Thursday, July 16, 2009

Beyond The Vessel Ceramic Conference Photos

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

TAMUK Faculty Featured in The Monitor

Beyond The Vessel

June 18, 2009 - 5:10 PM

Nancy Moyer

The Monitor

It's ceramic showdown time again! The annual South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Beyond the Vessel exhibit is now on display at the STC Library Art Gallery and the UTPA Visitors Center in Edinburg. Two exhibits under one concept explore the sharing of ideas, ceramics-wise, from different Texas institutions. This 3rd annual exhibition, in collaboration with a conference, displays student and faculty ceramic works from eleven universities and community colleges across Texas.

The strongest feature of this exhibit is the exhibition of works by the conference's featured speakers: Aaron Calvert of Henderson State University, Charles Wissinger of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Fulden Sara-Wissinger of Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Coastal Bend College. Exhibited in the upstairs gallery at the LAG, their work is technically interesting and aesthetically satisfying.

Chuck Wissinger showed different approaches with his work. There is the riff off traditional ceramics in his "Made in China" porcelain plate. In "The Many Worlds of Chuck" he went non-traditional with a sculptural expression that blurred the boundary between ceramics and sculpture. Led by ideas rather than materials, he depicts things that have personal significance, including a self-portrait.

"The thing I was interested in pursuing in this show was the autobiographical piece," explained Wissinger. "One of the things that really impacted me was going to Oaxaca a few years ago and seeing the playful way that they do these things about life. I particularly liked the Aguilar women figures, where, down the skirt, the whole saga of the family plays out. Before that, I had never done anything with biographical intent, but then I got interested."

Aaron Calvert's "Sandblasted Black Ant" vessel is a sophisticated work with a witty, beautifully designed insect motif. Fulden Sara-Wissinger's flat clay pieces are gemlike with varieties of rich color and texture flowing within restrained areas.

The remainder of the exhibit at the LAG is spread out across tops of bookcases. "Varvara (I love your dear eyes my friend)," porcelainious clay body and mixed media, by Sasha Nochovka, UTSA, creates an ambiguous balance between cruelty and protection. The preciousness of the animal - we see only the worried eyes and gilded nose and toenails protruding from a leather wine bag, creates a disconnect between tragic reality and a decorative table piece.

Faculty and graduate student ceramics are worth a look, but I felt that the remainder of student works reflected a lack of personal connection to the medium.

"I'd like to see us focusing on South Texas outward," Wissinger added. "If we can get the idea of South Texas out there, I think it can plug into some pretty important international things."

A South Texas Ceramic Showdown:

Beyond the Vessel, 3rd Annual Exhibition

Where: STC Library Art Gallery, Pecan Street campus

UTPA Visitors Center, Edinburg

When: through July 3. LAG: Mon/Wed, 8-10 a.m. & 2-4 p.m. Tues/Thur-10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; CLOSED Friday.UTPA: Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm; Sat, 8am-2pm.
Info: LAG: 956-872-3488; UTPA 956 292 7338

Nancy Moyer, PhD, is the art critic for Festiva. She is an independent artist living in McAllen and may be reached at nmoyer@rgv.rr.com

Friday, June 5, 2009

TAMUK Faculty Exhibit/Lecture at UTPA and STC

South Texas College, together with The University of Texas Pan-American, is proud to present “A South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Beyond the Vessel,” which is the third annual Rio Grande Valley ceramics conference and exhibition. The event includes art lectures and ceramics demonstrations, as well as a full display of ceramics works by artists and professors from across Texas. The conference starts Friday, June 12 at The University of Texas-Pan American Ceramics Lab, concluding on Saturday, June 13 at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Bldg. B Ceramics Lab. Art Lectures will also take place Saturday at STC’s Pecan Campus Bldg. B Auditorium. All activities are free and open to the public.

“This is the third conference STC and UTPA have put together and we look forward to being enlightened by an ever younger generation of ceramic artists, discovering their creative, inspired approaches of pushing the boundaries of innovation,” said David Freeman, curator and programs coordinator of STC’s Library Art Gallery Program. “The show explores the influences of our Southern continental United States and its individual, extensive point of view regarding contemporary issues in the devolvement, expression, concept, personal exploration and experimentation of different processes and unique aesthetics in contemporary ceramics today.”

“We are excited to roll out the South Texas Ceramic Showdown once again and witness its evolution over the last three years,” said Chris Leonard, UTPA ceramics lecturer and conference organizer. “The concept is the same with both student and faculty work exhibited together with a promise for great diversity. The event is also a fantastic opportunity for ceramic students, as it offers an opportunity for creative interaction, and communication with our three presenting artists. All three presenting artists are tremendously versatile, but I am anticipating an acceptance of the ceramic tradition: vessels that transcend and push beyond mere function into all sorts of narration and possibility.”

The conference includes lectures and ceramic demonstrations by Aaron Calvert of Henderson State University, Charles Wissinger of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Fulden Sara-Wissinger of Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Coastal Bend College.

Half of the ceramic works will be exhibited at STC’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery with the balance being exhibited at UTPA’s Visitors Center. Exhibit opening receptions are on Friday, June 12th from 6 to 8 p.m. at UTPA’s Visitors Center and Saturday, June 13th from 6 to 8 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public. The exhibits will be on view from June 1 to July 3, 2009 at their respective locations.

The exhibit features works by faculty and students from 11 universities and community colleges including The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College, South Texas College, The University of Texas Pan-American, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Texas Tech University, The University of North Texas, Henderson State University, Tyler Junior College, and Tarrant County College.

For more information call 872-3488, E-mail libraryart@southtexascollege.edu or visit http://lag.southtexascollege.edu.

South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Beyond the Vessel (Schedule)

UTPA

Friday, June 12, 2009

9:00am – 12:00pm

Clay Demonstrations at UTPA – free and open to the public

12:00pm – 1:30pm

Lunch Break

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Clay Demonstrations at UTPA

6:00pm – 8:00pm

South Texas Ceramic Showdown Opening, UTPA’s Visitors Center

9:00pm – 11:00pm

Potluck Social and Student/Community Slide Forum

STC

Saturday, June 13, 2009

9:00am – 12:00pm

Clay Demonstrations at STC – free and open to the public

12:00 pm – 1:30pm

Lunch Break

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Lectures/Slides and Power Points at STC

6:00pm– 8:00pm

South Texas Ceramic Showdown Opening Reception, STC Library Art Gallery, (Pecan Campus)

Friday, April 24, 2009

Art Students Compete and Place in Poster Contest

Sell Your Fear
April 23, 2009 - 2:31 PM
Nancy Moyer
The Monitor
Do you feel manipulated by the media? Do you have nagging fears about the economy, or that cooking food in a microwave will kill you? The current exhibition at South Texas College Library Art Gallery brings all those fears out into the open. Designers were instructed to "sell their fear" for this juried, graphic arts, poster competition. The exhibition is a strong graphic and emotional experience for the viewer.
"This exhibit was created in order to celebrate the new Associate of Art Degree with a concentration in Graphics Design that will start in the fall of 2009, said David Freeman, Curator and Program Coordinator. "This was also an opportunity to let graphic designers express their own identity."
The exhibit demonstrates how advertisers, politicians, and other self interest groups, use fear to sell products and manipulate the public consciousness. If you are not aware of the way fear is organized in this country, then this exhibit will show you.
Surprisingly, there is little duplication. It seems that there are enough fears to go around. The posters remind us about cancer, job loss, New World Order, and even indifference. One poster illustrates the multiplicity of many daily fears confronting the hapless citizen, such as death, economy, and religion. The fear of not being beautiful is a reminder that an entire industry stays alive by persuading women that they are never beautiful enough, but buy that new cosmetic and you might be....
There's a new fear of plastic containers. Don't drink from recycles 3, 6, or 7, warns Candice Wardyn's Killer Plastics poster, they can kill you. Phyllis Evans questions the value of freedom in Someone Very Bad Wants to Hurt You. One designer includes all ethnic groups in his poster; their slang names suggest an alien strangeness, and seem threatening. The fear of being overweight is very profitable, too.
Frank Tierney fears indifference and what it could lead to with his poster, ...What if these were human remains?"
The posters are all digital prints, 24" x 36." Several lack the strong impact of the message in favor of stronger artistic considerations. For the viewer, this adds to the success of the exhibit. The show is not the quick view that one might expect from poster art.
"Sell Your Fear" Poster Exhibition
Where: South Texas College Library Art Gallery, Pecan Street campus
When: through April 30, open daily
Info: 956-872-3488
Winners of the poster competition were divided into two categories, professionals and students. They included:

Professionals:

1st Place: Phyllis Evans, South Texas College

3rd Place: Frank Tierney, Texas Tech University

Students

1st Place: Caroline Navejar, Angelo State University

2nd Place: Thermon Biggers, Texas A & M Kingsville (student)

3rd Place: Boone Wyatt, Angelo State University

Honorable Mentions:

Robert Gilbert, The University of Texas-Pan American

Gabriel Delgado, Museo Alameda, San Antonio, TX

Mindy Monsibais, Texas A&M Kingsville (Student)

Friday, February 20, 2009

Earth Amma Artist Reception & Gallery Talk

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Lenard Brown • Earth Amma, Drawings & Prints

Artist Statement

The content of my artwork generally revolves around functional man-made objects that some times conduct redundant activities. These activities are task humans need to have performed on a regular basis that may be mundane. I attempt to define my artwork through these images by using interactive objects in our public domain.

The use of mechanical objects, African masks, Adinkra symbols and other icons are about the polarity of being an African American in Western society. African art strives to be a functional component in the spiritual well being of people’s lives. Nevertheless, the Western ritual of interacting with parking meters, road signs, and other everyday objects is almost as religious.

I cannot partition myself from the urban icons that surround me. As a result, I see parking meters as Bafo and Fang masks and road signs as Kikuyu dance shields. Ideas of African Diaspora and these types of objects stimulate my creative process. Generally, a Western analytical approach gives my work its visual form. Conversely, it is the African intuitive process that physically gives the work life. As a result, much of my work relates Western thinking to African philosophy and Christianity to African Mythology.