These are samples of the 95 works of art from 72 artists that are being displayed in a new exhibition at the San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery opening April 26. The exhibit, called “Connecting the Dots,” is the first to display artwork from faculty and staff members throughout the San Diego Community College District. Its title refers to a connection between the district’s five workplaces: San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, San Diego College of Continuing Education, and the District Office.
“I wanted to bring all the colleges and district together through art,” said Gallery Director Alessandra Moctezuma. “We discovered there are a lot of people who are artists who don’t work in the Fine Arts department.”
The artworks in the exhibition run the gamut from formal portraits to abstract pieces. A variety of media is represented, including a lightbox, fabric sculptures, and even a painted surfboard.
Many of the pieces represent personal or social messages by the artists. A piece resembling the frame of Victorian underskirts suggests the restrictiveness of society’s control over women. Moctezuma, who has run the gallery for 20 years, said the exhibit is another way to demonstrate the importance of art.
“Art is a visual poem, a creative way to convey different ideas that connects with us at an emotional level,” she said.
The exhibit, which runs through May 26, is free. A reception is being held May 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the gallery. The gallery is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the gallery at (619) 388-2829.