This Thursday at 7:00 pm, get an intimate tour with local artists of Fantastic Fuerzas/Forces at the Guadalupe Gallery.
Curated by Patty Ortiz, Fantastic Fuerzas/Forces is an exhibition that explores the influence and significance of comics in contemporary art. Whether political or poppy in approach, artists Juan Felipe Salcedo, Gustavo Higuera, Angel Rodríguez-Diaz, Dulce Pinzón, Nadin Ospina, Jaime Higa, Xavier Garza, Rafael Fajardo, Albert Alvarez, and David Almaguer combine fuerzas to present work that, while ironic or humorous on the surface, comments on “America’s mass media manipulation into marginal worlds.” The work of Mexico’s Dulce Pinzón sums up the exhibition nicely. Dressed as comic book characters and photographed in colorful surroundings, Pinzón’s unsung heroes (immigrant workers) appear suspended in the daily grind.
This marvelous exhibit received ink as a Critic’s Pick in the San Antonio Current.
You can also read an in-depth review by Kiko Martinez here >>
“Fantastic Fuerzas/Forces” will put you in touch with your secret super identity just in time for the Halloween weekend.
The exhibit is free, weekdays 10am-6pm and Saturday 12-5pm, Guadalupe Gallery, 723 S. Brazos St., guadalupeculturalarts.org. On view through Nov 18.
The Guadalupe Cultural Center is one of 27 affiliates of theFund. Donations to theFund help provide financial operating support to qualified arts and cultural organizations.
(Photo courtesy of Jennifer Monaghan.)
On Saturday, I attended the Jennifer Monaghan Community Photoshop Workshop at the Semmes Library. Photoshop is a complicated application that everyone wishes they knew how to use. Even if they do know how to use it, one can always learn more, so I was surprised that more people did not attend.
Jennifer’s work was displayed and provided an example of what can be done using Photoshop. Step-by- step, she demonstrated how she manipulated her photos to create intriguing artworks of unique scenes. I was in awe of the complexity of the process required in order to create this form of art, and I was amazed at how much I learned in a couple of hours with a good teacher.
Structural Visions is Monaghan's body of work that explores the subconscious mind by transforming everyday structures into surrealistic visions. These photographs have been processed and manipulated digitally to create a balance of surrealism and realism. "I want the viewer to become so involved with the work that, at first glance, they do not always realize it has been manipulated," says Monaghan, "but soon reality becomes unreality and realm of possibilities open." Curated by Alex Rubio, Program Instructor of ArtSmart Program at Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex, Structural Visions will be on exhibition in the Conference Gallery of the Julia Yates Semmes Public Library through October 30.
I also happily discovered that Blue Star's ARTsmart program hosts a series of rotating exhibits and other workshops at the Semmes Library. Several students’ artwork is on display in the Quiet Room and above the computer stations.
The Julia Laura Yates Semmes library is located at 15060 Judson Road in San Antonio. The exhibits are open to the public during regular library hours: Sunday – 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday – 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday – 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
