothea Lange unveiled the intricacies of American identity during a period of economic and civil instability. Throughout the Great Depression and World War II, Lange captured some of the most poignant and memorable images in American history. Her dedication to a democratic society and her documentation of the resilience and dignity of people enduring hardship challenged the conventional notion of the California dream. The exhibition will spotlight Lange’s government work in California, drawing from her extensive collection of images housed at the Library of Congress.

The Great Park Gallery, in collaboration with the Irvine Theater Company, will host the two-part acting series, “Brain Science: Acting, Writing, History, and Memory!” These events will offer interactive experiences to provide deeper insights into the individuals captured in “Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935–1942,” which is on display at the gallery. All events are open to the public and do not require advanced registration.

The first part of the series, an Acting Workshop, will be held on Sunday, October 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will learn how to breathe life into characters using brain-based techniques, drawing inspiration from the images featured in “Dorothea Lange’s California: 1935–1942” to create and embody past experiences.

The second part of the series, titled “The Real Story of the Migrant Mother — A New Play,” will take place on Sunday, December 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. This new stage production will narrate the relatively lesser-known story of the Migrant Mother, one of Dorothea Lange’s most renowned subjects from her photography series portraying the lives of struggling Americans during the Great Depression. The play will delve into the life of the Migrant Mother and her unintended journey to becoming one of the most iconic figures in modern American history.

Great Park is conveniently located at 8000 Great Park Blvd. in Irvine. The Great Park Gallery’s operating hours are as follows: Thursday–Friday, Noon–4 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. All events and parking are offered free of charge. For additional information, please visit yourgreatpark.org/arts or contact 949-724-6247.