Roland Reiss -Passing of a California Legend
I was saddened to hear of the passing of artist and mentor Roland Reiss on December 13th. In 2018 I was fortunate to visit my daughter at college in Claremont and attend the opening of his show at the Claremont Museum of Art. He was always generous with is wisdom and advice, and I feel blessed to have been able to thank him at that time. I worked with him just a little as a student at CGU as he was a highly sought after professor, and there was only so much of Roland to spread around. My best Roland anecdote and compliment is from my MFA show. He pulled me aside and asked "How did you get away from me?" You see Roland would recruit a few students who had the skill set he required at the time and hire them as his assistants. Somehow I had slipped through his fingers. Anyway, shortly after I finished at CGU I was able to assist in a number of his pieces and installations in Los Angeles, and that is when I got to know him far better. He'll be missed by all.
