Southwestern College’s 2015 faculty exhibition presents a variety of remarkable pieces of art in its current show. This event is the faculty’s opportunity to demonstrate its creativity and artistic endeavors.
Many of the pieces are for sale, ranging in price from $50 to $7,000. Oil, acrylic, print, ceramic, fabric, wood, watercolor, photography and other media are represented.
“The exhibition gives students the opportunity to see creations of their professors and instructors,” said gallery director Vallo Riberto, who welcomes the South Bay community to attend this unique event.
During a personal tour, Riberto gave insight into the symbolism and significance of the various pieces.
“X-ray Vision” by Perry Vasquez is on pop culture, with references to comics and ads from the 1950s. His oil painting shows images of both Native Americans and cowboys on the face of a skeleton.
Bernadette Mingus’s mosaic “Mother’s Lap” is a chair covered with broken pieces of blue and white dishware. The work represents the mother goddess’s throne, a concept which exists in various cultures.
“Pages from the Book of Souls,” created by Lisa Venditelli Karmel, is a visual commentary on souls of victims of Catholic abuse. Her piece consists of shoe soles covered with images of victims.
One piece that immediately catches the viewer’s eye is a large wooden and fabric vehicle that has a working crank. This car is John Dillemuth’s “Vedova Nero.”
George Essex has two pieces in the gallery. One is dedicated to a friend who died from addiction entitled “Hillary in Ascension.” His “Hissenherse” consists of two large ceramic pieces representing male and female reproductive parts; the female looks like a giant sea anemone.
Don’t miss the large-scale “Dragons” that are in a darkened room within the exhibit. These intriguing pieces by Marisol Rendon are carved from wood.
A wall hanging made of hemp, with the appearance of a Scrabble board, is a commentary on cannabis; “Hep 2 Hemp” is created by Sandra Wascher.
“Ishihara’s Tests for Color Deficiency Plates” by Craig Carlson is a play on the idea of testing eyes for green-red color blindness. Images cover representations of the eyes.
A 3-D empty house on sand with a bird’s nest inside is a creation by Sheila Moran. Her “House Full of Sand” can represent the empty nest syndrome.
In “Proverbial Swatches,” Raul Espinosa has created a minimalist painting. The enamel on canvas work displays color chips.
Riberto has four prints and drawings in the show. One is his visualization of the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York.
The exhibit, located on the west side of the Southwestern College campus near Mayan Hall, is free and open to the public. The times available for viewing are Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The exhibit is open through March 3.
