La Voz

Issue date: 6/22/09 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Joyce Sim The Student Art Show reception was held in the Euphra Museum and showcased more than 100 student artist.

Anyone who has ever been to the Student Art Show would be impressed at what De Anza College's Euphrat Museum has to offer.

As you walk in, live music is playing and student volunteers greet you courteously. The reception is laid out in an elegant manner, and to the right the museum, which hosts art pieces from over 100 artists from De Anza.

"It is spectacular. They never used to have this much space," said De Anza President Brian Murphy. "The works are extraordinary."

Museum Director Diana Argabrite, who has been with the Euphrat for 20 years, said, "student works are showcased in a respectable and professional space. I don't think other community colleges have this."

The show showcases pieces from different aspects of art such as sculpture, painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, graphic design and mixed media.

"It is a good chance for students to show their art in the beautifully built Euphrat," said Yu Ting Hsian, an artist whose piece "Lost Innocence - a self portrait of mental suffering" won the Juror's award.

The juror is invited from different art programs each year. This year's juror is a full-time art professor from San Jose State University.

"This is a good way to give artists expression, especially when it is the beginning [for them]," said artist Matthew Pugnetti, whose piece "Ray" won the Art on Campus award. "I am really grateful to Euphrat."

Al and Phyllis Rutner, who represent the Art on Campus Committee, purchased six student art pieces, which will be displayed throughout campus.

"This is the proudest moment of the year," said art faculty Juliana Kang, who teaches painting and drawing. "I really hope it confirms how important arts education in De Anza is."

Gabe Ballard, director of "Envi-Able," an art piece consisting from 31 different artists, said, "I cannot emphasize how much they [Diana and Jan] have contributed to the educational process. I cannot imagine what we would do without Euphrat."

The piece 'Envi-Able' is an environmental awareness art project which began in fall quarter as part of Arts 4B, done in collaboration with the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement.

"Remember activism. Keep education, art alive," said Executive Director of the Euphrat Jan Rindfleisch. "Be out there speaking out."

"Art is important," said Kang. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Argabrite, who considers the Euphrat a "labor of love," said "we raise all kinds of money from grants, donations, special events, school programs and some from DASB."

Following the ceremony, art faculty member Eugene Rodriguez said, "I love this job. There are three things I believe in this country: art, education and democracy."

The Student Art Show is sponsored by the De Anza Associated Student Body, the Euphrat Museum of Art and De Anza College, Creative Arts Division.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools