If
you’ve ever thought that there’s not much to see on campus, it’s time to think again.
One
of Fresno City College’s best-kept cultural secrets is the Art Space gallery, tucked away in the corner of the Art Department building. However, most students are unaware that FCC has an Art Space gallery, let alone where to find it. Nevertheless, the Art Space gallery is not only a great place to go if you want to see unique artwork, but also if you’re looking for a cool place to have some quiet time away from the everyday commotion of campus life.
“W
e’re very lucky to have an art gallery,” says curator Edward Lund, “Not a lot of community colleges have galleries like here at Fresno City.” Lund, who has worked at the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, is in his fourth year as curator of the FCC art gallery.
The
art gallery recently wrapped up its Faculty Art Biennial, which occurs once every two years to show artworks produced by art department instructors. In case you missed it, this year’s faculty art exhibit showed several unique pieces ranging from pottery, wood prints, ink and pencil line drawings to traditional watercolors, ceramic and wood sculptures, and basket-weavings. Some of the more eye-catching works included a sculpture of a head surrounded by several hanging ceramic plates, two large charcoal sketches, and a hanging display of a shirt with an atlas and photos attached.
In
addition to showing the captivating and intriguing works of FCC’s Art Department staff, the Faculty Art Biennial has also served as a source of inspiration to art students. “Shows like these really help students learn, and help inspire them,” explains Art Appreciation instructor Byron Russel. Russel had two standing wood sculptures on display in the exhibit.
Many teachers were excited about displaying their work. “There’s lots of diversity,” says Anne Schiede, a Drawing teacher, “It really lets the campus see [the Art Department’s] work.”
But
the Art Space gallery is not just for faculty. When the Faculty Art Biennial is not showing, the gallery is home to a wide array student artworks. Students in FCC’s various art classes are given the unique opportunity to submit their art and potentially have it shown. Students can submit up to three pieces of art, and faculty votes to decide which artworks will ultimately make the by Jacob EspinosaRampage Reportercut. “I try to find relationships and juxtaposition [in art]” says Lund.
Submissions
are open to all art students, and the main criterion for a submission is that the art must have been produced at FCC for a class. Other than that, most any medium of art can be submitted. “I’m all for new mediums,” adds Lund enthusiastically, “I’m always looking for new types of art, types that push boundaries.”
FCC
students benefit greatly from the experience of displaying their own art. For most, it is their first real world interaction with the art community as artists. By showing their work, the creative process completes its circle, and the viewer gains a new perspective, in turn becoming inspired themselves. The Art Space gallery truly succeeds in adding to the spectrum of on-campus culture at Fresno City College.
The
Faculty Art Biennial exhibit closes on September 25, and the Art Space gallery shall remain closed until the student art exhibit opens.
If
you ever hear someone complain that “there’s nothing to do on campus,” don’t hesitate to correct them. There is indeed something to do here, and it’s right under your nose.