‘Urban Sight’ photo exhibit puts Los Angeles architecture on display

‘Urban Sight’ photo exhibit puts Los Angeles architecture on display

From the concrete overpasses to the graffiti filled alleys, the San Fernando Valley’s range of architecture is as diverse as its population, a landscape captured by Pierce College students for the latest exhibition on display in the campus Art Gallery.

Urban Sight, a student photography exhibition featuring architecture in Los Angeles from the 1940’s to the 1990’s debuted Thursday Nov. 14 and will be running through Wednesday Dec. 11 in the Pierce College Art Gallery located in Room 3301.

The show is based on the concept of “Los Angeles: Where grass meets concrete and pedestrians walk in the shadow of traffic.”

The exhibition features photographs shot entirely by students from the Department of Art and Architecture and the Media Arts Department.

The departments have been collaborating to put on this project for a while according to Monika Del Bosque, assistant professor of art and gallery director.

“It’s nice to be able to honor the photographers that have worked so hard for this project,” Del Bosque said.

“I think it’s cool that Pierce is taking the time to display their student’s work and spreading the word about different types of art,” said Juan Becerril, a 20-year-old architecture major with some of his photos displayed in the show.

Students also had the opportunity to display works in a larger showing at the Getty Center in April during the museum’s College Night 2013. The event housed an exhibition called Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940-1990 that included work from college students from all over the city.

“It feels great to be featured in front of my colleagues and peers,” Becerril said. “It’s nice to be reassured that what you’re doing is actually right.”

The gallery is a great resource for students to get their names out and their art displayed, but it also allows them to get immersed in the art world and apply and practice their techniques.

“I really like that we have a program like this. It’s great to be in a class where you’re working with your hands more than you’re listening to lectures,” said Anabelle Bonebrake, a 19-year-old art major and exhibition designer. “Getting the hands on experience is a lot different than reading about it.”

The gallery has been working to keep the walls filled throughout the semester in hopes of raising more awareness of their existence on campus.

“Art always benefits a college campus,” said Del Bosque. “It brings us together and it’s a great interdisciplinary project.