Juan Ochoa Author Talk

Juan Ochoa Readings at Starr Campus

Juan Ochoa Author Reading

Author Juan Ochoa

Author Juan Ochoa

Join us in Starr Campus Library’s multipurpose room 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
Dates: September 4th and 5th, 2024
Time: 10AM CST
Where: Starr Library Multipurpose Room


 

Featured Image - artwork with vintage picture of a woman and text saying Mudar, Valley Cultura.

Our Language by Corinne Whittemore

Graphic Designer, Corinne Whittemore, explores themes inspired by the Rio Grande Valley at STC’s Mid-Valley Library Art Gallery.
Banner - Image with text of title for the exhibit: Nuestra Lengua - Our Language.
Artist Talk & Reception: October 3rd from 1 – 2 p.m. at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library (Bldg E – 1.210)

The South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition titled “Our Language/Nuestra Lengua,” which will showcase mixed-media collage works created by artist Corinne Whittemore.

Whittemore, who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, earned her MFA in Visual Communications from the University of Arizona and has been teaching graphic design at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for the last five years. With over fifteen years of experience in graphic design, Whittemore has worked as a Production Artist, Graphic Designer, Marketing Coordinator, and Freelancer on both the East and West Coasts.

About her work, Whittemore says, “My art is an exploration of my environment both in identifiable geographic areas and as a perceived and sacred internal space that visually and linguistically blends local experience and character.”

An artist talk and reception will be held at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library on October 3 from 1 to 2 p.m.

The exhibit will open on Tuesday, September 3, and be on display until November 22, 2024. The Mid-Valley Campus Library is located at 400 N Border (Bldg E – 1.210) in Weslaco, TX

The exhibition and artist talk are free of charge and open to anyone who wishes to attend.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery hosts exhibitions and educational programs to foster students’ understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and encourage continued learning 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.

State Fair Promo Image

State Fair Photography Exhibition

Banner State Fair

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.

Alumni Series Featured Image

STC Alumni Series: Fabian Chavarria


Artist Talk & Reception: November 11, 3 – 4 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library (A179)

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery celebrates its annual STC Alumni Series with an exhibition of Fabian Chavarria’s mixed-media paintings and sculptures. The series aims to support artists who began their education at STC and have since continued their work in the arts.

As an STC graduate, Chavarria went on to earn his BFA and MFA at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and now works to educate the next generation of artists.

Chavarria states, “I use my art for personal and societal transformation, fostering positivity and growth to share knowledge and inspire individuals to step outside their comfort zones and create change in the world.

Chavarria will host an artist talk on November 11 from 3 to 4 p.m. During this talk, Participants can discover the process, techniques, and inspiration behind his artwork.

The exhibit opened Monday, August 26, and will be on view until December 11, 2024. The Technology Campus Library is located at 3700 W Military Highway in McAllen, TX.

Admission is free and open to the public.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program arranges exhibitions and educational programs to involve students in art and its cultural significance. They support the academic curriculum and encourage further education through direct interaction with artists, scholars, and original artworks.

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

Image of Eduardo Self Portrait.

Self Portrait Deconstruction by Eduardo Quintero

Banner image with title of art exhibition: Eduardo Quintero Self Portrait Deconstruction
Art Talk: September 12, from 10 – 11 a.m.

The South Texas College Starr Co. Library Art Gallery presents artist Eduardo Quintero’s mixed media exhibit, “Self Portrait Deconstruction.”

Quintero is an art instructor at South Texas College. He combines pre-Columbian styles with modern icons using drawing, painting and collage. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Studio Art in 2005 and a Master of Fine Arts degree with a two-dimensional specialization in 2011 from the University of Texas-Pan American. While pursuing his MFA, he also received a Graduate Certificate in Mexican American Studies.

Eduardo Quintero will lead an art talk on September 12 from 10 to 11 a.m., during which participants will learn about his inspiration and process. Light refreshments will be provided.

The display and event will be at the STC Starr Co. Campus Library Art Gallery, Building K, 142 FM 3167 in Rio Grande City, TX. The exhibition and art talk are free and open to the public.

The exhibit opens on Thursday, September 12, and will be on view until December 2, 2024.

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

 

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

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/.

National Library Week 2024

National Library Week

A stack of multicolored books.Libraries are full of stories in a variety of formats from picture books to large print, audiobooks to ebooks, and more. But there’s so much more to the story. Libraries of Things lend items like museum passes, games, musical instruments, and tools. Library programming brings communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. Library infrastructure advances communities, providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for businesses, job seekers, and entrepreneurs. – American Library Association

Join us to celebrate at the following campuses:

RCPSE Campus Library
April 8th – 11 AM to 12:30 PM
*
Pecan Campus Library
April 9th – 11 PM to 1 PM
*
Nursing & Allied Health Library
April 9th – 11 AM to 1 PM
*
Mid-Valley Campus Library
April 10th – 10 AM to 12 PM
*
Starr Campus Library
April 10th – 11 AM to 1 PM
*
Technology Campus Library
April 10th – 11:30 AM to 1 PM

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