Natalia Rodriguez
Staff Writer
“What We Carried,” an art exhibition by senior art majors opened with a reception Tuesday in the Harris Gallery.
The event and exhibit highlighted a diverse collection of artworks by the graduating studio artists, including Katrina Bohanec, Anna Bueno, Aidan Catullo, Isabella Collazo, Lotus Lancelot, Julia Luera, Megan Montez, Joseph Nicosia, Abby Nivera, Ryan Ortega, Gerardo Ramirez, Chris Tadros, Coraline Wang and Lucas Watts.
Keith Lord, professor of art and instructor for the senior seminar class, honored his students’ efforts.
“This exhibition is a group show … designed to give all the seniors the experience of doing all the work that it takes to make an exhibition,” Lord said.
Collazo’s piece, for example, is set up with the intention of having guests look very closely at each part of it. She recently titled the multimedia artwork “As I Grow.” The main canvas depicts her painting next to a small rabbit wearing a yellow sweater. On the floor surrounding the canvas were an assortment of objects that depict her at different stages in her life.
“I wanted a lot of things that would kind of complete who I am today as well as in the future of what I define myself to be,” Collazo said. “I think everybody has a little bit of child within them and I think that they should take that on through the rest of their lives.”
Some of the objects included a small nightstand filled with scattered art supplies, a small 3D model of the very hungry caterpillar, a copy of The Catcher in the Rye and an acoustic guitar.
Nicosia displayed four works. His inspiration came from art made during the Renaissance, like that of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, which has been an interest of his since he was a child.
Three of his pieces are almost entirely in black and white, barring the yellow halo-like crown of one and the reddish square background of another. The subjects are almost statue-like in appearance.
“When I do my art and I put it up to be displayed, I want people to kind of see a part of my world, and my interests and what I like, and I want them to be able to be a part of that,” Nicosia said. “But I also hope that they’re able to see a part of their own world in my world.”
Many of these pieces are untitled except for the colorful “Blue and Yellow Girl.” This work, composed of pastels and colored pencils on multimedia paper, depicts a woman amidst a landscape of different colored shapes.
Lancelot showcased two oil paintings. One of them, untitled, depicts Artemis lying on a patch of grass next to a deer and surrounded by flowers, a serene expression on her face. His other work, titled “Not the Devil,” portrays a bat clutching a bouquet.
“The bat. . . it’s an animal,” Lancelot said. “It doesn’t have its own language, it can’t defend itself, and it’s been demonized throughout history. The purpose of that was to show that we as humans apply our language to everything.”
Lancelot also brought in a book about the language of flowers, which guests were encouraged to look through to unravel the meanings behind both paintings.
Amber Young, a guest who attended the reception, came in support of Lancelot. She expressed her pride in not just his work, but in all the seniors and their ability to create wonderfully reflective pieces.
“I think it’s really beautiful to see them explore (art) deeply, and I don’t think a lot of people take that opportunity to take something that they really love and dive into it. . .” Young said.
“It’s success in a way that really tests what they learned as an art student here,” Lord said. “How art really conveys important ideas and also can be beautiful and thought-provoking.”
The Harris Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday to Thursday. This senior project exhibition runs until May 20.
Natalia Rodriguez can be reached at natalia.rodriguez@laverne.edu.
Natalia Rodriguez is a senior creative writing and communications major. She is a member of ULV's The Blank Page Writer's Club and has served as a staff member for the school's literary magazine, Prism Review. She is currently arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and previously served as a staff writer.
Vicente Rodriguez is a senior photography major with a marketing minor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. He has previously served as photography editor of the Campus Times and a staff photographer for La Verne Magazine.
