Atop the Pierce College Art Hill, which overlooks the ambiance of Woodland Hills, the group exhibition “LA Woman: On Her Own Terms & Haunted” catered to a variety of audience members.
On Thursday, March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., students, visitors and supporters were able to enter the art gallery and see the group’s artwork first-hand.
The strategically-lit room showcased more than ten exhibitions, which included various forms of visual artwork such as motion pictures, three-dimensional sculptures and still photography.
Toward the end of the show, Pierce Assistant Professor of Art Monika Del Bosque introduced the audience to the event’s guest curator Elizabeth Wild.
When asked about the exhibition’s message, Wild explained how the artwork was produced in atypical locations.
“LA Woman really represents how artwork can be created even in unorthodox environments. A lot of these artists were able to produce work in garages as opposed to a classroom or studio,” Wild said. “We have connections with female artists from our local Winslow Garage in Silverlake as well as spaces in Australia, so what we show is really worldwide.”
Last Thursday’s display promoted feminist artwork, but Wild said that she wants to add work from male artists into future exhibits.
“We are hoping in the future to add in male artists who can provide similar artwork. This year may be all females, but down the line we would like to expand our galleries into connecting with a wider demographic,” Wild said.
As guests continued to circle the room, Pierce College sophomore Christian Barrow was fixated on a large painting called “A Female Neanderthal & I” by Holly Topping. Barrow, who wants to get into the graphic design field, also liked to distinguish themes in contemporary art.
“My two favorite works tonight is this one in front of me and the one in the corner, called ‘Agatha’ by Mary Anna Pomonis. This one right here by Topping is interesting because I am trying to figure out the meaning of the photo. It seems like there are two different messages represented by the primitive-like woman and the woman who looks like she lives in the present day,” Barrow said.
One of the artists present at the event, Beth Elliot, was an expert in the installation field. She described the themes of her art and how her color choices contributed to them.
“My artwork represents the connections of the world and universe. I use a lot of aqua and blue shades, which depicts the sky and the ocean which are very important elements in our world. I really try to emphasize a lot of positivity in my artwork through vibrant colors and meaningful messages,” Elliot said.
A short video that portrayed subliminal meanings in the feminine world represented the “Haunting” portion of the exhibition.
By the end the show, the art gallery’s packed house slowly filed its way out of the room and back into Woodland Hill’s luminescence.
