MiraCosta Art Alumni and Former Faculty Team Up

for 'Back and Forward' Art Show

MiraCosta College alumni and faculty have teamed up for “Back and Forward,” an art exhibit to be held in the Kruglak Gallery November 17-December 10. A reception with the artists will be held Thursday, November 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The artists will give talks during the reception, beginning at 1 p.m.

“Back and Forward” features the diverse art work of former full-time art faculty members, including Dan Camp, whose paintings are inspired by a multitude of artistic sources steeped in the Western tradition of painting.

“Some of the paintings are straight-forward narratives in the format of figurative painting,” says Camp. “Others with mirrors and poured enamel paint are explorations of the breaking up of perspective and cubist space—in essence reinforcing the picture plane—and other prevalent notions of the 20th century.”

“Back and Forward” will also include work by MiraCosta former full-time faculty members Howard Ganz, Erik Gronborg, Kristina Nugent and Michael Portera. MiraCosta alumni Eric Blackhurst, Thomas Johnson, Christopher Vena and Melissa Stager will also display their art.

The imagery in Vena’s work comes from his interest in nature and the drama of ordinary experience. “I work most often in oil paint because of its versatility, its sensuousness and its depth of color. I strive for subtlety and technical sophistication,” he says.

Stager’s work, “Cake, Series of Five,” is an interactive piece inspired by the positive and negative patterns that bond familial relationships though time.

“A recent series of events in my life has caused me to reflect on the essence of commitment to those who are close to us,” explains Stager. “I have become increasingly aware of the changes that are taking place as modern-day society continues to develop quickly and uncontrollable circumstances cause relationships to dissolve. ‘Cake’ is my homage to what is missed as I attempt to move forward in forging my own traditions that give life and love meaning.”

“Back and Forward” will be held in the Kruglak Gallery, located in the Student Center at MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, 2:30-7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, contact Gallery Director Diane Adams by e-mail or call (760) 795-6657. Samples from the show are available for download here.