Category Archives: Library Art Gallery

State Fair Photography Exhibition

July 25, 2024Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallerygotvos

Beginning August 26, 2024, the South Texas College Pecan Campus Library will present State Fair, an exhibition produced by the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin, presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“State Fair” is a visual distillation of Arthur Grace’s photographic odyssey through fairs in ten states—California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. Time and again, regardless of geographical location, Grace’s images deftly capture the strange mixture of the traditional, the kitsch, and the off-the-wall that is unique to these annual gatherings, which began as a celebration of rural American life and have evolved into super-sized extravaganzas. Whether the photographs show the beaming pride of 4-H egg champions, the intensity of a tattooed arm wrestler, or a forlorn alligator waiting to be “wrestled” in a wading pool, the authenticity of Grace’s imagery is unmistakable.

There will be a reception on Sept. 23, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the STC Pecan Campus Library.

The exhibition will be available to the public from August 26 to October 2, 2024. For more information about viewing hours or to arrange group visits, contact Gina Otvos, Coordinator of Library Art Galleries at (956) 872-3488.

Humanities Texas develops and supports diverse programs across the state, including lectures, oral history projects, teacher institutes, museum exhibitions and documentary films. For more information, please visit Humanities Texas online at http://www.humanitiestexas.org or call 512.440.1991.

South Texas College Library Services contributes to academic success at South Texas College by providing learning-centered environments, exceptional services, and high-quality information resources.

Her.mosa Collective Art Exhibition

July 15, 2024Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campusgotvos

Her.mosa Collective exhibition at South Texas College teaches collaboration, empowerment, and community through public art.
Artist Talk: Sept. 23, 10 – 11 a.m. (STC Bldg. U 2.100) | Reception: Sept. 23, 5 – 7 p.m. (STC Library Bldg. F)

The South Texas College Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery proudly presents “What If We Just Stayed Here? ¿Y Si Nos Quedamos Aqui?” an exhibition by the Her.mosa Collective featuring three artists from South Texas: Alexandria Conchola, Mónica Lugo, and Sam Rawls.

This exhibition explores the realms of public art and collaboration, employing vibrant colors and intricate patterns that delve into themes of empowerment and community. The exhibit will showcase several new artworks that reflect the artist’s collective approach to muralism, while also incorporating individual touches to reveal unique identities. All three artists received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

According to the artists, “Our art celebrates joy, optimism, and the wish for a peaceful world, a safe haven. We aim to connect people to their inner child and encourage a sense of play, embracing the idea that it’s okay to be silly.”

The artists will give a talk on September 23 from 10 – 11 a.m. at the STC Pecan Campus Bldg. U, 2.100, followed by a reception later that evening from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Pecan Library, Bldg. F.

Alexandria Conchola, an Assistant Professor of Art in Graphic Design at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, creates immersive installations influenced by narrative, color, and filmmaking. Mónica Lugo, a graphic designer and illustrator, explores typographic design and geometric abstraction in her work. Sam Rawls‘s art, rooted in appreciation, celebrates each woman’s individual form to emphasize that everyone deserves to feel at ease in their own skin.

The exhibit opens on Monday, August 26, and will be on view until December 6, 2024.

The display and event will be at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, Building F, located at 3201 Pecan Blvd. McAllen, TX. The exhibition and art talk are free and open to the public.

For more details, including contact information and additional programming, please visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart or contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu.

South Texas College’s 15th Annual Ceramic Showdown – Luck and Skill: Collaborations over Space and Time

May 14, 2024Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallery, Pecan CampusKristen Sanchez

The South Texas Ceramic Showdown, a two-day event featuring three artists, is celebrating its 15th year at STC.

South Texas College is hosting its 15th Annual South Texas Ceramic Showdown, titled “Luck and Skill: Collaborations Over Space and Time.” The event will feature two days of demonstrations, art talks, a reception and two exhibitions. The exhibit will be displayed at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery from June 5 to July 31, 2024.

Collaborative works from universities and community colleges will also be displayed at the Art Department Gallery in Building B from June 5 to September 6, 2024. The galleries and ceramic studio are located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd, Building F and B in McAllen.

The schedule for the event is as follows:
Wednesday, June 5, 2024—
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Clay Demonstration at STC’s Ceramic Studio, Bldg. B115
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Photography Artist Talk – Gordon Fong, Bldg. F102
2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Clay Demonstration at STC’s Ceramic Studio, Bldg. B115
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Opening Exhibition Reception, STC Bldg. F & Bldg. B
Thursday, June 6, 2024—
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Clay Demonstrations at Ceramic Studio, Bldg. B115
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Ceramic Art Talk with Larry Yáñez and Angelina Aispuro, Bldg. B115

The event will showcase a collection of artworks by Arizona-based ceramicists Alma Aispuro, Larry M. Yáñez and photographer Gordon Fong. The exhibition will also feature ceramic pieces from nine universities and community colleges from across the United States, including works by students from STC.

“After a one-year layoff, we are back in action for another round of ceramic collaboration,” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/workshop co-organizer. “Some jaguar-inspired work is still being glazed and fired and pieces are arriving from Utah and Wisconsin to Pennsylvania.”

Participating institutions in the collaborative ceramic constructions include College of the Sequoias, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Lawrence University, Southeast Missouri State University, Texas A&M-Kingsville, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, University of San Antonio, Weber State University and STC.

“We are excited to have a pair of ceramic artists join us. These folks are genuine story tellers, and it is our pleasure to share in their stories and the experience of their long and winding road though more than a half century of connected art making,” said Leonard.

About the artists:
Alma Aispuro is a ceramic artist who works with bronze and jewelry, living and working in Yuma, AZ. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Arizona University. Aispuro has been featured at the Yuma Art Center and the Museum of Northern Arizona. She has also participated in the Flagstaff Open Studios, an annual event where many area artists open their homes and studios to the public, offering demonstrations and selling their art.

Larry M. Yáñez is an accomplished ceramic artist who draws inspiration from his Mexican-American heritage. Born in Yuma, Arizona, his diverse use of mediums allows him to offer a profound interpretation of the daily experiences within a society shaped by a blend of cultural influences. Through his art, he invites viewers to glimpse into tradition meeting modernity, and heritage intertwining with contemporary life.

Gordon Fong is a photographer who received his BFA from Arizona State University. Now retired, Fong has a long history in marketing and creating artistic campaigns for industry. Among many accomplishments, he served as the manager for art direction at Rio Salado College for twenty years. Fong also served in the US Army, where he worked as a drafter, photographer, map designer, and graphic artist
The South Texas College Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and programs to engage students’ understanding of art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

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

4th Art & Memory Conference

March 22, 2024Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibitsgotvos

STC presents the 4th annual Art & Memory Conference

Event Days: April 1 – 4, 2024 at the STC Pecan Campus

The South Texas College Liberal Arts division, in conjunction with Library Services, presents the 4th Annual Art & Memory Conference with four days of lectures, a roundtable, film viewing, a reception and a two-part exhibition. This interdisciplinary collaboration will highlight aspects of memory through a humanities lens in the theme of “youth and memory.”

Starting on April 1, the four-day conference will kick off with a lecture titled, “Immigration and Childhood Trauma: The Case of Family Separation,” presented by Efrén Olivares, author and deputy legal director at Southern Poverty Law.

Throughout the week, there will be several other events, such as a release party for the yearly magazine Tierra Firme, with local high school students reading their published entries, an art workshop where participants will create art based on their memories and other interactive events sponsored by the STC English and Philosophy departments.

“The Art and Memory sessions serve as a unique platform for the community and South Texas College to explore memory’s significance through art. This year, our focus is on childhood. Youth will engage with STC’s instructors and express memories through the visual arts, poetry and storytelling,” said Andrés Molina Ochoa, Ph.D., conference organizer & STC assistant professor of Philosophy. “Parents can also refine artistic skills through workshops, films and expert-led conferences. Our goal is to nurture creativity, deepen understanding and foster connections within our community. Join us for an enriching experience where memories come to life through art.”

The Art & Memory Conference and Exhibition Reception will take place April 2, from 5 to 6 p.m. to celebrate continued collaborative efforts and events as well as two exhibitions. One exhibit features artwork from youth ages 6-18 and the other, curated by Melissa Terry and Andrés Molina Ochoa, showcases the works of five professional artists, including Conrado Gonzalez Brownsville elementary school teacher, Adriana Gordillo from the University of Minnesota, Leila Hernandez STC Art Instructor, Lisa Irby local artist and retired educator, and Carl Vestweber from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Both exhibitions explore memory, experiences and emotions in and about childhood and adolescence.

The Art & Memory Conference exhibition will be on view from April 2 – May 15, 2024, at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, Building F.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Brittany Leckey at 956-872-5528, email bleckey@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/3artandmemory.

The schedule for the conference is as follows:

4th Annual Art and Memory – LAG 2023em

Visions of the Heart: The Blind in Action

February 6, 2024Library Art Gallery, Mid-Valley Campus, Previous ExhibitsKristen Sanchez

Local artist group “Visionaries” showcases artwork at STC’s Mid-Valley campus library
Exhibit Reception: April 9 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library

The South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery showcases a mixed-media exhibit of 13 artworks called, “Visions of the Heart” by local artist group Visionaries: The Blind in Action will be introduced in an exhibit reception on April 9.

Visionaries: The Blind in Action is a nonprofit organization committed to bringing together the community through workshops and events that involve people who are blind and the wider community.

Macarena Pena, the exhibit’s organizer, began painting in 1997 and lost her sight two years later. In 2015, she co-founded the Visual Challenges Art Project in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. This project enabled her to reignite her love for art and rediscover her artistic abilities.

This exhibit includes community artists Mary Rios, Samantha Lopez, Jesus Garza, Macarena Pena, Zorayda Pulido, Dali Cantu, Carolina Gonzalez, Alejandra Perez, Reyna Wadhawan, Juani Rodriguez and Gabriel Pinon.

The “Visions of the Heart” exhibit will be available for viewing at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library, located at 400 N. Border in Weslaco. The exhibit will be open from March 1 to May 1, 2024.

On April 9, visitors can attend an artist reception from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. During this event, visitors can meet the artists, view their artworks, and enjoy light refreshments. The event and exhibit are free and open to the public.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery curates exhibitions and educational programs to foster student understanding of art, support the academic curriculum and inspire engagement with artists, scholars and original works of art.

For more information, call 956-488-5820, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

STC Architectural Students present Arch Thru Art

January 25, 2024Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibits, Technology CampusKristen Sanchez

Reception: April 10, 2024, from 12 – 1 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library.

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery and Architecture Department proudly presents Arch Thru Art, an exhibit by STC Architectural History students. In this showcase, students visually reflect on structures from ancient civilizations through the evolution of architecture over time using contemporary designs. Their artwork shows how buildings have changed, revealing the creative ways architects adapt to different times. Visitors can explore the exhibit to see the unique blend of history and modern ideas that these students bring to life through their art.

The exhibit will be on display from January 8 – May 1, 2024, with a reception on April 10, from 12 – 1 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library Art Gallery, Bldg. A, at 3700 W. Military Hwy. in McAllen, TX. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

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

For more information, call 956-872-6120, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

The ‘T’ is Silent by Japheth Asiedu-Kwarteng

January 18, 2024Library Art Gallery, Mid-Valley Campus, Previous ExhibitsKristen Sanchez

Contemporary Ghanaian artist explores themes from traditional ceramic and mixed-media art at STC’s Mid-Valley Library Art Gallery.

South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents artist Japheth Asiedu-Kwarteng’s ceramic and mixed media exhibit. Asiedu-Kwarteng was born in Ghana and earned a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Illinois State University. He was awarded a fellowship through the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) and has exhibited on the east and west coast of the U.S. Asiedu-Kwarteng has previously served as a studio and lab Teaching Technician in ceramics for eight years at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He is now a Lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.

“My work acknowledges the legacy of Ghanaian ceramics history and contemporary presence without restriction and often utilizes complex cultural symbols, such as those associated with Kente, the meanings of which are specific, layered, and nuanced. I make an imminently contemporary statement and exemplify an approach to my work which transcends form and questions the relationship between tradition and modernity, cultural exchange, and tension.”

There will be an artist talk and reception on March 6 from 10 to 11 a.m.

The exhibit opens on Wednesday, February 7, and will be on view until April 30, 2024. The display and event will be at the South Texas College Mid-Valley Library Art Gallery, E-1.210, located at 400 N. Border in Weslaco, TX.

The exhibition and reception are free of charge and open to everyone who wishes to attend.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage students’ understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, call 956-447-6663, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

1910 – 1920: Life & Death on the Border

January 16, 2024Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibits, Starr County Campusgotvos

An early 1900s history exhibit travels to STC’s Starr Co. Campus. Lecture: April 17, 1 – 2 p.m. at the STC Starr Co. Campus, Bldg. E auditorium.

The South Texas College Starr Co. Campus Library Art Gallery and History Department proudly present “Life and Death on the Border: 1910-1920”, a 42-panel Texas history exhibit that features postcards, court documents, photographs, and artifacts from the early 1900s in the Rio Grande Valley. These histories inspired Tejano literature, art, and music and influenced the creation of the Mexican American civil rights movement.

Dr. Trinidad Gonzales, a History Professor at STC and co-founder of the Refusing to Forget project, collaborated with colleagues across the state and nation to research and curate this exhibit.

“The award-winning Life and Death Along the Border: 1910-1920 exhibit is the first time the State Museum of Texas addresses the history of state-sanctioned violence by Texas Rangers against Mexicans and Mexican Americans. The history of the Rio Grande Valley cannot be understood without fully acknowledging these events that affected hundreds of families and how they survived and overcame them,” said Gonzales.

The exhibit will be on view from February 7 – April 30, 2024, with a lecture April 17 from 1 – 2 p.m. at STC Starr Co. Campus, Bldg.—E, 142 FM 3167 in Rio Grande City, TX. The exhibition and lecture are free and open to the public.

To view the original exhibition this panel exhibit is based on, visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum link.

For more information, call (956) 488-5820, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Washed Up Texas: Saving the Ocean One Sculpture at a Time

November 9, 2023Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Previous ExhibitsBeatriz Montejano

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery has teamed up with Washed Up Texas and artist Connie Lovell to present a captivating eight-foot Great Blue Heron sculpture made from discarded plastic trash found at South Padre Island and Boca Chica beach. The artist, Connie Lovell, has utilized plastic bottles, toy brushes, phone parts, and other items to create intricate details on her approximately 300-pound sculpture. The organization collaborates with various state programs and volunteers who participate in beach cleanups to create thought-provoking artwork that promotes awareness and education. As of August 2023, approximately 3,653 pounds of trash has been picked up from the beach at South Padre Island.

The sculpture was on display at the STC Pecan Campus Library, 3201 W. Pecan Blvd Bldg. F in McAllen, TX from September 18 to November 14, 2023.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage students understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, call (956) 872-3488, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

STC Alumni Series: Karla Gabriela De La Fuente

November 9, 2023Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibits, Technology CampusKristen Sanchez

Artist Talk: November 28, 3 – 4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at the STC Technology Campus Library

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery celebrates its annual STC Alumni Series, featuring “Hecho a Mano: Paperworks,” an exhibition of handmade paper by artist and alumna Karla Gabriela De La Fuente. The series aims to support artists who began their education at STC and have since continued their work in the arts.

De La Fuente is in her last semester of the Master of Fine Arts Program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In her handmade paper art, De La Fuente investigates the human experience on the border, incorporating Rio Grande Valley organic materials and traditional Mexican techniques developed by the Otomi people from Central Mexico.

De La Fuente will lead an artist talk on November 28, from 3 – 4:30 p.m., where participants can learn about her process, techniques and inspiration behind her artwork.

Admission is free and open to the public.

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

For more information, call 956-872-6120, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.