`Here and Now`: Students Celebrate Science Fiction

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‘Here and Now’: Students
Celebrate Science Fiction
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May 6, 2016
Art students were inspired by Philip K. Dick’s “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep,” “The Man In The
High Castle,” “The Minority Report” and “The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch” to create their works for
the exhibit at Pollak Library.
Exploring the influence of Philip K. Dick in science fiction — and his connection to Cal State
Fullerton — are the topics of “Philip K. Dick: Here and Now,” on display through June 16 at
the Pollak Library’s Salz Pollak Atrium Gallery.
Co­curators Cliff Cramp, professor of art, and David Sandner, professor of English,
comparative literature and linguistics, teamed up with their students for an exhibition that
highlights some of the author’s books, manuscripts and correspondence — housed at the
library’s University Archives & Special Collections — and 59 faculty and student illustrations.
"Visual development artists will use the story and characters to build a basic concept that is
used as a guideline for an entire project," said Cramp. "As one critic stated, 'The works of
Philip K. Dick present metaphysical conundrums about identity, humanity and the nature of
reality.' In the fashion of the old pulp illustrators, CSUF artists are proud to use four works by
Philip K. Dick as a platform in which to build worlds."
The late Willis McNelly, a CSUF English professor, met Philip K. Dick in 1972 and helped
him relocate to Fullerton. The author even lived with Cal State Fullerton students for some
time; it’s said that he became somewhat of a campus regular.
The process for his Philip K. Dick­inspired work included jotting down ideas and details
while he read and figuring out a character or a moment in the story that he wanted to
portray. “After the brainstorming is done, I move into thumbnailing out my ideas in a visual
format. I then begin researching scenery, lighting and clothing for details in the environment
and characters I will be painting. Then I draw and paint out the scene.”
The connection between Philip K. Dick and Cal State Fullerton, he explains, gives him hope
that he, too, will go on to great things. “Perhaps one day my work will be used in film or
serve to inspire other creative people in their endeavors."
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