Art students partner with international artists in new exhibit

The campus gallery hosted an opening reception for their “Our Future” exhibition that included pieces from the art program and over 300 pieces from all over the world on Nov. 7.

Cosumnes River College art students were given the opportunity to partner with young artists, ages ranging from 4 to 20 years old from Italy and China.

The dean of arts, media and entertainment Brian Rickel said that the theme, “Our Future” was for the artists to interpret how their future will be affected by things like A.I., climate change and how the artists think it will impact them in life.

Young artists from China, from 4 to 6 years old, shipped their pieces to Cosumnes River College to be shown in the exhibit. This is one wall of many showcasing over 300 pieces from around the world. (Kadreanna Walker)

“You’re going to see a kind of moral courage that young people face the issues that we are having,” Rickel said. “These artists are not just depicting beauty, but they are attempting to diagnose the present and imaginable possibility of the future.”

Alongside CRC, the exhibition’s co-organizers include China’s Collection Magazine, Shanghai Sino-Foreign Cultural and Art Exchange Association and Italy’s Chiasso Perduto Gallery.

“At a time when art feels like it is under attack in our own country, they remind us that art is the absolute potent ambassador that we have to share with one another,” Rickel said. “We are all connected by the things we create and it is humanity that is shared through those things.”

Rickel said young artists are the architects of what is to come and their creations help viewers see the world differently. He said they should continue to seek beauty within the mess society as a whole is making of the world.

Many people came out to see the gallery and have said they were impressed at the age range of the artists.

Students observe a wall of artwork made by young artists brought in from China and Italy. (Kadreanna Walker)

“I’m surprised by what different ages can do and it just looks really cool,” said Amanda Gillim, an 18-year-old pre-health occupations major.

Another attendee said she was impressed by the creativity.

“I was surprised by all the talent, especially by the little kids. I saw how neat they were doing it and all of the different inspirations they’ve had,” said Eliana Delgado, an 18-year-old chemistry major.

Some of the artists shared how they interpreted the theme of the gallery.

Artist Maddie Alfonso, a 20-year-old undeclared major, said she wanted to highlight the impact of entertainment. She said her piece came to her in a dream.

“There is this kind of mass overconsumption of entertainment and a bunch of soulless homes and places while entertainment is blowing up is kind of overwhelming and too much for us to handle,” Alfonso said.

Artist Evelyn Calderon, a 20-year-old studio arts major, shows off her piece “Forbidden Love” which she said shows the beauty of nature without the harm of climate change. (Kadreanna Walker)

She said that in her dream, she takes her sisters to an abandoned water park and it shows what could potentially happen in a world run by media and entertainment.

“A lot of the rides in my dream were like mazes of tunnels and attractions that were exaggerated and reminded me of this world and how everything is becoming too much entertainment while everything else falls apart,” Maddie said. “It was this really oppressive and uncaring atmosphere that I found myself in and I wanted to draw it.”

Artist Evelyn Calderon, a 20-year-old studio arts major, said her piece shows the beauty of nature without climate change and how people can no longer enjoy it.

“It’s called ‘Forbidden Love’ because it just doesn’t last long, sadly even with how beautiful it is,” Calderon said. “I like to create art because it stays longer.”

Artist Rosario Vargas, a 19-year-old studio arts major, shows her piece “I Don’t Know Where I’m Going” which she said is about her struggles figuring out where she will go with art in the future. (Kadreanna Walker)

Artist Rosario Vargas, a 19-year-old studio arts major, said she created her piece out of old receipts she saved when she was younger. She said she created her piece to highlight her struggles about where she sees herself in the future.

“In general, I don’t know where I’m going to go with my art,” Vargas said. “ I am very selfish and I don’t care about what happens and what is going on in the future. I care about my future and I don’t know where I’m going.”

The exhibit will be showing until Nov. 25 by appointment and can be scheduled here. After the exhibit is done at CRC, art department chair and one of the exhibit organizers Robin Johnson said it will be going on tour to galleries around the world with its first stop taking place in Venice.