Tuesday, March 2, 1999
Senior art exhibit packs eclectic dynamo punch
SHOW: Spectrum of themes, media mingles pop culture with
presenters’ experience
By Kevin Lau
Daily Bruin Contributor
"Dynamo Punch" sounds more like a fruit-flavored alcoholic
beverage or a Mohammed Ali knock-out than a senior art class
exhibition. But the name of the show appearing at the UCLA Wight
Art Gallery until Friday becomes clear through a more logical
interpretation. Similar to how the featured seniors hope viewers
will absorb their art, "Dynamo Punch" is a political science term
describing an event that changes everything that comes after
it.
"Classes from previous years were more involved with art related
issues," says Mary Kelly, the chair of the art department. "This
year, they (the students) seem to have broader interests, which
include pop culture, music and other kinds of performance
work."
The exhibition consists of the senior art students’ paintings,
photographs, sculptures, videos and mixed media constructions. The
pieces use materials ranging from oils and acrylics to steel and
fluorescent lights.
"What you’ll see is a huge variety of art," says senior Daniel
McGrath. "People put in what they want off their own
initiative."
All the participants in the senior art show entered works
completed on their own time. They are allocated a certain amount of
space in the gallery that they can use in any manner.
"Some people have five things going at once, while others have
only one painting or photograph," says McGrath. "The projects are
done in class, but they are independent works. These works are what
the artists are really interested in."
McGrath’s untitled piece rests on the floor of the gallery. His
work stands as a flat, orange cylinder circumscribed by a
photograph of the tread of a tire.
"If you were to title it, I’d call it ‘spare tire’," comments
McGrath. "It’s how you represent something that is extremely real
with a photograph and then something extremely abstract with the
orange. What becomes real? It’s a dilemma between abstraction and
realism."
The pieces displayed this year provide a wide mix of themes,
creativity, and style in traditional and innovative art. The
success of the pieces draws on the different experiences and
backgrounds of the artists.
"My work arises with a different background," says senior
Arnoldo Vargas. "It’s all culturally related to my family, my
experience as a Chicano in Wilmington, in the south part of L.A.
That’s what I tried to speak on. It’s not all about art, it’s about
certain issues."
Vargas’ "Mu’ Ku’ Yahui" centers on a row of photographs of his
family against a blue backdrop and a ceramic sculpture that rests
below the photographs on the floor.
"Mu’ Ku’ Yahui" refers to the blue background in the photos,"
Vargas explains. "The ceramics speak for themselves."
The art contained within the Wight Art Gallery has already
impressed many since its opening on Feb. 12.
"The quality of the work is quite impressive," says Kelly. "The
show is very lively and quite ambitious. Among the most ambitious
included (Brendan Elm’s) ‘Hanging Wall Piece,’ (Bruno Portella
Fontainha) ‘Pivot’ and (Lisa Norton’s) ‘In the Beginning.’"
Norton’s "In the Beginning" is an artful representation of a
poem. In this case, pages of the Bible were placed onto a
rectangular mount and painted over, leaving particular words
exposed. Collectively, the words create a heavily sexually
connotative message. In another piece, Norton applied this
technique to a Danielle Steele novel titled "Deconstructing
Steele."
The senior art show provides a stage for four years of
dedication, education and growth to be displayed; it is important
for an artist that people see his or her work.
"Exhibitions are not rewards so much, but central to (an
artist’s) practice and discussion," Kelly adds.
A discussion panel of contributing artists and faculty,
including Vargas and Kelly, will be present on March 4 beginning at
5 p.m. in the Wight Art Gallery. This forum will be open to anyone
who would like to attend.
"I thought about not displaying my work, but this is the only
chance I have before I graduate to make sure the voice I speak of
is represented," Vargas adds. "I have noticed my work has come from
a different place, a different voice. I just needed to show my
work."
ART: "Dynamo Punch" will be shown from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at
the Wight Art Gallery in the Dickson Art Center until March 5.
Admission is free.VONNET KWAN
Bruno Portella Fontainha’s "Pivot" is one of the pieces on
display at the "Dynamo Punch" exhibit at the Wight Gallery.
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