Category Archives: Current & Upcoming Exhibits

Jessica Monroe: A Cosmic Dance

Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallery, Mid-Valley Campus

Artist Exhibition traveling from Pecan campus to Mid-Valley Campus Library.  

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery and the Art Department Gallery are collaborating to present “A Cosmic Dance,” an exhibition by local artist Jessica Monroe. The exhibit will take place at the Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery. 

The opening date is April 25, and the exhibition will be on display until September 15, 2025, at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library, located at 400 N Border, Building E, in Weslaco, TX. Admission is free, and the exhibition is open to the public. For library hours, visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/aboutus/hourscontact. 

Jessica Monroe is known for her large-scale nature paintings that are full of energy and movement. She uses a meditative approach to create marks responding to wildlife to connect with nature.  “I rely on the authenticity of the natural world where the stories of interdependence and balance offer perspective and healing,” Monroe says. “Inspired by these wild spaces, I create paintings full of movement in a style of ecological realism.”  

Monroe’s love for nature began in childhood on her grandparents’ farm. “It was my favorite place, where the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors blurred. Without air conditioning, we slept with the windows open and woke to the racket of birds. When life as a young adult became overwhelming and stressful, I used my creative practice to reconnect with the natural spaces that stirred my heart as a kid,” she recalls.

Monroe’s meditation paintings respond to the energies around her, letting go of capturing a pretty image. “Through this process, I witnessed a different way of understanding our world, where energy flows, and nothing is separate,” she explains. “I work to remain true to what I have learned about this subject.”  

The STC Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to enhance students’ understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire ongoing education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original artworks. 

For more information, contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag. 

The Moon as Muse: A Love Letter in Art & Verse

Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus

Moon as Muse banner
Reception: March 5, 5 – 7 p.m. at the STC Pecan Library

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents an exhibition titled “The Moon as Muse: A Love Letter in Art & Verse,” featuring artwork and poetry from STC Students, Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Community Members, all centered around the theme of the moon. The moon has long inspired artists across different fields. For painter Vincent van Gogh, it was a muse that illuminated his night scenes. Composer Claude Debussy captured its beauty in his piece Clair de Lune, translating moonlight into music. Meanwhile, Shakespeare used the moon as a recurring symbol in his works, representing themes of love, madness, and the passage of time.

The timeless allure of the moon has sparked creativity across generations, inspiring artists, musicians, and writers alike. Ancestors looked to the moon to mark the passing of days and seasons, connecting daily rhythms to its cycles. Its phases were woven into myths and legends, serving as a guiding light in the night sky and a symbol of constancy through change.

Still inspired by the same moon’s beauty and mystery, the STC Library invites the community to view unique perspectives in its upcoming art exhibition. The exhibition will be on view from March 5 – May 16, 2025. There will be an opening reception and awards on March 5, from 5 – 7 p.m. where first, second, and third place awards will be given out. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.

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/lag.

Amado M. Peña Jr.

Current & Upcoming Exhibits, Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Permanent Art Collection

STC acquires new works by prominent Laredo-born artist.

New Date for Artist Talk: April 16th, 10 – 11 a.m. at the STC Pecan Student Union, 2.100

South Texas College Library celebrates a generous donation of nine artwork pieces to its permanent art collection. This donation was made by STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., from his personal art collection. It features works by Amado M. Peña Jr., a prestigious artist from Laredo, Texas, who now resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

There will be an exhibition of the artwork on the library’s second floor, along with an artist talk event in the Student Union.

The exhibition “Desert Impressions: Amado M. Peña Jr.” will opened on January 21 and runs through May 23, 2025.

The exhibition will be on display at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd., Building F, in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public.

Amado M. Peña Jr. was born in 1943 in Laredo, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M-Kingsville with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Art and Education. A celebrated artist, he is recognized as an Artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona.

His artwork honors the resilience of Native Americans and reflects their harmonious relationship with the enduring landscapes of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Inspired by significant locations such as Canyon de Chelly, Spider Rock and Monument Valley, Peña’s art is characterized by bold colors, dynamic compositions and powerful storytelling.

Peña has dedicated his career to preserving and promoting the culture, art and history of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe through his creative work. He has taught in his hometown of Laredo, as well as in Crystal City and Austin, Texas. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas.

His paintings have been exhibited at the National Collection of Fine Arts at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he has been a presenter at numerous national education conferences, where he shares his expertise and passion for art and education.

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, please contact the gallery at (956) 872-3488, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.