Dawn BonkerPrepare to be wowed by the flowing sculptures, fluid oil paintings and sinuous figural portraits assembled for “Immortal Coils,” an exhibit featuring Laguna Beach artists and guest curated by award-winning sculptor Nicholas Hernandez. The exhibit is on display now through Thursday, June 7, at the Guggenheim Gallery.
“I’m using a term I’ve never used to describe a show before – powerful,” said Hernandez, whose luminous black sculpture “Emergence” won a Lorenzo il Magnifico de Medici Medal at the Florence Biennale in Italy and was purchased by President Jim Doti and his wife, Professor Lynne Doti, as a gift to the university. It now adorns the steps outside the Hashinger Science Center. Hernandez was moved to organize the exhibit, in addition to a second one planned later this month, when he learned that he had been selected to receive an Honorary Doctor of Arts at this year’s commencement.
“It’s made me think a little bigger,” he said.
This first show features artists exploring motion and curves in a variety of art forms. Among the many highlights are several pieces from a monumental series of oil paintings by Mia Tavonatti that debuted at the ancient Museo Arsenale in Amalfi. Other artists in the show include Mark Garry, Sia Abderazai, Chris Santley, Josh Hoy, Cassey Parlette and Christiana Lewis.
The second show, “We’ve Got the Fight, We’ve Got the Insight: Latino/Latina Artists,” will feature works from the man hailed as Mexico’s top living sculptor, Felipe Castaneda, as well as Nadia Jaime, Arturo Guevera, Marco Morante, Joe Sosa and Emilio Flores, among others. The exhibition opens with a special catered reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9, and will continue through June 27.
The Guggenheim Gallery is located in Moulton Hall and its regular hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.
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