LET THE DRAWING DO THE TALKING – “Gesture and Mark” opens March 10 – April 7 at the SWC Art Gallery. Twenty-five accomplished artists of West Coast Drawing show the reason why drawing is the foundation of art. Photos by Bo Chen-Samuel
Designed to show multiple inspirations and techniques of art, “Gesture and Mark” is an exhibition of drawings by 25 accomplished artists of West Coast Drawing.
Vallo Riberto, Southwestern College Gallery Director, called “Gesture and Mark” a reference to the early development of abstract expressionism, a movement in American painting that flourished in New York City after World War II.
“Gesture was the way artists made a mark on their canvas to create abstraction,” he said. “A gestural movement of the body with a loaded brush of paint and creating these large abstract paintings.”
Riberto said that the way those 25 accomplished artists made each mark was a reference of Gesture and Mark.
“The mark making process was very different for each of these artists,” he said. “Going from traditional to more abstract representational.”
Audiences are going to see different styles of drawings such as “classical rendering black and white” and “collage painting.” There will also be broad cross-sections about drawing applications. One artist even played around with natural stains to do his drawings. Vegetable, tea and coffee stains are used in some of the drawings. When describing this technique, Riberto said it would present the audience a “phenomenology of accidents.”
Drawing installation will also be featured.
“There are going to be large pieces here,” he said. “Some of the drawings are going to be hung. Some will be on substrates other than traditional paper.”
This is the first time SWC has worked with WCD to present an art exhibition.
Susan J. Osborn, president of West Coast Drawing, said SWC has been a strength in the Chula Vista/Bonita community.
“WCD is here to show that drawing, in all its diversity, is an end, not just a means, as valid an art form as oil on canvas, fresco on walls, carved marble or contemporary quirks.”
WCD’s primary direction is to provide inspiration, artistic support and career advancement for outstanding artists working in drawing media in the West Coast. All the artists chosen for the exhibition are among the most stellar artists in the West Coast, working in drawing media. They came together for mutual inspiration, exhibition and to raise the bar for drawing.
Two of the artists, Kathi McCord and Clayton Llewellyn, are adjunct teachers at SWC. Osborn was also on the Visual Art staff at SWC and local resident for more than 30 years.
ALL ABOUT CREATIVITY – Artists of West Coast Drawing showcase works in pencil, pen, charcoal, pastel and ink. Artists also make combinations of using brush, palette knife, sponge or liquid paint.
WCD founder Karen Marie Rhiner is also a unique artist in the exhibition.
“Rhiner was the ‘mother-hen’ and inspiration of WCD,” Osborn said.
Rhiner died from cancer in 2015. Her colored pencil work will be presented in the exhibition.
Riberto said that not only art lovers and art students will enjoy the exhibit.
“Students who are not art majors will enjoy the exhibition even more, simply because of the content,” he said. “The content goes from pop surreal religious, overtones to total abstractions and illustrations.”
Riberto said he wanted to show the audience that drawing could be more than just using the wrist.
“Traditionally, an artist draws with his or her wrist,” he said. “By making large-scale drawing, such as Gesture and Mark, an artist needs to use his or her arms and sometimes the whole body.”
“Gesture and Mark” opens March 10 – April 7 at the SWC Art Gallery. Two artists talks will be held on opening day at 11:20 a.m. and 6 p.m. Admission is free for students.
