“Teen Spirit Jaguar,” a paper mache work by Edith Rodriguez.
“Personal Expressions,” featuring artwork by students in South Texas College’s Early College High School Program and Mid-Valley Campus Underground Art Club, will be on display at the college’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. from June 10 to July 3. On Thursday, June 10, a reception will take place at the same location from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission to the exhibition and reception is free and open to the public.
The exhibit features sophomores from McAllen ISD, Mercedes ISD, Progresso ISD and PSJA ISD, who took Art Appreciation with STC art instructor Chris Leonard. The students are part of STC’s ECHS Program, which allows participants to earn an associate degree at the same time they earn a high school diploma. This is the first year an art course is offered as part of the curriculum at the schools.
Through the exhibition, the students share their versions of the jaguar, an endangered species native to the Rio Grande Valley and STC’s own mascot. The depictions are three-dimensional and paper mache figures. Sixteen students are displaying artworks within the exhibition including Marcela Banda, Adrian Castro, Jerry Contreras, Sonia Garcia, Angelita Godinez, Jerry Grimaldo, Ezra Huerta, Zuremia Marquez, Alvaro Martinez, Melody Navarro, Heriberto Picasso, Edith Rodriguez, Ramona Saenz, Alma Viera, Maria Fernanda Villareal and Brenda Zuniga.
“Untitled,” a charcoal, India ink and oil pastel on paper work by Angy Garza.
In addition to the ECHS students, student members the college’s Mid-Valley Campus Underground Art Club, which formed in spring 2010, will also experience their very first exhibition together. The seven club members are exhibiting a combination of drawings, paintings and sculpture. Participants include Victoria Almaguer, A.J. Alvarado, Angy Garza, Mariana Hernandez, Jorge Martinez, Frank Ramirez and Rick Ramon.
“The collaboration of artworks ranging from high school to college students provides our community with an opportunity to see the next generation of rising Rio Grande Valley artists,” said Gina Otvos, STC Library Art Gallery Program technician.
STC’s Library Art Gallery Program exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.
For more information contact Sofia K. Vestweber at 956-872-3488 or at libraryart@southtexascollege.edu, or visit the Library Art Gallery Website.
