By snoadmin
Cal State Long Beach’s art department lent its galleries to five CSULB artists this week. Each gallery represented a different, unique medium of art.
The artists had to apply at the art office a semester in advance to present their artwork in the galleries. The lucky ones get a chance to display their work for four days.
Andrew Cortes shows drawings and paintings at the Max L. Gatov West Gallery. Paintings by Christine Mazanec are in the Dr. Maxine Merlino Gallery. Ryan Flores presents ceramics in the Max L. Gatov East Gallery and Kim Zumpfe comes along with an installation in the Dennis W. Dutzi Gallery.
The works from the photo club group show by Spencer Harding, Carina Downing and Amanda Newcomb are in the Werby Gallery.
Cortes is earning a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in drawing and painting, and a bachelor’s degree in comparative world literature. His work titled “Mnemonic” pertains to “the idea revolving behind [his] earliest work in the exhibit.”
“Mnemonics are devices or words used to basically activate a memory,” Cortes said. “Within my work there are memories that I have drawn or wrote, and the artwork acts as a visible device for me to remember certain things with.”
He worked about 10 months on his artwork to prepare them for the exhibition. For Cortes, the exhibition is not just a presentation of his work but also an emotional expression of himself.
“I need to be making things all the time,” Cortes said. “It’s how I make sense of the world around me.”
Though the exhibitions are only on display for four days, exhibitors like Flores, earning his bachelor’s in fine arts in ceramics, are glad to show their mastery to the audience.
“I feel these galleries are really important because it allows for the other students in the art department to conveniently view your work,” Flores said. “This is really important because it is an audience I really want to show to … I would be happy with a day,” Flores said.
People who want to experience art in an exciting and party-like environment should come to the student galleries.
The exhibition’s opening reception was Sept. 20 and will run tomorrow. Gallery hours are from noon to 5 p.m.