‘Blooming Dreams and Fading Memories’

The well-known expression “stop and smell the roses” is one to be taken literally as well as figuratively. Physically stopping to smell the roses is one of many ways to take a break – a moment to de-stress and appreciate life’s beauty.

In that vein, the UHCL Art Gallery presents the ceramic sculpture exhibition by artist Bernadette Esperanza Torres – Blooming Dreams and Fading Memories. The exhibit is currently on display through Oct. 22.

Torres uses clay sculptures and fresh cut flowers to depict the nature of life.

Karen Fiscus, gallery assistant, explained that Torres works from clay slabs and forms them into figurative and floral works. She embellishes her work with glaze, glass beads and enamel paints.

“Blooming Dreams and Fading Memories is about my life, my family, dreams and hope,” Torres said.

Torres revealed that “Dreams and Memories” represents coping with the loss of her mother to cancer and the reality of knowing that she will also soon lose three close friends.

“I am trying to cope with their endings, enjoying their bright unique colors as the short life of a flower; wishing they would bloom forever,” Torres said.

The pièce de résistance of the exhibit are the three sisters: “My Other Sister Fides” (faith), “My Other Sister Spes” (hope) and “My Other Sister Caritas” (charity). Jeffery Bowen, coordinator of audience development, said that faith, hope and charity are traditional ideals; ideals that cannot be achieved all of the time.

“There is a lot of emotion shown in the faces,” Bowen said.

Torres explained that she is one of three sisters and that the sculptures represent each sister taking her own path in life and trying to survive with her individual talent. She notes that her middle name, Esperanza, translates into Hope.

Fiscus described Torres as a vivacious artist. She said that Torres has a talent for bringing forth various emotions in her figure’s faces.

“I leave my fingerprints on all of my sculptures,” Torres said. “Touching and moving the clay with my hands empowers me to bring the flowers and figure out of the clay.”

The overall theme of the exhibit is the transient nature of life.

“Each monumental life-changing event lasts for a few short hours, then it is over, only to fade away like a flower into a memory,” Torres explained. “I am capturing these memories and translating them into ceramic sculptures with a story.”

Bowen said that though the exhibit presents Bernadette’s story, he hopes that students will relate their own experiences to the pieces. The gallery is open Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. – noon.

Meet the artist at the art gallery for a public lecture about her work followed by a reception Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m.