Monday, January 26, 1998
Combining media central to theme of ‘by-products’
ART Exhibit focuses on construction of people’s lives through
synthesis of painting, sculpture, video
By Laura Noguera
Daily Bruin Contributor
"Is that going to blow up?" asks a kindergartner looking at a
grenade in an art piece. The youngster was part of a school group
viewing the Haines Hall art displays last quarter. Upon seeing the
grenade in the display case the kindergartner vocalized his
reaction, and the artist, Justin Lowman, overheard.
"When I put that (the grenade) in there, I didn’t even think
about it," Lowman says, intrigued that his art provoked a response
from the children. "It was like wow. I mean, they’re children and
it’s this fantasy they have."
The success of their previous art display last quarter earned
the two groups, A Los Que No Les Hacen Caso (Those who are ignored)
and Gross Pollution, a showing of "By-Product the Possible" in the
Kerckhoff Art Gallery through Feb. 6. Combining painting,
sculpture, video and installation, the artists address what they
call the by-product theory.
Organizing artist and UCLA graduate student Jorge Castillo
explains the show’s premise.
"The whole idea is that there are lots of realities, like the
material reality, like what composes tables," Castillo says as he
sets his palm flat on the table. "From these things there are
things that are useful and there are things that aren’t, like decay
and emotional problems."
The new exhibit continues the artists’ by-product theme
established last quarter. The exhibit allows the artists to explore
the construction of their lives and others. The seven artists of
the combined groups focus on the options the theme presents
them.
"It relates to what we’re doing because when you’re a child,
anything seems possible," says Michael Holte, a contributing
artist. "We are not children anymore and we have to deal with some
of the darker possibilities that we couldn’t even imagine when we
were that age."
The group conveys these concepts using their individual styles
and various materials. They credit some of their inspiration to
their social science education.
"We have this ability to see the world in a different way and
actually manipulate objects to describe it," says artist Will
Pulido, who is showing a piece called "The Incubus."
"For this piece I just use wire mesh, canvas and plaster of
Paris, which is very simple. But what this piece is actually trying
to portray is a feeling of solitude, that one person can get when
one recognizes there are things like by-product," Pulido says.
The artists expect this exhibit to be more impressive to the eye
than the previous exhibit. Moving from a limiting display case to a
larger gallery space will be a more comfortable viewing
atmosphere.
"In a gallery center, you are able to move around and interact
with the artwork," Holte says.
The artists realize that no two viewers will hold the same
interpretations of their art. They stress that there is something
for everyone, and expect visitors to identify with some of the
issues.
"It covers a lot of different ground. Some people are showing a
more emotional side, how it effects them internally," Holte says.
"Some people are showing how it effects the environment or society
at large. So there’s a psychological, sexual, conceptual or
intellectual aspect to it."
One trademark may be the groups’ talent for impressing audiences
using unusual objects, like Lowman’s grenade or Holte’s rabbit’s
feet. Holte’s rabbit-foot and mousetrap fetish can be seen in all
his displayed pieces. However, the artists express that what may be
controversial or appealing to one person may not be to another.
Audiences are more likely to identify with the exhibit’s endless
‘possibilities’ theme.
"You can read about what we are doing before or afterward,"Holte
says. "But the only way to know what we are actually doing is to
see it first-hand."
ART: (Those That Are Ignored) and Gross Pollution are holding a
reception tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Kerckhoff Gallery. The
event is open to the public.