In recent years, the student population at HSU has become much more diverse, and is moving in the direction of reflecting the actual demographic balance of the state of California. Among the university’s Art students, themes relating to their identity have emerged. HSU students today are concerned with social issues as fervently as their predecessors were in the 1960s. Issues such as social justice, racism, bi-cultural identity, immigration, sexual and gender identity, feminism, and environmental activism are at the forefront of their art.
Working in sculpture, photography, painting, printmaking, ceramics and mixed media, the exhibition focuses on political and social themes that are important to these young artists. This exhibition comes on the heels of a year in the United States in which police killings of African-American men, migration controversies swirling around the refugee status of young children from Central America, and the ascendency of gay marriage are but a few of the issues that inspire these young artists. At the crux of this collection of young artists, there is a desire to make a difference in their world through their art.
HSU students who are enrolled in HSU’s Museum and Gallery Practices Program curated the exhibition and are responsible for every phase of its production.
This exhibition will run in the gallery’s South Room alongside visiting artist Ana Teresa Fernández’s solo exhibition, which will be held in the Projects Room at the gallery. Participating artists are Nadia A. Bueno Torres, Andrea Castillo, Jasmine A. Cooper, Ashley English, Francisco Gonzalez Huerta, Elisa N. Griego, Lauren M. Gunn, Melissa Hinkle Christine J. Hipolito, Julie H. Lovich, Lora Martin, Megan J. May, Humberto Montaño, Bethany Montgomery, Christian Mora, Jeremy D. Owen, Felix Quintana, Marval A. Rex, Megan Sandstrom, and Stephanie Swinger.
There will be a public reception for the artists on Saturday, April 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. during Eureka Main Street’s Arts Alive program. HSU First Street Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. HSU First Street Gallery is located at 422 First Street in Eureka, and admission is free to all. Groups are encouraged to call ahead to arrange tours. For more information call 707-443-6363 or visit the gallery’s website at www.humboldt.edu/first.