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University Art Gallery College of the Arts
California State University, Stanislaus One University Circle Turlock, CA 95382
Catalog Design: Kristina Stamper, College of the Arts, California State University, Stanislaus
Catalog Printing: Claremont Print and Copy, Claremont, CA
Catalog Photography: Courtesy of the Artists
ISBN: 978-0-9802410-7-5
Director’s Foreword
This exhibition, BFA/BA Graduating Seniors’ Exhibition - The Great Escape, represents the culmination of work of students receiving degrees in Visual and Fine Arts.
Many colleagues and students have been instrumental in presenting this exhibition. I would like to thank the graduating students in the BFA and BA programs for their outstanding work, Gordon Senior for his introduction essay, College of the Arts, California State University, Stanislaus for the wonderful catalog design and Claremont Print and Copy for their expertise in printing this catalog.
A great amount of thanks is extended to the Instructionally Related Activates Program of California State University, Stanislaus as well as anonymous donors for the funding of the exhibition and catalogue. Their support is greatly appreciated.
Dean De Cocker, Director
University Art Gallery
California State University, Stanislaus
Introduction
This catalog and the 2009 Senior Show represent the work and ambitions of the Art Department’s graduating students. Each student, after deep reflection upon their recent artistic output, has finally satisfied the exhibition demands and refined their selection of work down to that which best meets the requirements of the gallery space and their own personal choice. Each year students fret and vacillate over their selection and the process this year has been no less rigorous and time consuming. It has produced an exciting and ambitious show of which we can be proud.
This process of selecting from the total of one’s output is difficult as there are no simple criteria by which to choose work for a given space. Rather it is a process of trial and error, of standing back, narrowing the eye, and seeing how one’s work links to the rest of the exhibition. Here the concern for the balance of the whole is as important as the quality of the individual piece. This consideration for others and their work is at the very heart of the Art Department’s mission which includes exposing students to a diverse range of art-making processes, while promoting the creation and historical understanding of art and design. Students have tested and developed their talents and ideas through this wide array of art practices and this exhibition is evidence that each student is prepared for the journey ahead.
It is now time to bid farewell to the graduating art students and wish them each success on their travels.
- Gordon Senior, Chair, Department of Art
Images and Statements
Madhukar Chandar
I was born in the Fiji Islands and came to the United States in 1995. My interest in Art started at a very early age. As a child I had difficulty studying other subjects in grade school, art was the only subject that I enjoyed. My interest in art gave me a chance to pursue higher education.
My current artistic interest is in surreal and imaginative creations. I love mythology. Studying about the philosophies of ancient cultures has given me much enjoyment and influenced my work. I also like fantasy and science fiction art and movies. My love of watching horror movies helps me to create horror artwork. My work now involves dream like adventure and is not realistic, but it is full of symbols that relate to my studies.
Wild Blue 2009 oil on canvas 25” x 48”
Desirea Gionta
I’m not really sure how I come up with my art; half of the time I get an idea and just go with it. Sometimes it is a thought and other times it can be inspired by an object. One thing I do know, I need to create art. As far back as I can remember I have been driven to create. Maybe it is because my Dad used to paint and he always encouraged me to do likewise. As a high school student I never had the latest heartthrob pinned in my locker. Instead I drew a strange mix of monsters, dragons, and fairy tale heroes that I plastered all over my locker doors. It wasn’t until I began to go to CSU Stanislaus that I received my very first introduction to sculpture; I have never been the same since.
There is something that seems to take over as I create my work; it is as if nothing else matters to me. Hours slip by without notice, until weariness or fatigue makes it impossible to hold tools any longer. Many times I leave my art works in a mental fog, only later do I discover it the next day. My work has recently begun to take a new turn. I have collected many things over the years that I have found in many different places. I realized that I wished to take these cast off, old pieces of trash and shape them or present them to reveal the beauty that they hold, under the rust and dirt. Through these current art pieces, I have somehow reached a calm place inside of myself that I never knew existed. I feel truly alive and aware for the first time. Once I step back from my finished piece, rubbing my tired eyes and resting my shaky hands, it is almost as if the art has taken part of me into it; leaving me drained and weak, yet satisfied, knowing I have breathed life back into these objects through my work.
The Winding Way 2009 mixed media and wood 96” x 1”
Julie Hawkins
I find myself switching back and forth between oils and ink, canvas and paper. In many of my works, figures emerge and shape themselves to suit their needs; especially with oils – at a certain point, I’m no longer in control, and instead engage in a kind of dialogue with the images. Birds and symbols related to humanity (umbilical cords, eggs, bones, etc.) often accompany images women When my head has had enough of the oils, I return to inks and the calligraphic pen, summoning the women figures and binding them with meditative swirls and loops. Earthy reds, siennas, and ochre frequently come into the scene, which I feel best help me connect to whatever I work with. They ground me before I can make the plunge into tarter and creamier colors.
Square and Figure 1 2009 oil on canvas 3’ x 3’
Nick Milinazzo
For the past few years I’ve been completely engrossed in and drawn to the practice of portraiture. I feel strongest about my art when I’m expressing it through someone else’s face (and occasionally my own). Due to the speed in which I create my portraits, the pieces become slightly more reactionary than representational. Although portraiture is hardly a “new” concept in the art world, it is my hope to breathe fresh air into this sometimes overlooked practice. I want my thick marks and bold colors to invoke, as well as provoke my viewers. In this way, I want to help to redefine what a portrait can be – perhaps even what one should be.
Haunted (Andy #1) 2008 oil on canvas 77” x 53”
Lana Moore
Recently, I have incorporated found objects into my art. This contrasts with my past work, which was done in a very deliberate manner. I have discovered that using found objects frees my imagination and provides many opportunities to discover happy accidents along the way. I am also more willing to make major changes to my original concept and allow my unconscious ultimate control of the end result. Using an array of different materials has also contributed to an expansion in my subject matter to include religious, social, and political issues.
Javier Moreno, Jr.
I grew up in California’s ‘Bay Area,’ in a little town called Newark. It was a small town, but it was surrounded by the big cities like San Jose and Oakland. These cities, would grow to have a huge impact on my art even until the present day. My early influences in art were perpetuated by two popular genres that were prevalent in the early and mid-eighties. One being ‘Graffiti Art’ and the other being that of comic books such as “The X-Men” and “Ninja Turtles.”
I was submerged into the world of Graffiti because of my growing love for Hip-hop and the four elements which make it a force in the world, even in today’s society. These elements are Graffiti, Breakdancing, the Disc Jockey (DJ), and the Master of Ceremonies (MC). Although the first of the elements I enjoyed was the music, I would become involved, in one fashion or another, with all four during my early years. I would go on to generate many works based on these elemental themes and they continue to emerge in my current work. Some of the artists that I was encouraged and influenced by were; King 157, Lord Pashe, Lord Awol, Lady Shen, Doper, Dee, and Icon.
Although I was amused by comic books as a juvenile, they only played a role in my work by giving me vision and a creative outlet in practicing simple sketch art skills. Sparingly do these graphic elements develop in my current work.
Presently my work has been influenced greatly by my wife and my two sons. I have always painted for myself, with my themes and my topics, but currently I have softened my color palette and have arranged pieces that generate almost a floral feeling or patterns with an abstract interpretation. I still feel that my
painting strokes and my image placement call for a freight train or an abandoned building wall, or perhaps a city bridge. My work is all of the un-hugs and un-kisses that is the remainder of my busy life that my family has been dealing with over the past few years...only on canvas.
Bokay 2009 oil on canvas 48” x 48”
Carole Buckner
I’m not sure that I would consider myself an artist. I didn’t grow up drawing or painting and I’m not artistically inclined. I never took an art class until high school and even then, it wasn’t my focus and therefore it wasn’t something I pursued.
Growing up in Bakersfield, CA defined my aesthetic. Here I established my love for finding beauty in the mundane, industrial, run down and just plain ugly. This aesthetic is present in all my photographic work and is typically expressed through the delicate nature of black and white.
College was my first chance to really explore my artistic abilities, create and collaborate with others and be discouraged and put down over and over again. Luckily, I was able to come back with more determination and drive. This drive encouraged a fellow art student and myself to create Degenerate Art, a student organization determined to be accepted as up and coming artists.
My time in the club was stressful, chaotic and wonderful. We were able to produce several successful art shows and connected with other central valley artists. As a group we were innovative, provocative, and despite our lack of real world experience, we were recognized as a legitimate art organization.
The club allowed me to put my skills (and patience) to the test, which in turn made me realize the type of work I wanted to pursue in the future. Promoting art and making a name for artists that deserve recognition is my niche. Here is where I feel most comfortable and most connected to art.
Suburban Decay: The REAL American Dream has two main goals…
1. To relate directly to my generation 2. To be provocative, edgy and real
Please enjoy the view as you witness our elegant descent into the decaying world that engulfs our lives.
Suburban Decay: The Real American Dream (2009) digital print
Melanie Cron
Growing up, I never thought of myself as an artist, more like a creator of sorts. I looked upon the world, not wanting to paint or sculpt it, but to impact it in a way that has never been done before. Call it inventive or creative, but I call it necessary. In our changing times, an artist’s finds oneself in the mist of unknown creativity, all the inspiration is right in front of them, but some lack the balls to do something that has never been done before. I’m not sure if this defines me as an artist, but it definitely is where I see myself, in the great unknown of the art world. Other than being a creator of art, I want to teach it, but more of the historical aspect of art.
Being almost done with this school, I have felt an overwhelming sense of community here in the art department. Almost like the TV series, Cheers, but with less beer. Ok, not less, but less beer on tap. I have grown very fond of most of the people here and they have influenced my art in ways that I have never imagined. Growing as an artist in any way, shape or form is what I enjoy. Finding, figuring, exploring new ways of communicating my ideas through art is something I can do for the rest of my life. My experiences here have definitely helped me on my path to finding my true calling in the art world.
My hopes for my future are to continue to learn every chance I get and to follow this creative path that I’m currently on. To those who have encouraged, helped, or influenced me here, I thank you.
Peace out.
Records 2009 mixed media 12” x
Broken
12”
Francesca De Luca
My introduction to art did not fully begin until high school. It was there that I began to take elective art classes such as photography, ceramics, painting and drawing. I enjoyed these classes but never thought that I would decide to major in art. In community college I decided to take a drawing class that met once a week for six hours. I absolutely loved this class, and was disappointed when sometimes we were let out early. When I was ready to transfer, I had to declare a major. For me this was a very difficult decision. I decided to take a risk, knowing that choosing another major would give me more financial security after school, but I decided to go with art, my passion which makes me happy.
Painting, ceramics and photography are the main mediums that I work with. A continuing theme in my paintings has been the female figure in a romanticized pose. Three of the works have been a back view of the female, leaving a sense of mystery for the viewer who is not able to see their faces. I have a fascination with the fashion styles of the past, starting with the Victorian era through the 1960s. I see these fashions as an inspiration and an art form.
In photography, I focus on nature and how humans have altered the environment. My other passion besides art is environmental conservation. I understand how important it is that we strive to protect all living things. Our world is a web of interconnecting organisms that depend on each other. Through my art, I hope to give awareness to these important issues surrounding the protection of our Earth. Whether I am taking photos of nature, sculpting or throwing on the wheel, I feel a connection to the Earth.
An artist that has inspired me is John Paul Thornton. I was fortunate enough to have him paint an oil portrait of me. He had the talent to capture my likeness which I know from first hand experience is very difficult. He is a gifted young artist who uses his talent to help people. He has taught art to underprivileged children and to Tibetan refugees. I hope that one day my art may inspire people like John Paul Thornton’s art has inspired me.
Francesca
Melanie De Luca
Laced with Mystery 2008 oil and Lace on canvas
8½” x 11½”
Weixin Deng
There is art in everything. Our environment is constructed through designs; the food we eat is arranged aesthetically; we express our wills artistically. I am awed by the way art encompasses us. Philosophies and religions have directed art for centuries while art can move people socially or politically. Art can set standards and appeal to our disgust. It can show us the truth or tell us lies. Art is not just a series of doodles, but it invokes the human history. To me, art is simply life. When I study art, I study life. In this exploratory endeavor, I learn about myself and how I seem to fit into this world.
It is not easy learning about art. My own art is awful to me. I am often left confused and frustrated over my own works. I never feel satisfied by it, and I work hard to finish them. It could be that my feelings of incompetence drive me forward to improve. I have a burning desire to always learn, to dabble in everything that is related to art and to simply try. They are not always successful, but it does not stop me. In turn, these negative energies transform them into that desire, and I continue to learn, to improve, and to grow with my art.
These thoughts always resurface when I approach a new artistic venture. I tend to begin minimalistic toward my materials; I allow a conversation to develop between my art and myself. Sometimes the conversation turns sour and our ideas start diverging. It can be frustrating when my work’s ideas seem more prominent than my own. The process can be difficult, but I feel my role as an artist is to decide which statements I want to bring forth. The work that results from this process displays a balance between the nature of my materials and my own artistic vision. Eventually, this leads to an emotional resolution. Doing art for
the sake of art in this way allows me to break out of the limits set by my own aspirations as an artist. It always surprises me and allows me to learn more about myself.
Untitled
8” x 10”
Katrice Farnsworth
It doesn’t really matter where or when I was born so much as how I’ve lived. From the time I was very young my family has always been on the move. The longest we stayed in one place was probably our six year stay in Illinois. We traded security for adventure and took the bumps in the road along the way in stride. My family is VERY German which means I’ve learned to appreciate blunt honesty, delicious food, and most importantly an unbreakable family bond. And through everything, I’ve had my art.
I entered my first art contest when I was in first grade. My mother had taught me how to draw the backside of an elephant so I had a whole herd of elephants’ tails raised and rear ends sticking out. My dad thought it was hilarious. He was an amazing artist and remains my inspiration even now. My work has evolved, of course. I had many concentrations but I gravitated towards art that took real life objects out of context and transformed them into something new and intriguing. Who doesn’t, right? But I’ll take chicken wire and, because of its flexibility, I’ll fold it and plaster it into rolling ocean waves. I’ve steamed and coiled tree branches and made a tea table with slices of a tree trunk as pedestals winding up the side.
Most recently I’ve begun making jewelry. Resin pendants have been my favorite to make because of the array of materials that can be incorporated. I’ve used real flowers from my garden, seashells, and even a butterfly I found on my patio one day. It is a nice reminder to me of the beauty that is around me everyday. Too often I get so overwhelmed by life and work and school that I forget why I’m doing everything and I’m certain that I’m not alone. We work and work and work and work, oh yes,
and work, in order to sustain ourselves so that we may live our lives. Unfortunately, we easily become drones, mechanically going through the motions, trying to just make it through another day. If that’s life, what are we working for? If we only take the time to see things at face value instead of pondering what could be, how many opportunities are we missing to enrich our lives and those around us? In this way, I hope my work inspires those around me, and if not, I like it.
Mom’s Usless Junk 2007 oil on canvas 3’ x 2’
Ashley Hammarstrom
A strong divide exists in my art work among the different mediums I use. My prints are more abstract, whereas my paintings are more realistic.
My love for printmaking has evolved more recently. Making strong statements and expressing topics most important to me have become high priorities in my prints. My topics have more recently included statements concerning tolerance and choices; topics that, in my personal life, have surrounded me the past few months. The medium itself is fascinating because of the endless amount of manipulation an artist is capable of using..
My interest in intaglio prints exceeds all other forms of printmaking. The stunning texture created by the oil based ink is gorgeous and can aid to a stronger statement in itself. I aspire to have several meanings in my works expressing topics I deem most important.
Oil painting, in contrast to printmaking, is a medium that has intrigued me for several years. I enjoy the wide range of color and texture manipulation that is possible with the medium. My subject matter mostly contains still lives, figures, and landscapes. In terms of influences, I enjoy a painter who works realistically but has a loose brush stroke. Implementing that style is what I strive for most.
I hope for the subject matter divide in my prints and paintings to eventually dissipate combining beauty with statement.
Tolerance 2009 intaglio print 17” x 14”
Michael Horvat
After putting a lot of thought into it, I came to the conclusion that I really don’t have an artist statement. I looked through all of my previous works in the past that include drawings, sketches, paintings, and various publications, and I could not find anything at all that really reaches out to me as some sort of statement. All I could come up with is that the art that I do is what I enjoy doing. Now if that can be used as a statement, then that’s awesome, but if not, then I am really not worried about it at all. For as long as I have been doing this stuff, it has always just brought me happiness. Like an escape from whatever it was at that time that I needed to escape from. And even a paycheck from time to time.
But what I have found out is that throughout all of my life, my art has been inspired by the people I have surrounded myself with. Whether it be a friend or a family member, there has always been someone who has given me their two cents about what I was doing, and I’ve taken their criticisms and feedback with open arms. Whatever. I don’t know what else to put. I’m just glad that after 6 years and 4 colleges, I’m finally getting 1 degree.
<3 2009 painting
11” x 14”
Lisa Rebsamen
My work is derived from my thoughts - good and bad, positive and negative. I don’t try to filter my work, nor do I intend to broadcast my beliefs. I’m simply getting what’s in my head down onto a more concrete surface. The pieces I come up with can deal with certain events or disasters, states of mind, political actions, society’s opinions, or whatever else is irking me at that moment. Releasing these thoughts into more solid ideas is the healthiest way for me to get them out. Art has always been my personal form of expression. There is always a new technique to be learned or style to be studied. I can’t stand being bored and creating art has always been the only thing that keeps me going and motivated. It is my escape from the so-called “real” world into the extraordinary. Everyone needs their own universe to mold and control; I found mine in art.
Goblin ceramic
Roberto Rosas
I was born in Oakland California on March 28, 1987. I moved to Tracy at the age of seven and haven’t moved since. I attended Delta Island Elementary School, a migrant elementary school in the outskirts of Tracy, until 8th grade and then went to West High school. I always believed that after graduating high school, I was going to enter the work force, so I never took my SAT. I was planning to follow my father’s steps and become a truck driver for Northern Division Safeway warehouse. But after graduating, my family told me to give college a shot, so I enrolled in a San Joaquin Delta College. What I thought was going to be a semester of college, ended up being two full years towards my Bachelor degree. I had completed my lower division general education and I had no idea what I wanted to be. So when I was applying to CSU Stanislaus, I did not know what major to declare. I thought to myself that I always enjoyed art, even when I was back in grade school, so I decided to become an art major.
During my first semester at CSU Stanislaus, I liked to paint and draw farm related objects. Old trucks, cows, pigs, or cowboys, I was always drawing them. Once I started my second semester, I started drawing these same objects, but in a humorous way. When my fellow students would see my cartoon creations, they would laugh every time. That’s when I noticed my true calling. I found that it brings great joy to me when I see others laugh or have a smile on their face when they see my work. Seeing others happy makes me happy. For this show, I am hoping that my pieces of work spark some kind of emotion, hopefully a pleasant one, because I do all my work to please you, the viewer.
Pigs in the Field 2009 mixed media
8” x 10”
Lang Amy Thao
Having to grow up in the Central Valley with nothing much to do, I turned to art for my entertainment at a very young age. From then, my passion for art has grown so much more. I love working with anything that has to do with art. I’ve been working with multiple mediums and have to say, I can’t just go with one. Being able to work with any medium at any time gives me the satisfaction of always finding new ways to execute my work. I started out leading small arts and craft sessions at church and now I will be the first daughter out of seven to get my degree and pursue my dreams as an art teacher.
Untitled 2009 oil on canvas 16” x 20”
Olivia Vigil
I always had in inclination for drawing and coloring since I was in elementary school, but I never though that I could do it professionally. When I was in middle school and part of high school I had other interests that did not include art at all. It was during my senior year in high school that I decided to use my drawing talent combined with my interest in fashion to create fashion illustrations. It was not easy to draw the human figure and dress it; plus I had to have an original design with relevant colors. As I moved on to college, I had no interest in pursuing a career in art or anything related; instead I majored in Business Administration (crazy right?). I still had a feeling that something was missing in my plans. After taking art appreciation and studio art for non majors, I became interested in art and how it can be used as a vehicle to express everything around me.
Not to long ago, I decided to take on a minor in art. I wanted to learn more; learn how to express myself and give a little bit of meaning to my boring career in college. It has been two years since and it has been a great change in my personal and professional life. At the beginning I started with basic drawing classes and I was introduced to charcoal. I mainly did drawing using the human figure as inspiration. I have explored lines and marks through the use of charcoal, Indian ink and acrylics. Most of my beginning work was done in black and white; even though I love color, I still need more experience to be able to use it well.
During the 2008 fall semester I was introduced to oil painting and print making; two unknown disciplines that I was eager to learn. Besides learning how to use the different media, I got to experience the teachings and philosophies of my teachers and classmates. Learning from each other and collaborating ideas to make
our work better was and is a great experience.
As mentioned before, I am very interested in the human figure; what it represents and communicates to people. Looking at the human figure is something that we do everyday, people are everywhere it’s hard not to see them. When I see people I like to look at their body language; how they move to express their feelings. Then I try to translate those kind of emotions into my work using lines and sometimes color. It’s not an easy job. Sometimes I don’t get the results I want and it is frustrating. Studying other artists like Matisse, Michelangelo or DeKooning helps me to understand how they interpreted the human figure and then apply those concepts into my own work.
Now, I am working and learning more about the human figure through clay sculptures. Three dimensional work has given me another opportunity to learn how the structure of the bones and muscles of the body work and look. It also helps my painting and drawing skills to understand the structural elements that I could not understand when working in two dimensions.
Old Soul 2008 intaglio print 10” x 8”
Acknowledgements
California State University, Stanislaus
Dr. Hamid Shirvani, President
Dr. William Covino, Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs
Mr. Daryl Joseph Moore frsa, Founding Dean, College of the Arts
Ms. Susana Gajic-Bruyea, President for University Advancement
Department of Art
Gordon Senior, Chair, Associate Professor
Dean De Cocker, Associate Professor
Jessica Gomula, Assistant Professor
David Olivant, Professor
Dr. Roxanne Robbin, Professor
Richard Savini, Professor
Dr. Hope Werness, Professor Emeritus
Rowena d’Mar Shimun, Administrative Support Assistant
Christian Hali, Instructional Support Technician II
