Third Street Gallery archive: 2015 Exhibitions: Labeled: Uprooting Social Identities

Humboldt State University (HSU) First Street Gallery presents, Labeled: Uprooting Social Identities, on exhibit in the gallery’s South Room from April 1 through May 17, 2015. This exhibition features 20 art students and alumni from Humboldt State’s Art Department.

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, at large.  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. Such issues 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 the police killings of African-American men, the 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 Humboldt State’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 along side 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 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., during Eureka Main Street’s Arts Alive program.  HSU First Street Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. HSU First Street Gallery is located at 422 First Street in Eureka, California and admission is free to all. Groups are encouraged to call ahead to arrange tours. For more information call 707-443-6363.