ARTS | CULTURE
Moving Images
C. Fodoreanu’s ‘street smart’ captures the struggle of at-risk youth By Mary Pat Abruzzo
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Cornel/Henry Art, is a fundraising exhibition with 50% of the proceeds going to an educational fund to support the kids shot on location in San Bernardino. “I am hoping people will be touched by the work because they definitely need some support,” Fodoreanu says. Born in Romania, Fodoreanu joined his family in the tradition of icon painting and photography. “When I got my first camera, it was a man- C. Fodoreanu is an award-winning photographer, who earned degrees in philosophy from UCSD and an MD from Harvard. He is presenting “street smart” at Cornel/Henry Art through December 22. (Photo ual Russian camera
oft light melted through thin ice windows onto innocent faces. Cornel Fodoreanu, who goes by C. Fodoreanu, stood humbly in his new photography studio in the Arts District Library Station in Point Loma. The black-and-white photographs of his exhibit, “street smart,” collectively filled the room with a powerful tone: the stories of seven children from Southern California’s suburban streets. Fodoreanu circled the studio counterclockwise, sharing the story found in each photo. Leo smiles, dancing in a graffiti playground scattered with old tires courtesy C. Fodoreanu) and trash. Markie and pediatrician at Otay his dog are separated Mesa, but even during by a chain link fence his training to become in a photo taken a doctor, he continued six months after his to take photos. father was killed in Fodoreanu’s work a gang-related shootfocuses on “figure phoing. Markie tells tography,” which he people that somedescribes as an imprestimes he would like sion of a figure. to run away like his “‘Figure’ meaning dog. A group photo anything that has a of all seven kids shape: a body, a tree, shows these unsung a leaf, a combination heroes looking to the of them, a shadow,” he future, the younger says. Fodoreanu rapidly ones with fear and the jumped into San Diolder hopeful. Gang ego’s art scene, selected violence, divided as one of the four local families, sickness and talent art visionaries by death construct their the Art San Diego 2019. normal. Although The photos in the “Street smart” exhibition set a powerful tone: the stories of seven children from Southern California’s suburban streets. (Photo by C. Fodoreanu) He eventually won. their daily lives are His 500-square-foot filled with a heavy studio sits on the west side of posure. I am a pediatrician and a and if you don’t move the film, it struggle their eyes show a strong will double expose things. I made photographer as well,” Fodoreanu Barracks 15, a former Naval resilience and a hope for the fuTraining Center recently turned reminisced. this mistake. But it is more of a ture. flourishing artistic hub. FodorFodoreanu is a full-time Kaiser play on my life. It is a double ex“Street smart,” presented by
SPIN CYCLE
from page 4
Housing adventurous wishes from the Grantville Gorilla, Councilman and mayoralpaper-puller Scott Sherman @SDCITYBEAT
Sniff, I want nothing! I want nothing! Hahaha, that line kills me every time. Claus, yeah it’s me, The Donald. Thee Donald. Donald Duck? Bullshit. Donald Glover? Don’t know him. Donald Sutherland?
Liked him in “The Dirty Dozen,” otherwise overrated! I’ll be brief, Santa. That aid you want for the “climate change” Hoax? Fine. Just need a favor, bro. Gift wrap me with a big red bow and sleigh me over to Vlad’s place, will ya? Pence,
are we transcribing this? Oops, into the special server this goes! No collusion, no quid pro quo, no want nothing, no no no, Make America No Again, Yes? I smell cake. Two scoops for me,
eanu started an expansive search for an art gallery throughout cities like San Francisco and Philadelphia but picked the Arts District Liberty Station to open his first studio. “Arts District’ is the future of arts here in San Diego. There are so many artists in one spot, the support you get here is amazing,” Fodoreanu says. The studio’s mission is to create a space of photography free of political constraints. It aims to look at humanity at its purest, with raw fundamental emotions, ideas and esthetics. Fodoreanu expressed his hope for the future, “I want to be my own gallery, but I also want to be a gallery for local emerging San Diego photographers and mixed media. “Trying to be an artist and show your work, it’s not easy,” Fodoreanu says, believing he is in a position to help the art community. “We want to be an open gallery. If your quality of work is good, you’re in.”
“street smart” by C. Fodoreanu
Various times through December 22 Cornel/Henry Art, Arts District Liberty Station, Studio 205, Second Floor, Barracks 14 2770 Historic Decatur Road, Liberty Station cornelhenryart.com
*sniff* Tweeter in Chief Spin Cycle appears every other week. Write to john@ sdcitybeat.com.
DECEMBER 4, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11