For years the Fall Student Art Show has exhibited an impressive and eclectic array of Southwestern College talent.
This year was no exception.
Hosted by the SWC Art Gallery, the exhibition gave students and faculty a glimpse into the rich artistic talent present in the community.
Impressive works by SWC art students sprawled across the gallery, including graphic design, sculpture, drawings, paintings, prints and photographs.
While some pieces relied on traditional styles, others were abstract and conceptually inventive.
Hidden toward the back of the gallery without much fanfare was a remarkable piece by Kelly I. Perkins, titled “Torch Wrench Power House Steam Plant” that eclipsed some of the more callow work. It depicted a young, well-built man tending to a complex piece of machinery with a wrench.
“Torch Wrench” possessed an industrial quality to it that was accented by the stark contrast of its black and white tones. Adding to its dynamic quality was the playful use of light, which suggested movement to the still portrait along with the meticulous line work. It exuded a silent, earnest beauty.
Across the gallery, a photograph of a barren dirt road with sets of underdeveloped houses on both sides invited reflections of the devastating conditions some communities face. The untitled, poignant tableaux by Micajah Truitt was juxtaposed with the remarkable quality of the composition and its depth of movement.
Simple, elegant and heartfelt was another untitled photograph by Aimee Briggs. Her portrait depicted an older man, wrinkled and pensive. Dimly lit, the man’s stare dissolved into the darkness of the background.
Entering the gallery guests were confronted with larger pieces. Some were conceptual sculptures, while others, though artistically beautiful, served a more practical purpose, including a table by Michelle Natividad. Blue with round arches between each leg, the table’s geometric flourishes and vivid color perfectly balanced the dynamic between form and function.
“Sinuosity” by Jose Vera and Rodrigo Sous was a small sculpture that depicted two abstract configurations playfully interwoven with one another. It seemed to be a study in the linear interaction of shapes.
Kelera Bates’ black and white print “Frogs” showed the intricacies of a plant. Its depth gave meaning to something otherwise innocuous.
Two promotional posters for the exhibit hung on the center wall. Chloe Lamfers and Jesus Ramirez utilized features reminiscent of the Swiss Style in their designs.
With sharp lines and a stark palette, Diana Rodriguez’s depiction of a faceless woman looking through a window titled “Gouache on Bristol Board” was captivating. The scene’s quiet tension was uneasy to the viewer.
On two hands, the face of a man with closed eyes rested in the air. Vida Mercado’s untitled sculpture was large and eye-catching. Completely white, the man posed like a stoic.
Visually intriguing, thoughtful and artistically innovative, SWC art students brought freshness to Chula Vista’s cultural hub and burnished the institution’s reputation as a hotbed of creativity.