Category Archives: Pecan Campus

Art and Memory featured image

4th Art & Memory Conference

STC presents the 4th annual Art & Memory Conference
Art & Mem
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:

DAY 1 | Monday, April 1 Location: STC Pecan Building D, Auditorium 4 p.m. Efrén Olivares Immigration and Childhood Trauma: The Case of Family Separation DAY 2 | Tuesday, April 2 Location: STC Pecan Building U 2.100 9:30 a.m. Tierra Firme Release with readings in Spanish from the Authors 1 p.m. Art Workshop: Creating with Memories led by Gina Otvos and Melissa Terry 5 p.m. 4th Annual Art & Memory Conference Reception (STC Pecan Campus Library) 6 p.m. Coco Screening DAY 3 | Wednesday, April 3 Location: STC Pecan Building D, Auditorium 1 p.m. Dr. Liana Anderson Literary Journal Alecart: Where the Youth of Romania takes the Pulse of Regime Change 6 p.m. Panel: Constant Change: Memory, History, and Art Dr. Andres Molina Ochoa, Dr. Trinidad Gonzales, Dr. Sarah Rowe, Andres Sanchez (The Gremlin, Downtown, McAllen) DAY 4 | Thursday, April 4 Location: STC Pecan Building D Auditorium 1 p.m. Art & Memory Fiction Reading: Life and the Craft of Literary Fiction Dr. Charles Alcorn and Joseph D. Haske 4 p.m. Dr. Claire Katz Professor of Education, Texas A&M University 5 p.m. Philosophy for Children Demo Led by Dr. Katz, Texas A&M University
Art and Memory flyer

4th Annual Art and Memory – LAG 2023em

Summer of Soul

Summer of Soul Screenings

Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Join us for a screening of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s debut film. A powerful and transporting documentary – part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Dr. Christopher Davis will provide an introduction and follow the showing with a Q&A session. Free and open to the public.

  • February 21st at 5:30PM in Pecan Campus Building D Auditorium
  • February 27th at 10AM in Starr County Campus Building E Auditorium

 

Featured image of LUPE 20th anniversary

El Movimiento Continúa by LUPE & the Center for Mexican American Studies at UTRGV

Lupe 20th anniversary blog imageClosing reception: Feb. 28, 5 – 6 p.m. | Flag-making workshop: Feb. 28, 3 – 4 p.m. at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery.

The South Texas College Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, in collaboration with La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), proudly presents “El Movimiento Continúa: Cultivando Nuestras Semillas.” This exhibit explores key themes that illuminate the under-told stories of the farm worker movement in South Texas and participate in a broader conversation about the lasting impact of these stories on our understanding of social justice, labor rights, and the rich cultural tapestry of South Texas. Join us in this enriching experience as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and collectively shape a more informed future.

Title: LUPE 20th ‘EL MOVIMIENTO CONTINÚA’ Venue: South Texas College Pecan Campus Library Dates: January 16th to February 28th, 2024 Event Highlights: The exhibition explores 8 prominent themes related to the under-told stories of history, culture, and the present-day influence of the farm worker movement in South Texas. Workshop: February 28th, 3 - 4 p.m. (Building F - Room 102) Reception: February 28th, 5 - 6 p.m. (Building F – Library) Description: Don’t miss this unique showcase as part of LUPE’s 20th anniversary series. For more information, contact 956-872-3488 or visit library.southtexascollege.edu.A creative flag-making workshop will take place on Feb. 28 from 3 to 4 p.m., providing an interactive opportunity for attendees to engage with the content personally. Following the workshop, a closing reception will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Pecan Campus Library located at 3201 W Pecan Blvd., Bldg. F in McAllen, TX. This occasion connects individuals passionate about preserving and understanding the diverse stories that contribute to the region’s history and identity.

On display from Jan. 16 – Feb. 28, 2024. 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 956-872-8330, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Juan Ochoa Author Talk

Juan Ochoa Author Reading

Juan Ochoa Author Reading

Author Juan Ochoa

Author Juan Ochoa

Join us in-person in F102 or online through Zoom Webinar for this reading by STC faculty and author Juan Ochoa from his newest book. Pa’l Otro Lado, a prequel to Mariguano, spans five generations of violence and tragedy in the Cortina family while narrating their forced migration to the United States from Northern Mexico. It is the tale of every working-class family who has come to realize that “you just can’t win.” Hunger and poverty drive the characters in this novel to abandon all hopes of attaining the American Dream and to resign themselves simply to survive. P’al Otro Lado is full of the baddest hombres and the nastiest women we all know, love, and call family.

Event Title: “Juan Ochoa Author Reading”
Speaker: Professor Juan Ochoa
Date: Thursday, January 25th 2024
Time: 5PM CST
Register here: Link


 

Cold War Retrospective Film Series (Spring 2024)

The Cold War Retrospective Film Series
STC Library is thrilled to work with the STC History Department and the Liberal Arts Division to present a film series focused on The Cold War and sentiments at that time. All screenings listed below will take place in the Building D Auditorium on Pecan Campus.

Tuesday, January 30 @ 5:30PM
Dr. Christopher Davis – “Atomic Anxieties and Mutually Assured Destruction”
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Tuesday, February 13 @ 5:30PM
Martha Cantu – “McCarthyism and the Red Scare”
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Tuesday, March 5 @ 2:30PM
Dr. Kevin Holton – “Set My People Free!: Religion and Politics in Cold War America”
The Ten Commandments (1956)

Tuesday, April 9 @ 3:30PM
Dr. Jeff Justice – “Bureaucracy, McCarthyism, and the Red Scare”
Oppenheimer (2023)

Wednesday, May 1 @ 5:30PM
Presenters Dr. Jaclyn Miller, Dr. Mark Allen, and Jason Chapa – “Atomic War”
The Twilight Zone Block 2
“Third from the Sun” (Season 1, Episode 14), “Two” (Season 3, Episode 1), and “The Shelter” (Season 3, Episode 3)


 

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

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.

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


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.

Featured Image

Ka-Ching! Community Artwork About Economics & Money

Call for Art Web Banner
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.”

Ka-Ching

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: https://my.nicheacademy.com/stclibrarytutorials/course/66592

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

 

15! Angela Dominguez Has Something To Say

South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents “15! Angela Dominguez Has Something To Say,” an exhibit showcasing 15 years of bilingual children’s books written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez.

Illustrator and Author Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City and earned a Master of Fine Arts at the Academy of Art University in California. She recently illustrated the New York Times Bestseller, “Just Help! How to Build a Better World,” written by Sonia Sotomayor.

15! Angela Dominguez Has Something to Say opened February 6 and will be on view through June 6, 2023, at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery Building F.
 
All events are free and open to the public.
 
This exhibit is part of She Roars: A Series of Lectures, Workshops & Exhibitions that Celebrate Women’s Contributions to the Humanities.  The She Roars program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
 
This program of exhibitions and educational programs are meant to engage student 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, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

 

She Roars

She Roars: A Series of Lectures, Workshops & Exhibitions that Celebrate Women’s Contributions to the Humanities

South Texas College celebrates community partnerships in an arts and humanities series, She Roars.

She Roars banner

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery and Art Department, in collaboration with community partners at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement, International Museum of Art & Science, and the McAllen Public Library, collectively present She Roars: A Series of Lectures, Workshops, and Exhibitions Celebrating Women’s Contributions to the Humanities.

This four-day program starts with a self-defense class taught by STC Kinesiology Instructor Rodrigo Martinez and includes four exhibitions, a documentary, story-time, and workshops and lectures by founding member of the 1985-present artist collective, The Guerrilla Girls and illustrator and author Angela Dominguez.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

 

DAY 1 | Monday, March 6 Location: South Texas College
10 – 11 a.m. Self-Defense Workshop with STC Kinesiology Instructor, Rodrigo Martinez  (Pecan Plaza B-2511 Dojo Room)
12 – 1 p.m. Film Documentary: Finding Vivian Maier (Library F-102)
 
DAY 2 | Tuesday, March 7
 

Location: South Texas College

10 – 11 a.m. Talk: Angela Dominguez– 15 Years of Bilingual Children’s Book Illustration (Bldg. U – 2.100)
6 – 7 p.m. Talk:Guerrilla Girls w founding member Käthe Kollwitz (Bldg. U – 2.100)
5 – 8 p.m. She RoarsOpening Reception (Library Art & Bldg. B Gallery)
 
DAY 3 | Wednesday, March 8
 
 
Location: McAllen Public Library
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Reading by Angela Dominguez
  Location: International Museum of Art & Science (Clark Gallery)
5 – 5:30 p.m. Poetry by Priscilla Celina Suarez
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Uproar! The Art of Social Engagement: A Community Workshop (Kollwitz)
6:30 – 7:30 Humanities Roundtable led by Kathe Kollwitz (GG), Dr. Silvia Solis (UTRGV Gender & Women’s Studies and Environmental Studies), and Guadalupe Pardo (Trucha Cultural Fellow)
DAY 4 | Tuesday, March 21 Location: The Gremlin, Downtown McAllen
6 – 7 p.m. Oh, How They Roar: Women in the Humanities with Dr. Friederike Bruehoefener, Dr. Linda English (UTRGV), Dr. Carolina Monsivais (STC), Dr. Cathryn Merla-Watson (UTRGV), Dr. Marisa Palacios Knox (UTRGV), Melissa Arjona (STC)

 

“We’re thrilled about the community partnerships we’ve built with other organizations in the valley as we celebrate Women’s History Month at STC,” said STC Art History Faculty and Co-Organizer of ‘She Roars’ Melissa Terry. “We hope the ‘She Roars’ series of events will inspire students and community members to think deeply about collaborative and creative solutions to social issues, locally and globally.”

The Guerrilla Girls are an anonymous collective of artists who, since 1985, have utilized humor and stark visuals to spread awareness about the bias within art film, and popular culture to ignite the sparks of social change.

Illustrator and Author Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City and earned a Master of Fine Arts at the Academy of Art University in California. She recently illustrated the New York Times Bestseller, “Just Help! How to Build a Better World,” written by Sonia Sotomayor.

“When I saw the Guerrilla Girls speak years ago, while in graduate school, it struck me as an exciting example of critical thinking and performative art activism. We hope the exhibition, art talk, and workshop will do the same for our community,” said Terry.

15! Angela Dominguez Has Something to Say opens February 6 and will be on view through June 6, 2023, at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery Building F.

The Guerrilla Girls: The Art of Behaving Badly exhibit opens March 7 and will be on view until April 5, 2023, at the STC Art Department Gallery Building B.

There will also be a student and community poster exhibit inspired by the work of the Guerrilla Girls and civic engagement at the South Texas College Art Department.

All events are free and open to the public.

To register for this event, visit: Workshop registration link

The She Roars program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This program of exhibitions and educational programs are meant to engage student 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 gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/sheroars.