Weather patterns, Russian folk-tales and human blood contribute to a world of symbolism in El Camino’s current art exhibition, “Thread,” which is on display in the Art Gallery from Aug. 29-Sept. 22.
A spectacle of color, texture and mixed media, the gallery consists of three rooms featuring works from 15 artists who each employ thread to exhibit their personal understanding of the material.
Upon entering the gallery, veteran artist Peter Liashkov’s hanging scroll, “Lost in Hollywood,” depicts a young woman in quest of the light in Hollywood, and is an homage to the artist’s mother’s hard years in Argentina, Liashkov said.
The largest room in the gallery hosts a variety of wall art, including a series of shadow portraits comprised of embroidery and cotton, and earthy fabric collages portraying the landscapes of Mexico, Spain and California.
In the center of the room hangs artist Dawn Ertl’s “Short Term, Long Term, Relationships,” a collection of eight colorful and textured pieces meant to relay the relationship between weather and climate.
Ertl explained that each weaving is based on printed weather data that provides her with the patterns for the fabric pieces.
“Weather is something that is kind of chaotic and sporadic and changes all the time, but climate is a culmination of weather… it’s my hope that people will experience one and have a personal relationship with it,” Ertl said of her collection.
Viewers have already begun making connections with the pieces.
Photographer and EC graduate Lyn Watanabe, 42, is drawn to Ertl’s work.
“She always does these beautiful, intricate fabric pieces and I just love looking at them,” Watanabe said.
Hanging limp from a wall in the large room are newcomer Chuck Hohng’s trio of large-scale teddy bears, all bound in red thread.
“Red in Korean culture is kind of like protection, it scares off the evil,” Hohng, who was recruited for the gallery by Liashkov, said.
On Friday, Sept. 8, a special reception was held for a bustling audience of artists, students, and the public. Attendees donated their worn-out socks to be woven into the interactive piece, “The World’s Longest Potholder,” with help from the piece’s artist, Laurel Paley.
Dominique Baker, 28, business major, heard about the gallery from a professor.
“I figured it would be a great opportunity to see some artwork,” Baker said.
Baker added that his favorite pieces were Hohng’s teddy bears.
The exhibit is open for viewing on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2-8 p.m.
Visit the Art Gallery’s homepage for more information.
EDITOR’S NOTE SEPT. 20, 2016 10:20 a.m.: Lead corrected for grammar.
