[media-credit name=”Marshall Murphy” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]In the early days of Southwestern College its visual arts instruction was sublime. Half a century later the college’s arts programs are not getting older, they are getting better.

 

 

“Looking Back, Moving Forward,” an exhibit which showcased the artistic talents of the faculty, was a time-tripping celebration of past and present faculty members showing students and the community how it is done. An artist for more than 30 years, Instructional Lab Tech George Essex brought life to his piece about death. A yellow-eyed gargoyle fixes its haunting stare on visitors leading them to a message sprawled in blood ink in a mirror. It is “Twilight Zone” meets “The Shining,” a little monster with his own caution of “red rum.”

The piece is also homage and the mirror is cleverly festooned with photos in tribute to Essex’s family and friends who have passed away.  In the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, Essex also salutes fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

“I wanted to bring people closer to death,” said Essex.  “Basically the piece is about the very moment that you face death and remembering those who have come before you.”

Human hair brings authenticity to the gargoyles look along with the yellow eyes, he said.

“The gargoyle is the apprehension that I presume people feel at that moment when you are about to die,” Essex said.

Jackie Barrera, fine arts and photography major, took the full brunt of the piece.

“Although I was unable to sit down in the chair, I respected the message of Essex’s piece,” Barrera said.  “This piece makes me also look at all the people who have died and makes me not want to waste my time.”

Professor of Ceramics John Oliver Lewis tossed convention out the window and went in a different direction than Essex.  The gifted Lewis used soft color on what he describes as an ice cream Michelin Man.

“I saw a few students pretending they were licking it and apparently other people wanted to have a bite of it, too,” said Lewis.

His work was enjoyed by Andrew Connolly, an art and studio major.

“It is very welcoming and charming,” said Connolly.  “It has a very whimsical, cartoon appeal that gives you a very happy feeling.  It reminds me of an animation of a cartoon and the colors and shapes are esthetically pleasing. It is a really good piece.”

Sheri Robles said she was impressed by all the art at the exhibit.

“With each art you see, you find a piece of you in it and a piece of beauty,” she said.