The walls are stark white, hanging only inches apart are the beautiful pictures of landscapes, women and poetry.
Paintings, intaglio and studio artwork displayed at the Art Gallery, catch the viewers eye, some with soft blending colors meant to relax.
Others contain poetry and blended colors, meant to make one think and reflect on writing, and what it means.
Rodman de la Cruz and Medora Wildenberg, retired faculty members greeted people at their “Life Force” display Tuesday night.
“‘Canon,’ an intaglio piece she made in 1985, is based off the piece of music, and there is a stillness of the piece to lead one to find the balance and center in oneself,” Mendora Wildenberg said.
“It has to do with the sense of the Earth and the rules that surround dance, music and landscape,” Wildenberg said.
Her husband, Cruz, has two different types of art, watercolors of landscapes and studio pieces that are his interpretations of the world and also his experiences.
He combines poetry and calligraphy with watercolors and gold foil in which the viewer is supposed to come up with his own interpretation, like in “Dilemma.”
“Nobody has a manuel of how to live,” Cruz said. “I go by intuition and very into doing without really thinking, reacting, when it just happens.”
Susana Meiers has been organizing the event for 24 years and loves her job, finding artists and educating students, she said.
“Here we have the luxury of showing things interesting and that makes a point. It’s not done simply to sell,” Meiers said.
There are six exhibitions held in the gallery during a year and there is always a show for a retired faculty member, Meiers said.
Until Sept. 24, the works ofCruz and Wildenberg’s will be displayed in the gallery, Meiers said.
They both worked full time as EC art instructors for more than 30 years, Meiers said.
At the reception last Tuesday, Sept. 7 from 7-9 p.m. Cruz and Wildenberg walked through the gallery with family, friends and students. Lindsey Clevenger, 20, photography major, enjoyed their pieces, Clevenger said.
Her favorite piece was “Sunrise,” by Cruz. It was the piece she had to walk back to and look at for a second time, she said.
“There was so much color, and it reminded me of a portrait in a photo, there was color there. I looked at it and I could see what he was thinking,” Clevenger said.
There will be a Gallery walkthrough with the artists Tuesday at 1 p.m. where students can stop by and ask questions about their work.
“My favorite part of my job is the students. They taught me more than I ever taught them. It’s the most wonderful career,” Cruz said.