ILLUMINATED COLLABORATOR CREW

Collaboration with artists within institutions is a huge part of Stearns’ creative adventure. As an art director, producer, facilitator and public speaker. Always leaning in to bring other artists into unique situations to share creative permission in the common conversation.

Stearns is an academically trained prolific illustrator, an arts educator, creative facilitator and community builder. Also an engaged father and supportive partner. Earning a very technical Masters of Fine Art in Illustration in 2010 and a more conceptual BFA for Painting in 2005. This Academic achievement is matched by an empirical of practice of daily art making. 

An avid illustrator for over 20 years. Forest Stearns has been creating illuminated drawings and hand lettered scripts on every surface available from art gallery walls to spaceships, there is nothing the artist won’t draw upon. His artistic portfolio radically spans media and substrate from endless sketchbooks of organic characters, laser etched drawings covering hundreds of satellites that orbit the Earth, art on Quantum Computers, and giant murals on surfaces ranging from buildings, radomes, and rocket ships.

As a scientist, Dr. Lucero has nearly two decades of experience in quantum architectures, designing, building, and controlling a variety of quantum systems to guide the power of nature towards evermore complex computations. Dr. Lucero is one of the lead scientists on the Google Quantum AI team that demonstrated humanity’s first beyond classical computation on the Sycamore quantum processor (Nature 2019). This scientific milestone was recognized by AAAS publisher of Science as one of the Breakthroughs of the year in 2019. 

As an artist, Dr. Lucero has produced a portfolio of iconic scientific photos that document the evolution of quantum processors from single qubits devices to Sycamore. His photographs have graced the covers of books, scientific journals, popular press, and have been featured in the New York Times among other major news outlets and publications. 

As an art and culture director, Erik Lucero, with principal artist Forest Stearns, founded the Quantum AI Artist in Residence collaboration with the mission to celebrate nature and quantum technology, build an inclusive and beautiful future through art and science, and expand humanity’s ability to speak the language of nature.

Dr. Lucero received a B.S. with Honors in Electrical Engineering, a B.S with Distinction Magna Cum Laude in Applied Physics from the University of Colorado, Denver and a PhD in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Erik Lucero leads Google’s Quantum Computing Service, with the mission to deliver quantum computing tools to the world to enable humankind to solve problems that would otherwise be impossible. 

Anne is also currently a consultant for California State Parks program Arts in Parks, designing a grant program that infuses the natural landscape with public art.

Anne has extensive experience in developing policy, networks, and spheres of influence that are regional, state-wide, national, and international. Her work spans the contexts of public school classrooms to running California’s state arts agency via two gubernatorial appointments, and private sector creative industry.

In her service as Executive Director of the California Arts Council, the statewide agency for arts policy and funding. Bown-Crawford promoted the CAC's mission to strengthen arts, culture, and creative expression as tools to cultivate a better

California for All by designing and implementing interdisciplinary programs and crafting state policy that links the arts and creative education to other industry sectors. Anne has guided the State of California’s Public Art Program, expanded and nourished the CA Cultural District network, and established the California Creative Corps. She has demonstrated statewide leadership as a policymaker and apassionate public and private sector advocate for creative education and creative industry cross pollination. Anne has had international impact, endorsing new media/technology settings (Fablearn, Maker Spaces, Art & Technology, STEAM ecosystems) and traditional creative education.

Her work as an artist and designer, as a state policy maker, and in education, prioritizes the economic, educational, and civic benefits of making the arts available to all communities; broadening public access to the arts, reducing barriers to cultural participation, as well as building bridges across communities; engaging all generations and geographies within the sectors of science, technology, public health, and natural resources.

Following a period of professional and creative growth, Ando established his own multi-disciplinary design atelier SEARCH+RESQ (search & rescue) an independent design brand to represent his diverse interests in all things creative with focus on the importance of human centered design products and spatial experiences.

As a visual communicator of ideas, Ando never wanted to place himself into a specific category of design. Weaving together his understanding of design, technology and innovation, Ando was an early adopter of laser cutting and etching, acquiring his own machine over a decade ago.

The laser machine became a tool to further expand and explore his hands-on, process-driven approach integrating art, architecture and design into his practice.

Over the past decade, Ando has offered all-inclusive design services specializing in interior design & fabrication, custom furniture, products, brand identity, project management, design consultation, immersive large-scale art exhibitions and one-of-a-kind fabrication. 

In parallel to his design services, Ando is the lead designer behind SEARCH+RESQ’s exclusive collection of modern furniture. Current collections: Ecosystem & Hyebrid are modular in form, human in scale and sustainable in materials. The collections are made to order and manufactured in Los Angeles by a network of independent craftsmen and team of skilled fabricators.

The opening of the SEARCH+RESQ headquarters in 2017, one-part gallery, one-part creative lab provided the opportunity to showcase the full breadth of Ando’s capabilities from full scale installations to intimate art openings. The gallery space is in continual flux, as Ando frequently creates site-specific installations and collaborates with local artists to curate exhibitions. His work has been included in exhibitions, design competitions and projects spanning both domestic and international.