La Sierra art faculty to showcase talent in Brandstater exhibit

The exhibit will kick off with an artists’ reception and talk on Sun., Oct. 4, 6-8 p.m. at the gallery. The show will run through Oct. 22 and display a wide range of works in a variety of media including photography, mixed media, ceramics and digital prints.

Exhibiting artists include faculty members Terrill Thomas, department chair, Tim Musso, gallery director, Susan Patt, associate art professor, and adjuncts Joshua Hagler, Gabriela Martinez, Mike Easley, Claudette Goux, Damian Ross, Scott Shakespeare and Rick Caughman.

Martinez, a graduate of La Sierra University and California State University, Long Beach, will exhibit three pieces including two pastel drawings from a summer workshop in Portugal. 

“I have made art for as long as I can remember. I began taking formal art classes in school when I was in the 7th grade,” she said. “This past summer, a friend encouraged me to take a pastel drawing class in Portugal. I really do not enjoy pastel drawing--it's a non-cooperative media, it doesn't resonate with my style, and it is quite messy. But the instructor has a wonderful reputation and I had never been to Portugal, so I thought I'd do it just for fun. It ended up being a really great experience and taught me things about myself and my art practice I had not been aware of.”

Martinez, whose parents and ancestors were migrants, would like viewers of her art “to reflect on their own stories and past and histories and where they come from, and try to see if we have any commonalities, and also identify what is unique about their own stories. I really think that all stories deserve to be told.”

Martinez also serves as an art instructor at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach and as an independent contractor for other institutions. During her sophomore year at La Sierra, she taught art at La Sierra Academy.

Caughman, a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, will exhibit three acrylic paintings and two charcoal, ink and gouache drawings.

“I started my teaching career in 1983 at La Sierra and taught classes for a while along with many other local colleges until my business and family took over, leaving me limited time to teach. Recently, I have been offered the opportunity to participate in the program here at La Sierra once again. I’m thrilled to be here,” he said.

Caughman earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in advertising Illustration and design from the design center. He has more than 30 years of professional experience serving notable clients including technology giant Apple Inc. and Los Angeles World Airports, and has logged more than 10,000 hours teaching in the classroom studio.

“What I hope is for the viewer to be engaged enough in the work to want to finish the story in the case of the narrative drawings,” he said. “Or when looking at a painting, use their imagination and perhaps reminisce about something similar that they may have come across before. I hope that the viewer will define the image mentally and ultimately take ownership of it.”

Thomas, the department chair, previously worked in the technology and entertainment fields of design, pioneering some of the early Flash animation work at Atomfilms.com during the dot-com boom of the late nineties. Past clients include Microsoft, Warner Brothers, A&M Records, Swatch International and KPMG. Thomas has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Art Center College of Design, and Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Vermont College of Fine Arts. 

“Choosing to teach is a decision to enable the next generation to understand the value of moving through life with a sense of wonder, how to understand the world through making, and how to live a life that inspires through creativity. The work selected for this exhibition is a mix of professional graphic design and personal design projects,” said Thomas in an artist’s statement. His works will include photography and board and card game prototypes. 

“Living a life fueled by [art and design] is an extraordinary privilege that allows me to combine everything that I am and I believe into a singular experience,” he said.

Gallery hours are Mon. – Thurs., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free. For further information call 951-785-2170. La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, Calif., 92515. A campus map is available at https://lasierra.edu/campus-map/.