Students and amateur artists show off talent

Students looking to express themselves and display their artistic talents were given the chance to show off their work at the Student Art Exhibition in the Gallery Theatre.

For nearly a month, the Gallery Theatre exhibited works from more than 40 different artists from Skyline College and the local community. Featuring more than 70 different pieces of art, observers were given the chance to marvel in the kind of talent their community has to offer.

"The Student Art Exhibit is an annual event we have done for many years," said Paul Bridenbaugh, instructor and coordinator for the Gallery Theatre. "It provides an opportunity for our art students to gain experience exhibiting their works in a professional gallery setting, and showcases the talent of our students to the rest of Skyline college and the local communities."

The exhibition showed off a wide variety of art styles, such as: Ceramic, oil on canvas, mixed media, infrared photograph, acrylic, charcoal, watercolor, paper, fabricated steel, multimedia, marble field stone, and color pencil. Each style of work presented in the Gallery Theatre showed off the skills of the indiviual artists and the dedication it took to create the pieces.

Many of the creators participating in the exhibition are new to the experience although the event is open to all Skyline students and to any interested parties in the community.

"I've never taken part in any exhibitions," said Celso Cabauatan, a Skyline student. "So, to have one of my pieces make it into the student art show is pretty great. I usually draw and paint, but I've taken a couple of ceramics classes and I'm really getting into it. I wouldn't label myself an artist—making art is one of my hobbies, something I do in my spare time."

While most of the artists who had work on display have taken classes in art, the coordinators want to stress that the event is open to everyone.

"Any student at Skyline could submit up to three pieces of media, such as paintings, sculptures, and photography," said Kristen Moreno, Gallery Theatre assistant and Skyline student. "Even if you aren't enrolled in any art classes, your only requirement is that you bring work to hang."

The art on display attracted interest not only from onlookers, but also from potential buyers looking to make a purchase.

"There has been some interest [in certain pieces]," Bridenbaugh said. "Being a non-commercial art gallery, we do not handle sales transactions, but do facilitate contact between potential art-buyers and artists."

Though much of the art on display wasn't for sale, a number of the works were available for purchase, some of which were priced at over $1,000.

For several years, the Student Art Exhibition has showcased a large variety of different works from students and artists in the community. This shows that talent isn't hard to find at Skyline College.

"The exhibition in the Gallery Theatre looks really great," Bridenbaugh said. "We have a large group of very talented art students here at Skyline College. "