Category Archives: Library Art Gallery

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.

Showcase by Roma High School Art Teacher at the STC Starr Co. Library

October 11, 2023Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibits, Starr County CampusBeatriz Montejano

Artist Talk: Oct. 19, 10 – 11 a.m. at the Starr Co. Library Art Gallery.

The South Texas College Starr County campus Library Art Gallery proudly presents a new exhibition featuring artwork by STC alumna, local painter and Roma High School Art Teacher Yesenia Toscano. The exhibit opened September 12 and will be on view until December 7, 2023.

An artist talk and reception with Toscano will be held on October 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the STC Starr County Library Art Gallery, Bldg. K, located at 142 FM 3167 in Rio Grande City. Admission is free and open to the public.

Toscano is an artist and educator who earned her Master of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Toscano is also an STC graduate, receiving her associate degree in Elementary Education. She said, “At South Texas College, I took my first art class, where I discovered myself as a painter.” She leads the Roma ISD art program and encourages her students to submit artwork to the Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE), with students often advancing to the state-level event.

Toscano’s paintings are a means of expressing herself and overcoming fears and uncertainties in life. Influenced by Giorgio de Chirico’s metaphysical paintings, she uses familiar objects to represent mystery, dreams and childhood.

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

Don’t Be Hasty: Large-scale Landscape Paintings Give Local Surroundings a Fresh Look

August 9, 2023Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibits, Virtual EventBeatriz Montejano

Artist Talk: Oct. 4, 10 – 11 a.m. | Exhibit Reception: Oct. 4, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents “Don’t Be Hasty,” a new exhibition by Tenured Associate Professor of Art at UTRGV, Jerry Lyles. The exhibition begins on August 28 through December 7, 2023, on the first floor of the STC Pecan Library Art Gallery located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd., Bldg. F, in McAllen, TX.

Jerry Lyles received his Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the American University in Washington, D.C. This body of work includes large-scale paintings, which include outdoor observational or plein air pieces. Lyles explores the relationships between space, forms in the given space, and our reaction to them. He poses the question, “How does space impact our sense of identity, and when that space is altered, what is negotiated in order to retain a sense of self?” Through his skilled still-life paintings incorporating color, form, value, shape, and space, Lyles searches for visual metaphors that discuss these relationships.

The LAG will host an art talk on October 4 from 10 – 11 a.m. in the Student Union in U 2.100 and an exhibition reception the same day from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Pecan Library Bldg. F. This exhibit is shown concurrently with the community exhibit, “Ka-Ching! Art About Economics & Money” and will share the reception.

Couldn’t join us in person? View the art talk on YouTube: https://youtu.be/85W9vok_p70?feature=shared

Admission is free and open to the public.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student’s 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 956-447-6663, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Ecology Inspires Art Exhibition at STC’s Mid-Valley Library Art Gallery

August 2, 2023Library Art Gallery, Mid-Valley Campus, Previous ExhibitsKristen Sanchez

Artist Talk: November 1, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. with reception to follow at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library

The STC Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery presents “An Allegory of Abundance,” a mixed-media exhibition by artists Calder Kamin (Austin, TX) and Cecilia Sierra (Brownsville, TX).

Kamin earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2009. Her artwork has been featured in museums such as The American Museum of Natural History, The Contemporary Austin and the DoSeum. Kamin transforms trash into beautifully crafted creatures to inspire others to be creative and proactive about the future. As an environmental advocate, Calder is motivated by nature’s endless ability to reuse and adapt.

Sierra earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She has been active in South Texas creating Keep McAllen Beautiful murals, enhancing McAllen’s hike and bike trails and helping to organize a Steam Roller event that demonstrated large woodblock printing. Sierra’s work is heavily inspired by South Texas’ ecology, community and nostalgia from growing up in a Hispanic household.

If you were unable to attend in person, view the video on our YouTube page
https://youtu.be/L2hdTwnIz6w?si=2T2sYCmCaql-O0Dj

The STC Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student 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.

Ka-Ching! Community Artwork About Economics & Money

May 9, 2023Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibitsgotvos

Reception: October 4, 2023 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Pecan Campus Library

The STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery hosts a community art exhibition, “Ka-Ching! Art About Economics & Money,” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of E.F. Schumacher’s book “Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered.”

KaChing Exhibit Poster

The book, a New York Times bestseller, poses the question of whether it’s possible to balance economic growth with community needs and environmental sustainability. It has been listed as one of the Times Literary Supplement’s 100 Most Influential Books since World War II.

“Ka-Ching” features STC Students, Faculty and Staff, Community Members, and STC Alumni and will be on view from August 28 through December 7, 2023. The exhibition is free and open to the public and features artwork that all explore the theme of economics and incorporate the color gold.

Missed out on the exhibit in person? View it online in our online 360 gallery tour here:
Virtual Tour

For more information, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/ka-ching.