The annual Fine Art Open House, which showcased artworks by Fresno City College fine art students, occurred on Nov. 20
A visitor is taking photos of the drawings done by students showcased at the Fine Art Open House on Nov. 20. (Photo by: Wyatt Bible)
Art students from several different classes selected and showcased their work, including paintings, drawings, ceramics, digital art, and more. Every artwork had its own history and message.
Star Gonzalez, an art student at FCC, represented her artwork in the exhibition. Her painting was based on a personal journey with grief.
“My artwork is based on my uncle, who passed away,” Gonzalez said.
Star Gonzalez’s artwork that she represented in the exhibition on Nov.20. (Photo by: Wyatt Bible)
The main message was to pay tribute to her uncle, and keep the memories of her uncle alive in her father’s memory.
Gonzalez wants viewers to feel that every moment can be in our memory in perpetuity.
“You could always capture a moment forever,” Gonzalez said.
Creating art is not an easy process, and Gonzalez’s was no exception.
According to Gonzalez, the most challenging part was getting the colors correct because at first it was a lot of trial-and-error and a lot of mixing, and sometimes it would come out too muddy or “just not the exact colors that I wanted.”
Star Gonzalez’s artwork that she represented in the exhibition on Nov.20. (Photo by: Wyatt Bible)
For painting professor Kevin Stewart-Magee, this is also an exciting moment to see how his students represented their art.
“I’ve got a lot of pride in how much the students have grown, and I think it’s a great representation of their energy and knowledge,” Stewart-Magee said.
Artworks that Stewart-Magee’s students represented on exhibition on Nov.20. (Photo by: Wyatt Bible)
Abigail Burgos, an art student at FCC, is working on her artwork on Nov.20. (Photo by: Wyatt Bible)
Every class has its own style and meaning.
“Each class and each classroom has a different curriculum, and my curriculum in beginning sculptures is a lot of self-expression and storytelling, so each piece has its own unique experience,” Caleb Duarte, the professor of sculpture at FCC, said.
According to Jahen Vazquez, an art student at FCC, the main idea of his art is to put out a positive balance out there, and make something that resembles passion or ideas connected with him.
Sculptures that represented Duarte’s in exhibition on Nov. 20. (Photo by: Wyatt Bible)
“When people see works of my students, I want them to understand that this was a project, and each of the individual students made a wonderful unique artwork,” Ricardo Rivera, art instructor at FCC, said.
According to Rivera, it is important to try to instill that “sense of openness” to different things and make students feel comfortable doing things that they wouldn’t otherwise do.
“I really try to emphasize to the students that there’s not a correct way to get to this answer to the project they have to explore and diverge from the things that they already know to be creative,” Rivera said.
Exhibitions like this are so important for our community because the showcase represents what FCC students have been doing during the semester, and open house promotes the art department.