UHCL Art Gallery showcases local college talent
The UHCL Art Gallery is hosting 25 various artistic works by 16 artists from Houston area community colleges from Nov. 8 to Dec. 14.
UHCL Art Gallery
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The UHCL Art Gallery is hosting 25 various artistic works by 16 artists from Houston area community colleges from Nov. 8 to Dec. 14.
The creative works vary from paintings and drawings to sculptures and pottery. Submissions were open to students enrolled in at least one studio art class, and the pieces were selected based on artistic talent.
A preview reception was held at the gallery Wednesday, Nov. 8 where three of the participating students were chosen to receive cash prizes totaling $400 provided by the UHCL Alumni Association through its program development endowment.
Jeffrey Bowen, director of the UHCL Art Gallery, said that for this exhibit there was no set theme or rules the students had to follow to submit their artwork.
“We didn’t limit any type of media so we have paintings, sculpture, prints and photography,” Bowen said. “We didn’t require them to follow a theme, which allows them to present their own artistic expression.”
The artists were allowed to enter up to three pieces for the exhibit. Bowen judged the artistic works based on skill and “overall grasp of certain artistic concepts.”
Third place and a cash prize of $100 was awarded to Heidi aus den Ruthen Haag of Lone Star College-Montgomery. Ruthen Haag’s work consisted of seven unglazed stoneware pieces resembling flower buds surrounding a central blooming stoneware flower. The set was titled Seeds of Hope for Houston After Harvey.
Second place and a cash prize of $125 was awarded to Virginia Perez of San Jacinto College North Campus. Perez had two charcoal on paper works featured in the exhibit. Just Above Sympathy’s View featured a woman with hands caressing her face, while Divided Except at One depicted a mirror view of a man with two faces merging or separating in the middle.
First place and a cash prize of $175 was awarded to Matthew Napoli of San Jacinto College South Campus. Napoli’s three pieces were oil, charcoal and graphite on paper. Each one featured a different style of abstract artwork. They were titled Forthcoming Reduction, Slouching Toward and Forthcoming Ruthlessness.
Honorable mentions went to Oscar G. Del Toro of San Jacinto College South Campus and Liza Villalta of San Jacinto College North Campus. Del Toro’s work consisted of three varying sculpture, drawing, and painting pieces while Villalta presented two acrylic on canvas works.
UHCL art major Bay Turner said that she enjoys visiting the UHCL Art Gallery every time there is a new exhibit.
“As an artist, it’s always fun and inspiring to see others work in exhibits like this,” Turner said. “It’s cool that UHCL has its own cool little gallery on campus, so I can stop by between classes and check out whatever exhibit they have at the time.”
The UHCL Art Gallery regularly cycles exhibits to showcase talent from across the Houston area as well as talent from artists abroad. The next exhibit that will be hosted is WAR-TOYS by Los Angeles based artist Brian McCarty opening Jan. 29.
