Embroidery on quilts or photographs, large paintings, blends of different media and photography consist of some of the works currently in the gallery this semester.
The gallery, which opened on Sept. 7 as part of the 4th Los Angeles SUR:biennial. — is titled DisPlaced: Reconstituted Memories & Unsituated Bodies, displaying works by various artists such as Michael Alvarez, Julia O Bianco and Sheila Garret Rodriguez.
A piece entitled Ecos de Huesos Ramas de Familia (Echoes of Bones, Branches of Family) by Consuelo Flores (a Dia de los Muertos inspired piece) consisting of family photographs, bones, flowers and branches — is located on a window display just outside of the art gallery.
Alex Rojas, journalism major, explained what drew him into the gallery, “It looked appealing to my eyes, all the art in here,” later stating that his favorite piece was one entitled Vuelos (Flights) by Julia O. Bianco, a piece that consisted of two projectors displaying the sea on the floor and the sky on the wall and rocks held up at different heights by ropes tied around them.
He says he has never been to an art gallery opening at Cerritos College, except “one public gallery in L.A. kind a like this. It was open and all the art brought me in.”
Another student who came in to view the pieces, Alexis De La Rosa, theater major, said that curiosity made him come into the gallery, because, “There’s a lot of beauty. Each artist has something that makes people want to see their masterpiece.”
De La Rosa also chose Vuelos (Flights) as his favorite piece in the gallery, “I don’t know what it’s supposed to be, but the way each (rock) has a different weight feels like it’s trying to tell a story.”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen it open. It’s nice to see everyone’s art,” De La Rosa said.
The art gallery is also handing out stamp cards to anyone who comes to visit the venue.
The stamp cards are to encourage students to visit the art gallery at Cerritos College and six other venues, including a few other colleges.
Students will get another stamp on their stamp card for each venue they visit.
Once students collect at least six stamps out of the seven possible they will receive a free SUR:biennial brand tote bag.
The locations of all the other art galleries involved and the dates they will be open are all on the stamp card provided.
The gallery is located in room 107 in the Fine Arts building and opens at 11 a.m. The pieces currently on display will remain in the gallery until Sept. 13.