"Artistic Centers in Texas: South Texas"
2002-11-13 until 2003-01-04
Arlington Museum of Art
Arlington, TX, USA United States of America

The Arlington Museum of Art is proud to host Artistic Centers in Texas: South Texas -- the third in a series of shows focusing on specific regions of the state. Organized by the Texas Fine Arts Association, and curated by Peter Nurczynski,the exhibition showcases works by ten artists from an area encompassed by Laredo to the west, Corpus Christie to the east, and Brownsville to the south. The list of artists includes: Hector Alonzo Benavides, Alfredo Bustinza, Monica Camero, echagonzál, Hector Hernandez, Michael Manjarris, Greg Reuter, Miki Rodriguez, Greg Spaulding, and Jeff Swearengin.

For the exhibition Nurczynski selected a wide variety of styles and media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and sound installation. The curator describes the show as one that "transcend(s) expectations of South Texas art." While regional influences do appear, they do not take over the work or force a stereotypical categorization of "South Texas" art. The work crosses over cultural and regional boundaries to focus on the personal and stylistic interests of the artists.

According to Nurczynski, "Each artist is working within his or her own niche and is not encumbered by the commercial demands that shape the appearance of art typically characteristic of the region. Although the work is diverse, ranging from highly polished academic endeavors to raw and expressive bursts of emotion, all of the artists explore issues of self-definition and how it relates to the trajectory of art-making over the last one-hundred years."      

IMAGE:
Jeff Swearengen
Untitled, 2000
Digital photograph
28" x 32"

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of Texas

Other Important Exhibitions in Texas