About
Residency Dates
  • January 2015 – February 2015
  • July 2014 – July 2014
  • September 2015 – September 2015
  • January 2016 – January 2016
Region
USA
Membership
Fieldworks Collaborative (Trena Noval and Ann Wettrich)

Trena Noval’s interdisciplinary
work crosses community engagement and design, social practice, science, digital
media, cultural writing and food adventures. At the heart of her work is the
investigation of cultural and natural ecosystems, She considers herself a
science geek, inspired by her biologist farther and as a result, curiosity and
inquiry have played a critical role in shaping how she explores the world as an
artist. Noval is interested in observations and experiences of everyday life,
meandering explorations on the land and research as an art platform. Over the
last decade, collaboration has become an important part of her work process.
Currently she has been exploring the role of collective thinking and actions in
a variety of contexts with others, forming communities of mutual practice.

Her collaborative work has been exhibited widely,
including the Oakland Museum of California’s 2011 exhibition Love and
Loss: Dias de los Muertos and as artist designer for Envisioning
Oakland’s Future, a hands-on community studio and animation station for the new
science wing opened in 2013. She is the lead artist for Citizen
Science and Art, with scientist Gretchen LeBuhn, to explore community based
environmental stewardship through the study of native pollinators creating
design build projects and backyard science experiences. She is founding artist
of the 3rd Space Lab Collective, a cultural exchange group of
artists from the Bay Area and Bangalore, India, who recently completed a
residency at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bangalore, India.

At Montalvo she and fellow artist Ann Wettrich are
developing Pop Up Academies, launching the work of Fieldworks
Collaborative. They will create a series of integrative social experiences that
explore new pedagogical strategies and platforms.  

Noval currently teaches at the California College of the
Arts.