Art students encourage UHCL community submissions to ‘!@#$ 2020’

“!@#$ 2020.”

Less than two months of 2020 remain. As the year comes to a close, art students and faculty are encouraging the UHCL community to creatively express their feelings about 2020 for the world to see at the “!@#$ 2020 Art Exhibition.”

The “!@#$ 2020 Art Exhibition” will display artwork from the UHCL community in early 2021. The curators for the exhibition are Crystal Correa, bachelor of fine arts, Cassidy Matlock, digital media studies graduate student and Taryn Gonzales, bachelor of fine arts.

Stuart Larson, department chair of communication and studio arts and associate professor of graphic design, came up with the idea and chose Correa, Gonzales and Matlock to be the curators of the exhibition. Larson said the idea began to form while thinking of a way to keep UHCL’s art community connected.

“Ever since the pandemic started I have been worried that we would feel isolated,” Larson said. “Art is such a tactile in-person experience, one that is meant to be shared and as an arts faculty I really wanted to find a way to keep the UHCL arts community together.”

Larson noted the number of occurrences throughout the year has been numerous, to where he is not sure which event cemented his decision to have the exhibition.

“I don’t think I can pinpoint when I first realized that we need this exhibition,” Larson said. “At this point, it feels as if this year has brought some piece of bad news every day, whether it be on the personal, national or international stage. To witness all of this while being isolated at home can be emotionally draining.”

Larson made it clear that the exhibition is entirely student-run and he simply was organized entirely by the student curators he approached with the vision for an exhibition reflecting on this year.

“Although I may have brought the hint of an initial idea to these three curators, they are the ones who decided to work together and who turned a vague vision into an amazing art opportunity,” Larson said.

The three artists accepted the proposition to curate the exhibit because they saw it as an opportunity for UHCL students, staff and faculty to express themselves artistically and have their voices heard.

“I just think this year was so unique for all of us in really huge and profound ways, and to give a whole body of people a vessel to feel and speak through is truly incredible,” Matlock said. “I think it will be stunning to allow people to have a voice in our exhibit because it has felt as of late as if the whole world is screaming all the time, and I believe everyone deserves to be given the space to be heard.”

Larson and the three curators felt the explicit name of the exhibition was one that fit perfectly for the theme of the show.

“The name of the show pretty much sums up what the show is about,” Correa said. “We are trying to provide an outlet or a stage for people to talk about what the year 2020 has been to them. Since art can be healing or meditative, we thought it would be a healthy outlet for people to share their thoughts, feelings and frustrations about the year. It’s a way to bring all of us together in a way since we are forced to be apart at the moment.”

Larson said the title was fitting because expletives can express a vast range of emotions in a single word.

“The title says ‘I’m taking control of my life’ with a flippant self-empowered attitude,” Larson said. “Let this be a warning to 2021 that we are not going to put up with any more shenanigans.”

Correa said the exhibition has received positive responses and that they have already received submissions. Correa said they hope to open the exhibit in early spring 2021 and said the show will be different compared to previous art shows on campus prior to the pandemic.

“Our hope is that when school starts next semester and we are able to physically go on campus we can all look back at what last year was,” Correa said. “I think it will be visually striking and impactful.”

Gonzales expressed that she is excited to see everyone’s hard work come together to express how 2020 has been for them.

“Everyone has their own unique style and way that they make art and being able to collect these unique viewpoints into one single exhibit is going to be a treat,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said she is excited to share the experiences with Correa and Matlock.

“I am excited to get the experience of collaborating with Crystal and Cassidy, organizing an exhibit from the ground up and seeing all of the submissions that come in,” Gonzales said.

The curators plan to submit their own works as well, emphasizing it to be an opportunity not to miss even in this busy semester.

“I most definitely plan to submit some works once I create them, though I may have to wait until winter break before I have time to do so,” Matlock said.

Larson praised Correa, Gonzales and Matlock for the work they have done to organize the exhibition.

“I am so excited that Cassidy, Crystal and Taryn have created this amazing opportunity for people to share their experiences together,” Larson said. “It is desperately needed, and they have done a professional art-world job getting this show together.”

The deadline to submit work is Dec. 31. Those who wish to submit work can do so on through the google form on the exhibition’s site.