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Local CGU artists showcase their talent in many ways As the quality of work grows from Claremont Graduate University's Masters program in Fine Arts, local curators are taking notice. An exhibition at the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona features work solely from CGU students in a show entitled The Leak of Contemporary Artists. The exhibition hopes to showcase the first “leaks” of this emerging talent into the art scene and the high quality of work coming from Claremont Graduate University. "In the past couple of years, the work coming out of CGU has really grown," said Rolo Castillo, Curator at the dA Center. "It seems when that happens, the students pick up on each others' energy and abilities and the quality of the program as a whole soars. This is one of the best shows we've had in years," he added. In the past, the 2-year CGU Masters Program in Fine Arts has done quite well producing accomplished artists. Notable alumni include James Turrell, Lewis Baltz, James Strombotne and Bennett Bean. The Leak of Contemporary Artists features a wide range of art media and materials from glass sculptures to photography, oil pastels and cardboard canvasses. Whitney Hanlon, a Claremont native and intern at the dA Center, showcased her Buddha sculpture made entirely from pills. Entitled "Medication Meditation," the colorful piece explores the divergent philosophies from East and West on how to address the alleviation of pain and suffering. "For many of us, this is the first time to display our work outside of a school setting," Ms. Hanlon said. "So that's very exciting for us."
Michael Carter, another featured artist, said students in the CGU program should get more involved in local cities and establish a name for the program in the region. "It's really important for us to connect with the arts community outside of the colleges," he said. The exhibition kicked off on last Saturday night in conjunction with Pomona's Second Saturday Art Walk. The show features 68 pieces from 34 different artists at CGU. On Monday night, several of the featured artists were back to the dA Center for a concert by singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson and other musicians. Ms. Dawson's music has become widely popular after she was the artist on the Juno soundtrack. A large crowd gathered to watch the intimate performance, most sitting Indian style on the floor like kindergarten students listening to their teacher. CGU student Nicole James decorated the stage where the musicians performed, adding to the ambience of the performances. With a large painting in the background, the artist used all recycled materials for her hanging sculptures, colorfully decorated with spray paint, glitter and dyes. "It's a way to create an environment where the subjects in the painting are brought to life outside," Ms. James said. The Leak of Contemporary Artists runs from April 11 to April 27. A closing reception will be held on April 25 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The dA Center for the Arts is located at 252 S. Main St. in the Pomona Arts Colony. —Tony Krickl |
