Matthew Lallas

The Santa Clara • 4th February 2022

Kara Maria’s Abstract World of Endangered Animals

Kara Maria, a San Francisco based artist, has just begun a five-month stay at Santa Clara’s de Saisset Museum with her collection, “Precious and Precarious: Life on the Edge of Extinction.”

The Santa Clara • 29th September 2023

Bald Sisters Emphasizes a Move Towards Representation in Theater

Nicole Tung, in character as Him, held burning sticks of incense pressed between both hands as the lights went up on the intricate set of “Bald Sisters.”The play, written by Vichet Chum, made its west coast debut at the San Jose Stage on Sept. 13th, with direction from Jeffrey Lo.

The Santa Clara • 24th February 2023

Passing Through the Threshold

For many works of art, the decision for a viewer to engage is made in a split second. There’s always a powerful, sensory feeling that precedes the whirl of interpretation and analysis that accompanies any great work. Walking through the double doors of Dowd, this sense comes in full effect.

The Santa Clara • 15th April 2022

Life and Death in the Age of Climate Change

“Facing West Shadows: The Endless End” is a multimedia exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose (ICASJ) on display from April 1 to Aug. 14. The installation, created by artist collective Facing West Shadows, combines video, audio and physical art forms in a series of connected rooms inside of ICASJ.

The Santa Clara • 27th February 2022

A Journey Through the Practice of Printmaking

The Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building is now home to the captivating printmaking of Golbganou Moghaddas and Art Hazelwood. From Feb. 16 to April 8, the Art and Art History Gallery is showcasing a collection of etchings, woodcuts, linocuts and screenprints from the two artists.

The Santa Clara • 19th May 2023

Not for (Just) Sitting

For contemporary designers, furniture has outlived its solely utilitarian existence. The pandemic has spurred many to rethink the design and furnishing of their living space, prompting a larger reevaluation of the purpose behind furniture.

The Santa Clara • 2nd June 2023

Displayed in Dowd, One Last Time

Each project takes on issues and experiences of the current moment with precision and strength.The sheer breadth of creative expression is a key part of what makes this a consistently compelling art show. Each senior has a visual and experiential world of their own that they channel into their work.

The Santa Clara • 23rd September 2022

Nathan Fielder Blurs the Line Between TV and Reality

For many shows, the themes and messages of each season seem to crystalize and come into focus with each passing episode. Often, much of the plot builds to a clear climax, where main characters reveal their true feelings or intentions. If there was ever an outlier to this format, Nathan Fielder’s new show is undoubtedly a frontrunner.

The Santa Clara • 23rd May 2022

The 2022 Studio Art Senior Exhibition is Now Open

The Art and Art History Gallery has just unveiled their final exhibit of the year in Dowd, the Studio Art Senior Exhibition. The show runs from May 13 to June 10, and features art from 10 different senior studio art majors.

The Santa Clara • 13th May 2022

Toro y Moi Blends Psychedelia, Soul on “MAHAL”

Chaz Bear, known to most as Toro y Moi, has been releasing studio records, compilations and mixtapes since 2010. He’s considered one of the pioneers of “chillwave” — a late 2000s genre focused on synth-driven dream pop, born on the internet.

The Santa Clara • 29th April 2022

“Wet Leg’s” Off-The-Wall, Unassuming Debut

By indie standards, Wet Leg has become a viral sensation. Catapulted by their 2021 breakout single “Chaise Lounge,” this new indie rock duo from the Isle of Wight has burst onto the scene. Their debut, self-titled album “Wet Leg” hit #1 on the UK albums chart and is now being taken around the world on tour.

The Santa Clara • 1st April 2022

Denzel Curry Channels Jazz, 90’s Hip-Hop on Latest Album

Playing on elements of trap and punk rap, Florida rapper Denzel Curry has stood as an artist at the forefront of his niche since the release of his first mixtape in 2011 and his first studio album in 2013.

The Santa Clara • 18th February 2022

“The Dream” is an ethereal, stripped-back version of Alt-J

In their fifteen years together, Alt-J has created music disinterested in genre or form. This alternative rock trio from Leeds, England pushes the envelope in pursuit of interesting, evocative sounds.

The Santa Clara • 11th February 2022

Hippo Campus Takes Indie Rock to Experimental, Genre-Bending Territory

In the age of streaming, contributions from artists in the music industry are increasingly pointed towards two goals: quantity and virality. For many record labels, the likelihood of a song getting big on TikTok is a much bigger factor in its success than the quality of the music itself.

The Santa Clara • 14th January 2022

“Dawn FM” is an Eclectic Addition to The Weeknd’s Genre-Defining Discography

Abel Tesfaye, more commonly known as The Weeknd, has achieved what many would consider the ultimate pop-star status. In the past two years, he’s released the #1 most streamed R&B album ever, performed at the Super Bowl and amassed an astonishing 2.7 billion streams on his #1 hit, “Blinding Lights”.

The Santa Clara • 21st January 2022

“Scream” Delivers in Signature Scares but Lacks Originality

Eager to cash in on nostalgia, Hollywood studios have ushered in a new age of filmmaking: big-budget, referenced-packed remakes.

Kazi Goods • 20th September 2021

Ensuring Fair Wages – KAZI

Central to the mission of Kazi and All Across Africa is ensuring fair wages across all artisan work in order to most directly alleviate poverty in their communities. Central in measuring what constitutes a fair and living wage are the indicators of opportunity and investment that in most cases were not previously available.

Kazi Goods • 20th September 2021

Handcrafted with Elephant Grass – KAZI

In Bolgatanga, the crafts center of Northern Ghana, basket-weaving has been a traditional skill passed down for generations. This intricate and withstanding practice has long used the land and its crops sustainably.

Heinz Marketing • 4th August 2022

How Growth Mindset Cultivates Marketing Success – Heinz Marketing

For many, growth mindset is likely a buzzword that you hear quite a bit. A utopian idea that if someone is simply “open-minded” to learning and growth, they’ll become radically more successful or productive.

Heinz Marketing • 9th September 2022

My Experience as an Intern, and Some Advice for the Search – Heinz Marketing

I had the pleasure of interning at Heinz Marketing this summer. While I’ve gotten to experience marketing in a college environment (classes, clubs, campus organizations) and a B2C organization, I was completely new to the world of B2B and agency marketing.

The Santa Clara • 18th October 2023

Nick Drake’s “Family Tree”

Nick Drake’s music is deeply enigmatic–his work captures the sound of his era with soft, introspective songwriting blending into the contemporary folk scene. It’s also shrouded in mystery. Drake’s untimely passing at just 26 years old casts a near mystical aura over his discography, which only gained popularity posthumously.

The Santa Clara • 16th February 2024

The Allman Brothers Band's “Eat a Peach”

The story of the Allman Brothers Band spans triumph, tragedy and reinvention. They pioneered the jam-band style in rock, dazzling crowds with long, improvisational sessions. Marquee album “At Fillmore East” is a legendary live recording at the famed venue where the band showcases this signature style.

The Santa Clara • 15th December 2023

Vince Guaraldi Trio's "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Given this is my final column of the year, I knew I only had one more chance to celebrate a yearly institution: the bona fide classic given just a couple weeks of spotlight in the final months of the year.

The Santa Clara • 2nd February 2024

Hiroshi Yoshimura's “Green”

Ambient music is not just for studying. Yes, it’s an exceptionally effective sonic blanket for focusing or zoning out, but the world of ambient is so much more. Popular artists of the genre like Brian Eno and Aphex Twin exposed listeners to more experimental applications, incorporating sound design, beats and vocals.

The Santa Clara • 18th January 2024

Jesse Colin Young's “Song for Juli”

The story of the streaming service era is one of innovation, near-ubiquitous adoption and controversy. Though if there ever was a shining star of this new age of music listening, my money is on the recommendation algorithm.