Category Archives: Library Art Gallery

Marcando el Relámpago

August 24, 2018Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art GalleryHispanic Heritage Monthgotvos

South Texas College connects art with science in latest exhibition.

Tina Fuentes, Nubita Naranja, Oil on board, 12 x 12 in., 2017.

This year as part of the college’s larger Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, the South Texas College Library Art Gallery proudly presents “Marcando el Relámpago,” an exhibition of drawings and paintings by Tina Fuentes. The exhibit opens Monday, August 27 and runs through October 17, 2018. There will be a closing artist lecture on October 17 at 1 p.m. and a reception to follow from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery. The exhibit is located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public.

Tina Fuentes has been creating visual statements through drawings, paintings, and prints that bring her inner thoughts into a 2-D form for the past thirty years in Texas and New Mexico. Currently a painting and drawing professor at Texas Tech University, Fuentes’s most recent body of work has been inspired by the land and atmospheric phenomena of the vast desert corridor in West Texas.

This exhibit comes from a collaboration with scientist and fellow instructor at Texas Tech University, Dr. Eric Bruning, who studies atmospheric electricity, lightning and turbulence. Fuentes’s paintings capture the imagery and or sensory component of these patterns.

“This collaboration between artist and scientist reminds us that all the disciplines are interconnected,” said Gina Otvos, STC Library Art Gallery Associate. “I am excited to work with our science library liaison and faculty to see what kind of collaborations we can come up with here at STC.”

Scientist Dr. Eric Bruning conducting weather research for exhibition.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art and its role in culture, stimulate inquiry, support academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information contact Gina Otvos at 956-872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon

August 24, 2018Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallery, Mid-Valley CampusHispanic Heritage Monthgotvos

STC Drawing instructor uses charcoal and water from the Rio Grande in new exhibit

South Texas College’s Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery presents “Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon,” an exhibit featuring charcoal drawings by Luis Corpus. This exhibit marks the opening of the newly renovated Library Art Gallery at the Mid-Valley Campus and will begin Monday, October 8 and will be on view through December 1, 2018. There will be an opening reception and artist lecture with Corpus on October 8 at 6 p.m. The Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery is located at 400 N. Border in Weslaco. Admission is free and open to the public

Luis Corpus’s current body of work uses symbolic medium of handmade charcoal from branches and water from the Rio Grande River. He creates portraits using these materials, attempting to express a cultural identity whose dual nature does not handily offer itself to absolutes. Corpus is an instructor of Art at South Texas College.

“Artists are simply catalysts reacting to their environment. The best singers create tone by allowing the sound to bellow from deep within their diaphragm,” said Luis Corpus. “Art should be created with a similar concept in mind. It should emanate from a person’s ‘core’, translating experiences and the concept of self in the process. Self, referring to the individual, and by extension the commonality of human experience.”

For more information contact Gina Otvos at 956-872-3488 or gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

For more information about Luis Corpus and this project, visit: https://www.luiscorpus.com/about-the-project.html

Recent B.F.A. Graduates

August 24, 2018Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallery, Technology Campusgotvos

South Texas College highlights the work of two recent B.F.A. graduates

South Texas College’s Technology Campus Library Art Gallery proudly presents “Recent BFA Graduates: Mariela Gonzalez and Victoria Zuniga,” a 2-D exhibit of paintings. The exhibit opens Tuesday, September 4 and runs through December 4, 2018. There will be an Q&A and reception on November 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Technology Campus Library Art Gallery. The exhibit is located at 3700 W. Military Hwy. in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public.

Mariela Gonzalez and Victoria Zuniga both completed UTRGV’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program in December 2017. The technical skill, dedication and stories of these artists will be inspiring to current students and public and will give unique insight into a new generation of local professional artists.

For more information contact Gina Otvos at 956-872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Continued Connections. Variable Directions.

June 7, 2018Pecan Campus, Previous ExhibitsSouth Texas Ceramic Showdownmgonz368

South Texas College gears up for its 12th annual Ceramics Conference.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018—
6:00pm –8:00pm Opening Receptions at the STC Library Art Gallery and STC Building B Gallery.

Thursday, June 21, 2018—
9:00am – 12:00pm Clay Demonstrations at STC’s Ceramic Studio, B115
1:30pm – 4:30pm Clay Demonstrations at STC’s Ceramic Studio, B 115

Friday, June 22, 2018—
9:00am – 12:00pm Clay Demonstrations at Ceramic Studio, B 115
1:30pm – 3:30pm Ceramic Art Talk with Benjie Heu & Ron Fondaw, STC Library Rainbow Room

South Texas College brings the Rio Grande Valley its twelfth annual ceramics exhibition and conference, “Continued Connections. Variable Directions.” The exhibit will be on view from June 4 to August 8, 2018, at the college’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and June 4 to July 5 at the Art Building B Gallery. The galleries and ceramic studio are located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The event includes a full display of ceramic work by distinguished ceramicists Benjie Heu and Ron Fondaw as well as ceramic work from 15 universities and community colleges across the U.S, including ceramic work by STC and UTRGV students.

The three-day South Texas Ceramic Showdown will begin with an opening reception on June 20 at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and Art Building B Gallery from 6-8 p.m. The workshop will continue with ceramic demonstrations on June 21 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. and June 22 at 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building (Bldg. B) Ceramic Studio. A lecture by ceramic artists Benjie Heu and Ron Fondaw will be held on Friday, June 22 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., adjacent to their exhibition, in the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room. All activities are free and open to the public.

“For the 2018 South Texas Ceramic Showdown, we will have more collaborations expected than in the past with a few more top notch ceramic programs in the mix,” said Chris Leonard, Ceramic Showdown organizer and STC Ceramics Professor. “We are very happy to have Benjie Heu and Ron Fondaw in the mix as the established clay artists who share the geography of the ‘Show Me State.’ Benjie and Ron share a short but meaningful friendship, are well versed in the ceramic tradition, and have deep histories as productive and innovative artists and teachers. The collaboration that they are dreaming up should be very cool as South Texas heats up.”

Benjie Heu is a Professor of Ceramics at Southeast Missouri State University. He received his MFA in Ceramics at Ohio University and exhibits internationally. His work is deeply personal and a narrative of the journey of self-discovery. His work discusses his family, food, medicine, spirituality, and human nature.

Ron Fondaw is a ceramic artist whose current work investigates the relationship between the mind, body, and environment. Fondaw is known for his more than thirty site-specific installations in locations such as New York City, Denmark, and China. He received his MFA from the University of Illinois and is a Professor of Ceramics at Washington University in St. Louis.

Participating institutions in the collaborative ceramic constructions include: Arizona Western College, Baylor University, Clarion University, Edinboro University, Lawrence University, Mesa Community College, Montana State University, South Texas College, Southeast Missouri State University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, The University of North Texas, The University of Texas San Antonio, Victoria College, and Washington University in Saint Louis.

South Texas College exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information, contact Gina Otvos at (956) 872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

Ansaros: The Beginnings of a World

June 6, 2018Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibitspelizon2

Alexis Garza is an illustrator and author of several zines and comic books and is currently majoring in Studio Art at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The exhibit Ansaros: The Beginnings of a World will feature a new concept using rich and diverse watercolors, pen & ink. The exhibit will be displayed June 28th through August 10th, 2018 at the Technology Campus Library located at 3700 W Military Hwy, McAllen, TX 78503. An opening reception and artist talk will take place on June 28th, at 6:00 PM. Event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Gina Otvos at (956) 872-3488 or gotvos@southtexascollege.edu.

Sabor a Mí

May 24, 2018Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibitsmgonz368

The exhibition Sabor a Mí will be on view from June 1 to July 12, 2018, at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery on the first floor. The event will include artwork from international and contemporary artists: Macarena Peña, Monica Ramirez, Ana Marie Sanchez Varela, Ruby Avila, Irma Garza Garcia, Fany Mares, Benjamin Varela, and Diana Montemayor. The exhibit is located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Gina Otvos at (956) 871-3488 or gotvos@southtexascollege.edu.

La Spiritu

May 11, 2018Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibitsmgonz368

La Spiritu, an exhibition by Leila Hernandez, will be on view May 1 through June 25, 2018 in the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room. There will be a reception for this exhibition, as well as the Ceramic Showdown and Art x Culture, on June 20, from 6-8 pm at the Pecan Campus Library. Hernandez is a native of El Salvador and received her MFA from the University of Florida. Hernandez draws inspiration in nature and art using re-purposed mixed media that she finds in her visits to ropas, pulgas, thrift, craft and art stores.

“The term La Spritu is drawn from the Spanish word Espiritu which means spirit. In the Spanish language the word espiritu/spirit is male (El Espiritu) which becomes incompatible with the portrait of the feminine matriarch energy represented in my work,” said Leila Hernandez. ”I use elephants to represent many concepts and ideas like knowledge, strength, healing, memory and even luck.”

About her process and inspiration, Hernandez continues, “The application of garments, largely used by women, applied on the mandalas are meant to create a social and political awareness on several issues such as enslavement, obedience, communion and spirituality. Through the use of clothes worn by women, an alliance is forged and hopefully an understanding is created among viewers—especially female viewers, that binds them through common experience, even if to some it is as simple as knowing how to weave or learning a “simple” craft.”

For more information contact (956) 872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

Carol Flueckiger: Solitude of Selfie

March 22, 2018Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibitspelizon2

McAllen, TX – South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery proudly presents “Carol Flueckiger” a 2-D exhibit of Cyanotype Prints by Artist, Carol Flueckiger.

Carol Flueckiger is an Associate Professor of Art at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. She has developed a mixed media painting technique that uses the blistering West Texas sun to expose blueprints of historic handwriting and vintage graphics onto painted wood surfaces, paper and fabric. She merges this cyanotype technique with feminist history, weather and geography.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information contact Gina Otvos at 956-872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Photo: Number 25, Educated, Carol Flueckiger, 18×12, cyanotype and sharpie on watercolor paper, 2017

ON DISPLAY: APRIL 26 – MAY 30, 2018

Cyanotype Demonstration: April 26, 2:30 pm
Art Talk/Reception: April 26, 6-7 pm

David McGee: New Work

January 8, 2018Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibitsgotvos

“Ragnar” by David McGee, oil wire and glue on canvas, 60 x 48 in., 2016.

Houston artist David McGee exhibits at South Texas College
Talk by artist David McGee slated for Feb. 22

MCALLEN, TX (Feb 16, 2018 ) – The South Texas College (STC) Library Art Gallery has curated an exhibit entitled, “David McGee: New Work” featuring the work of Houston artist David McGee that will be on display until Feb. 25, 2018.

David McGee’s work explores identity and experience. This exhibition features McGee’s large-scale, heavily textured abstract paintings he made during a one-year sabbatical on the Bolivar Peninsula, a remote area near Galveston, and his signature watercolor figurative drawings. McGee recently finished a 20-year retrospective at the Houston Museum of African American Culture.

“My paintings are also heavily influenced by my love of literature and film. I seldom go back and forth from the style of abstract painting to that of the figure, but by all facts and vocabulary, everything is abstract. So the paintings adhere to no stylistic allegiance, but just the emotional weight of what is to be human,” said McGee.

The exhibit is located on the second floor of the STC Pecan Campus Library. The exhibition and lecture are part of the college’s larger annual Black History Month celebration.

The event is free and open to the public.

WHAT: STC’s Library Art Gallery Exhibition “ David McGee: New Work”
WHO: Houston Artist, David McGee
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 at 1pm . A reception will follow from 5p.m.-7p.m.
WHERE: Pecan Campus library Rainbow Room
3201 W.Pecan Blvd McAllen, Building F

For more information, contact Gina Otvos at gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or 956- 872-3488. For a complete listing of events visit: https://library.southtexascollege.edu/LibraryArt.

STC Alumni Show: Priscilla Elizondo & Olga Alanis

January 3, 2018Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibits, Technology Campusgotvos

South Texas College presents the work of STC Alumni

McAllen, TX – South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery proudly presents “STC Alumni Show,” a 2-D exhibit of both drawings and paintings by former students, Priscilla Elizondo and Olga Alanis.

The exhibit opened Tuesday, January 23 and runs through April 23, 2018. There will be an artist lecture and reception on February 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Technology Campus Library Art Gallery. The exhibit is located at 3700 W. Military Hwy. in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public.

Priscilla Elizondo and Olga Alanis both attended South Texas College before moving to UTRGV to complete their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Alanis and Elizondo’s work both lean towards 2-D figurative work with Elizondo primarily working in drawing and Alanis in painting. The technical skill, quality and stories of the former STC students’ progress will be inspiring to current students and public.

For more information contact Gina Otvos at 956-872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Photo: Ecology of Mind, Olga Alanis, 2014.

ON DISPLAY: JAN. 23 – APRIL 23, 2018
ART TALK/RECEPTION: FEB. 15 6-7 PM TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY