Kim Phu and Jill Garcia: Muthagoose

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

Contemporary mixed-media artist duo from Austin to exhibit in Weslaco
Exhibit opens February 6th | Closing reception and artist talk April 3rd

South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery is proud to present a captivating mixed-media and installation exhibition by Kim Phu and Jill Garcia, the contemporary artist duo known as Muthagoose.

An artist talk and reception will take place on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. During this event, Kim Phu and Jill Garcia will share their journey as artists, offering insights into their creative process and the inspiration behind their collaborative work.

The exhibit opens February 6th and will be on view until April 3, 2025 at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library located at 400 N Border, Bldg. E, in Weslaco, TX. The exhibition and artist lecture are free and open to the public. For library hours and location, visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/aboutus/hourscontact/

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the artists and gain a deeper understanding of the themes and techniques featured in the exhibition.

Muthagoose is celebrated for their innovative and playful approach, creating large-scale murals, sculptural exhibits, and digital media installations. Their work explores themes such as societal norms, cultural traditions, mental health, and the complexities of modern life. They employ a variety of mediums, including found objects, sound frequencies, and interactive technologies, to craft unique and impactful art.

Their creative process starts with an open-minded commitment to “say yes” to ideas, allowing opportunities to flourish. Through extensive research and the blending of their distinct styles, they create structured, vintage-inspired pieces using diverse materials. This process results in works that are both thoughtful and engaging.

About the Artists

Kim Phu is an accomplished art director, interactive and web exhibit designer, and ceramist with a BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. She has collaborated with prestigious institutions and brands like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Nike, Nissan, Jimmy Dean, Sony PlayStation, and the National Historical Museum.

Jill Garcia is a versatile painter, sculptor, and mixed-media artist with a BA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her work blends iridescent cellophane with sculpture, installation, painting, needlework, and fiber art reflecting themes of nature, motherhood, and personal transformation. Inspired by her surroundings, she uses her art to explore the beauty and challenges of change.

Together, Muthagoose brings a dynamic, thought-provoking perspective to the art world, combining their unique talents to challenge conventions and spark meaningful conversations. This exhibition celebrates their collaborative vision and artistic innovation.

The STC Library Art Gallery curates exhibitions and educational programs to enhance student understanding of art, support 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/muthagoose.

Liana V. Andreasen Author Reading

Author / Scholar Visit, Pecan Campus, Previous Events, Virtual Event

Author Talk Liana V. AndreasonSTC Faculty and author Liana V. Andreasen will read from her newly published book Whirl of Birds, a collection of short stories.

“The literary landscape of Whirl of Birds interlaces the spatial and temporal complexities of the mind, in narrative flickers and bursts. Whether we glimpse at the plight of Neanderthals in the depths of lost ages, or at the collapse of communism in the mirrors of a children’s theater, whether we’re uplifted by the triumph of friendship over poverty or watch the last cowboy in New York State struggle to save his business, we recognize how much we are driven by our passions. Strange, but all too human obsessions shape the characters: from rat hoarding to an infatuation with a sculpture, from lies we tell ourselves and others to encounters with the dead, readers are swept in whirls of time, chains of connectivity that can break like glass, the unseen that whispers in our ear. The twists and turns of these short stories create a restless world where self and other meet in glimpses. Each small moment becomes an earthquake that echoes through time, each life is wrestled out of its own darkness, to arrive at the one question that is worth asking.” — Finishing Line Press

Copies will be available for purchase courtesy of the STC Bookstore.

Join us in person at Pecan F102 or online through Zoom Webinar (registration link below).

Event Title: “Liana V. Andreasen Author Reading”
Speaker: Liana V. Andreasen
Date: Monday, November 18th 2024
Location: Pecan F102 and online through Zoom Webinar
Time: 2PM CST
Register for the online session: Link

Elephant eye

Visionaries: The Blind in Action

Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibits

Banner with painting of elephant
Exhibition Reception: Tues., Oct. 22 from 5 – 7 p.m. (Pecan Campus Library, 1st Floor)

The South Texas College Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery presents “Visionaries: The Blind in Action.” Visionaries 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 Peña, 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. Peña will work with art students during a “Paint in the Dark” workshop where they will be blind folded and learn about the techniques she uses to paint.

On October 22, visitors can attend an artist reception from 5 to 7 p.m. to meet the artist, view their artworks, and enjoy light refreshments.

The exhibition will be available for viewing from October 22 to December 6, 2024 at the STC Pecan Campus Library, first floor.

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

Guitar Performance at Pecan Library

Pecan Campus, Previous Events

Join us for an acoustic adventureInstructor Jaime Garcia and his talented music students will be performing a lively set on the first floor of Pecan Library on November 7th from 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM. Attendees can look forward to an engaging mix of musical pieces, showcasing the students’ hard work and creativity. Come enjoy an afternoon of music and support our local student musicians in a casual and welcoming atmosphere!

Family Reading Night

Family Reading Night at Mid-Valley Campus Library

Mid-Valley Campus, Previous Events

Family Reading Night header image with event title

Join us at Mid-Valley Campus for Family Reading Night at the library! This exciting literacy event is free and open to the community. Enjoy a night of storytelling, activities, and special appearances by Jerry the Jag, the Storybook Garden, Weslaco PD K9 Officer Shayne, and representatives from STC Departments. Bring the whole family and celebrate the joy of reading with us!

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024
5:30PM – 7:00PM

Mid-Valley Campus Library
Building E1.200

Art & Memory Featured Image

5th Annual Art & Memory Conference hosted by STC’s Philosophy Department

Previous Exhibits

Art & Memory Banner
Event Days: Oct. 28 – 31, 2024

South Texas College presents the 5th Annual Art & Memory Conference. This four-day event, hosted by the Division of Liberal Arts, Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences, and the Pecan Campus Library features guest speakers, a film screening, and collaborative altars created by the STC Art and World Languages Department. The conference will offer an engaging exploration of grief from a humanities perspective.

The conference will begin on October 28 with a lecture, “Art, Memory, and Grief in the Works of Kurt Vonnegut,” presented by Richard Coronado, English Instructor at South Texas College.

Throughout the week, there will be several other events, including a poetry reading with Esteban Rodriguez, a screening of “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life” hosted by Dr. Brittany Leckey, Instructor and Chair of Philosophy at South Texas College, a talk on “Art as Remembrance: Interpretation, Interruption, and the Voices of Those Departed” by Dr. Theodore George from Texas A&M, and a Public Humanities roundtable titled “Haunting Realms: The Intersection of Ghosts, Absence, and Presence.”

The conference will conclude with a Trick-or-Treat at the Library celebration. Students can participate in a Día de los Muertos craft, enjoy pan de muerto provided by the STC Culinary Arts Department, and listen to Halloween classics performed by STC’s Jazz Ensemble. Following this will be poetry readings by Isaac Chavarria, Erika Garza, and McAllen Poet Laureate Daniel García Ordaz in Auditorium Building D.

The theme of this year’s conference, Art, Memory, and Death, offers a distinct platform for South Texas College and the community to engage in a thoughtful exploration of the intersections between memory, grief, and the transformative role art plays in navigating these significant human experiences.

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/5artandmemory.

My Journey From School Segregation To More Equal Opportunities In Education

Library Events, Previous Events, Starr County Campus, Virtual Event

Dr. Darrial Reynolds’ presentation traces his journey from school segregation to increased educational opportunities. He will discuss his K-12 experiences with segregation and integration following the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision. He will also examine the impact of key education policies passed by Congress after the ruling, focusing on their role in promoting equality in both elementary, secondary, and higher education. Finally, he will compare the effects of a high school diploma and a college degree on wages since the landmark decision.

Join us on Starr Campus or online through Zoom Webinar (registration link below).

Event Title: “My Journey From School Segregation To More Equal Opportunities In Education”
Speaker: Dr. Darrial Reynolds
Date: Wednesday, November 6th 2024
Location: Starr Campus E1-606 and online through Zoom Webinar
Time: 2PM CST
Register for the online session: Link

 

Hermosa collective Featured Image

Her.mosa Collective Art Exhibition

Previous Exhibits

Exhibition at STC Pecan Campus explores how public art can teach community collaboration and empowerment.Her.mosa Collective Banner

Artist Talk: Sept. 23, 2024, 10 – 11 a.m. (STC Bldg. U 2.100) | Reception: Sept. 23, 2024, 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 artists’ collective approach to muralism, while also incorporating individual styles 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 gave 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, is a visual dialogue of self-acceptance, self-expression and the nuanced depth of personal experience. 

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

The exhibition 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. 

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 details about this exhibit or additional programming, please visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart or contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu. 

Weren’t able to view the exhibition in person? Check it out virtually here: Virtual Tour