Senior art exhibit packs eclectic dynamo punch

Published: Tuesday, March 2, 1999

Tuesday, March 2, 1999

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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