The Senior Practicum Seminar presented “Far From Truth” on April 12. The show featured mixed media that displayed young artists’ expressions and emotions at the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Gallery. The mixed media includes paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics and installations. The exhibit displayed challenging topics and concepts.
“I’m surprised on how great those paintings look,” said Leo De La Garza, Nursing major. “I did not know any artwork from Laredo could be this great.”
David Crawford demonstrated an installation featuring driven quotes from the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He used spray paint to graffiti the quotes onto the two black walls that connected to a door.
“They are actual quotes of the people,” Crawford said.
He explained that people relate graffiti to gangs but in this case the graffiti in Louisiana was spray painted by the people to get a Federal response from the government. He wanted his audience to experience a sense of the scene in New Orleans during the aftermath of the hurricane.
“Thanks for Nothing Army Corps of A-holes” was graffitied on a portion of Crawford’s work.
Another student participant, Jenie Garibay, used Kool-Aid in her paintings. Garibay loves to drink Kool-Aid, a reason for which why she decided to experiment with it. She developed the powered Kool-Aid into her final artwork. She also displayed photographs.
Adriana Silva’s installation artwork displayed a static television, a phone and an answering machine on a stool, clothes thrown everywhere and a chair with displayed obituaries.
Her work was influenced by a trip to New York City. She explained that life is hectic and people have a lot of things to do. The surroundings of how people lived in the city placed her in their shoes. The answering machine plays messages from people in search for the home’s owner but could never get in touch with that person. The television was purposely left on. The chair with the obituaries signifies resting in peace. Silva said people feel peace when they are dead.
“Hope my work influence people to calm down on their hectic lives and relax,” Silva said. “Rest in Peace Installation makes people realize life is short and shouldn’t take it for granted.
Luis Pruneda formed ceramic pieces inspired by the early Romans and the Celtic and Aztec Civilization. Tattoo designs also took part in his inspiration. Pruneda said his ceramics are not just nice pots. Each pot tells a story.
“I bring the tattoo into my design and concept of the work,” Pruneda said.
Ursula Salas’s paintings represent women’s sexuality. She explained in her artist’s statement that women use their sexuality to their advantage to get anywhere. She started painting with her hands first and then used the brush to add the texture. If you look closely, a woman’s breast is exposed.
Other senior artists include Bethsaida Granados, Priscilla M. Perez, Jesse Ramirez and Adrian Valdez.
“The requirement is to produce a body of work for the spring,” Dr. Alma Haertlein, the Gallery director, said.
The Practicum Seminar is a required class for graduating seniors whom are majoring in the arts. The class introduces students to the art world and prepares them to sell artwork, find jobs, produce a portfolio, and set up their own exhibits as a professional artist.
The students made their own posters to advertise the exhibit and were responsible for installing their own work at the gallery. They received donations from Emperor Garden’s and H-E-B for the drinks and punch served at the opening reception. `Each student wrote their own artist statement; statements that give an understanding what they are trying to express in their artwork.
“Really nice! They did a good job,” Amanda Cruz said, a senior Psychology major.
“We are really proud of all the students,” Janet Krueger said, Associate Professor of Arts.