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PITTSBURG —
A new gallery showing in the second floor gallery of Pittsburg State University’s Porter Hall will highlight contemporary Four State-area Hispanic student artists.
The Office of Student Diversity is co-hosting the show with the PSU art department in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month. The exhibition was the brainchild of Maria Grothaus, assistant director for the OSD.
“I thought it would be a cool idea to celebrate the different cultures through art,” Grothaus said.
The thought of displaying the work of students artists also appealed to art department officials when Grothaus approached them with her idea.
“I think art can speak to people on a lot of different levels and can educate people about diversity and culture,” Grothaus said. “Hopefully people will be able to see work by some really good artists that will speak to their culture and who they are as individuals.”
The exhibit features work by current PSU chemistry student Juan Diego Gaucin, who earned his bachelor’s degree in painting from Pittsburg State in 2010; Dilenia Garcia, an MFA student at the University of Arkansas; and students of Jessica Stout, an instructor at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Grothaus said she and the art department also are collaborating on exhibits for Native American History Month and African American History Month. The exhibit will run through Saturday, Sept. 22.
Pitt State student Juan Diego Gaucin says he incorporates aspects of historic Meso-American cultures such as the Maya and Aztec tribes, as well as spiritual themes, into his painting and ceramic work. One of his paintings, “Choc Mool and Pyramids,” depicts a Mayan statue of a reclining figure holding a bowl that was used to collect offerings.
“I try to use a lot of color to show life and energy,” said Gaucin, who immigrated with his family from Zacatecas, Mexico, when he was young. “I’m mainly interested in the history of those cultures, though. A lot of it is known, but a lot of it isn’t, so that leaves it open to interpretation.”
Gaucin also incorporates elements of Meso-American writing, which uses glyphs, into his work, such as the ceramic vessels he has on display.
“It’s used only in Egypt and some parts of Asia,” Gaucin said. “They’re so far apart from each other. What do they have in common? It’s a challenge because it’s a lost art. But there’s something modern about it, too. We see images on everything now. It almost seems like society is starting to gravitate more toward images than writing.”
Instructor Portico Bowman said she thinks the student art series is a great idea.
“It creates a dialogue for what people are about,” Bowman said. “Art functions universally as a portal for communication and diversification. It’s a great pairing.
A new gallery showing in the second floor gallery of Pittsburg State University’s Porter Hall will highlight contemporary Four State-area Hispanic student artists.
The Office of Student Diversity is co-hosting the show with the PSU art department in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month. The exhibition was the brainchild of Maria Grothaus, assistant director for the OSD.
“I thought it would be a cool idea to celebrate the different cultures through art,” Grothaus said.
The thought of displaying the work of students artists also appealed to art department officials when Grothaus approached them with her idea.
“I think art can speak to people on a lot of different levels and can educate people about diversity and culture,” Grothaus said. “Hopefully people will be able to see work by some really good artists that will speak to their culture and who they are as individuals.”
The exhibit features work by current PSU chemistry student Juan Diego Gaucin, who earned his bachelor’s degree in painting from Pittsburg State in 2010; Dilenia Garcia, an MFA student at the University of Arkansas; and students of Jessica Stout, an instructor at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Grothaus said she and the art department also are collaborating on exhibits for Native American History Month and African American History Month. The exhibit will run through Saturday, Sept. 22.
Pitt State student Juan Diego Gaucin says he incorporates aspects of historic Meso-American cultures such as the Maya and Aztec tribes, as well as spiritual themes, into his painting and ceramic work. One of his paintings, “Choc Mool and Pyramids,” depicts a Mayan statue of a reclining figure holding a bowl that was used to collect offerings.
“I try to use a lot of color to show life and energy,” said Gaucin, who immigrated with his family from Zacatecas, Mexico, when he was young. “I’m mainly interested in the history of those cultures, though. A lot of it is known, but a lot of it isn’t, so that leaves it open to interpretation.”
Gaucin also incorporates elements of Meso-American writing, which uses glyphs, into his work, such as the ceramic vessels he has on display.
“It’s used only in Egypt and some parts of Asia,” Gaucin said. “They’re so far apart from each other. What do they have in common? It’s a challenge because it’s a lost art. But there’s something modern about it, too. We see images on everything now. It almost seems like society is starting to gravitate more toward images than writing.”
Instructor Portico Bowman said she thinks the student art series is a great idea.
“It creates a dialogue for what people are about,” Bowman said. “Art functions universally as a portal for communication and diversification. It’s a great pairing.
