By snoadmin
Sexuality defends itself in this week’s student art galleries, as does the collection of various artworks that are hung to dry.
“Exertion” is an exhibit displayed in the Gatov Gallery by artist Alyce Haliday McQueen. The gallery showcases three flat-screen televisions and three large projections. Each screen plays a different video of a distinct body part in motion, such as an open mouth and a neck along with an eerie sound coming from that particular body part.
“It’s almost gross,” Alyssa Taitague, senior photography major, said. “It’s kind of grossing me out, but it’s really cool. They are sounds you wouldn’t normally hear.”
McQueen said, “The work is rooted in the idea of objectification versus sexuality or sexiness of women. So each video has a feminine signifier in it … that are really normal to us but alter [women’s] appearance.” It was to convey the idea if those things would empower women or would make women feel objectified.
McQueen’s work developed from her photographic background and said she tried to maintain a genuine approach and “keep the camera static” so the exhibit would become more moving photographs then of videos.
“I hope they become somewhat overwhelming, not too much because I don’t want to chase people away,” McQueen said. “But I kind of want them to get this feeling that they are surrounded.”
Art is also hung in the Merlino Gallery by Alex Fridich. Tiny clothespins hold up postcards with repetitive images such as the Virgin Mary or images from the game, “Loteria” reading “La Mano.”
Three strings where the postcards are hung stretch along each wall. One image that resembles a rather large stamp reads “Return to Sender,” while another that looks like a scanned fortune reads “You will be admired,” with a few lucky numbers underneath.
A vast collection of lithographs from the Cal State Long Beach print shop are put on display in the Dutzi Gallery, entitled “Rock.Paper.Ink.”
The majority of the art pieces are made in black-and-white with a few monochromic pieces, or at least doused with a splash of bright colors. The qualities of pieces vary from simple to more intricate detailing. Even contrast of realistic to surrealist art pieces catch the eyes of the viewers and force them to lean in and examine its detail.
As for the Werby Gallery, the solo exhibiter E. Salvador Hernandez presents “On Subjects and Icons.”
The variety of topics is put on display with ideas of perfection and silhouetted ideal body types. The theme acknowledges the repetition in the figures used to create his art such as the “Caress Series” that communicates a sense of mood in its distinction of colors. The piece entitled “Male Embrace” is a monoserigraph of two males kissing in a blend of warm colors.
“Dealing with gay/queer intimacy allows for further exploration of color combination in a favorable light,” Hernandez wrote.
The weekly student art galleries run Monday through Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. between the FA2 and FA3 buildings.
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