Gallery • 6 Photos

Brandon Park

The El Camino Art Gallery held a special reception for the new “Culture Clash” exhibit on March 3 celebrating a mid-career retrospective of contemporary artist Keiko Fukazawa.

The reception brought in a massive crowd, attracting both students and non-students alike.

At the entrance, attendees were greeted with one of Fukazawa’s most recent artworks, “Hundred Flowers to One II.”

Dozens of guests flooded near one of the most popular pieces of the night: Fukazawa’s “Carryman’s Handle #2” piece.

Attendees were standing in the “Kei/View” room, which featured a large floor piece engraved with a Japanese circular pattern, that is in fact the words to a Buddhist chant evoking a path to enlightenment.

While some students attended the event just to see the art, others arrived for various reasons.

“My art professor told me to stop by for extra credit,” Jeremy Benguma, 22, art, said.

Adrian L., 23, art, also heard about it from his art professor, which persuaded him “to come and take a peak.” Adrian denied to give his last name for comment.

Outside of the exhibit, refreshments such as cookies, chips, fruits, lemonade and even coffee were served for all attendees.

A TV screen was present at the exhibit showing a slideshow titled “From Japan to USA to Jingdezhen,” which not only shows Fukazawa’s art in display at the gallery, but shows the places where her art has taken her for the past 30 years.

The “Culture Clash” reception generated positive reviews by the guests in attendance. Saori Miyauchi, photography, 25, spoke about what art piece she likes the most.

“I love the Mao’s Mangos #3 piece,” Miyauchi said. “I love the shapes and soaked colors, especially the green parts on them (because) it’s my favorite color.”

A gallery walk-through with Fukazawa herself will be on Tuesday March 8 at 1 p.m. at the El Camino Art Gallery.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and from 12 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and is free to the public.