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June 26, 2007

Local Artists

Arlington Museum of Art exhibition features faculty members’ work

Story by: Dennis Mitchell

Contributor to The Shorthorn

Courtesy photo: Oscar Gustavo Plascencia

Alumnus Oscar Gustavo Plascencia’s “Viviendo en la Penumbra” hangs in the Arlington Museum of Art “City Limits” exhibition, which features faculty members’ art.

They don’t just lecture you about Picasso and linear perspective. They paint, sculpt and photograph works of their own — and then put them on display right in our own backyard.

Six university faculty members, along with an alumni, have artwork on display at the Arlington Museum of Art, just a mile north of campus in downtown.

Benito Huerta, art and art history associate professor, curates one of the current exhibitions, “City Limits.”

“I think it’s always good when faculty are featured in exhibitions at the AMA and across the state,” Huerta said. “It’s a good indication of our quality of work, and it boosts the reputation of UTA.”

Drive by the museum, and you might mistake it for an office building. Located next door to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of North Texas office, it’s not a very distinguished building. But walk inside, and the charm and character of the unique museum are evident.

“City Limits” is displayed along the walls of the lower floor.

Andrew Ortiz, an associate professor that is teaching a digital imaging class this summer, has a piece in the exhibit, “Fading.” It is an archival giclee print that Ortiz likened to an ink-jet print.

“It’s basically a French word for spit,” he said. “Sort of like a printer spits ink onto a surface.”

Ortiz said the exhibit features examples of what the specific artists, and the university in particular, have to offer.

“Along with the work upstairs from other schools, it gives the community a great chance to see excellent art,” Ortiz said.

Having only local artwork on display happened almost by accident. Huerta, who was recently asked to be on the museum’s advisory board, said that during the first meeting, the board found out the previous exhibit would not run through its July end date, leaving a gap between exhibits.

Huerta suggested they do a show on Arlington artists to fill the gap and also cut down on shipping costs. He said the majority of artists contacted replied and that there’s been a good response to the show.

Museum education director Pam Rogers curated the Mezzanine Galleries exhibit “Pushing the Limit,” which also features artists from North Texas.

“All of the artists were very generous and responded well when we asked them to be a part of this,” Rogers said.

Rogers, a former academic adviser and art adjunct professor, strolled across the concrete floors of the museum’s upper level Monday, pointing out works by University of North Texas and Tarrant Community College faculty.

From acrylic on wood to photography to serigraph/photoetching, the exhibits offer a wide array of media, Rogers said.

Oscar Gustavo Plascencia, a UTA alumni who teaches at TCC, has pieces on display that use giclee prints, wooden boxes, a cross, fabric and candles.

Leighton McWilliams, art and art history assistant professor, has four photography and mixed-media construction pieces on display.

McWilliams said having Arlington artists on display is a community outreach.

“We all live and work here. It’s good for people here to see what our work is like,” he said. “We show out of state, but we also like local people to be able to see our shows.”