Tears by Susan Aparicio (left), Reclaimed by Vanessa Conte (left center), Thick as Thieves by Yasmine Nasser Diaz (right center) and They talk about us by Yasmine Nasser Diaz (right). Photo by Julia McIntyre.
By JULIA MCINTYRE, Staff Reporter
The California State Dominguez Hills University Art Gallery is currently displaying an exhibit called “Our Lips are Sealed,” showcasing art by six Los Angeles-based artists. The artists include Susan Aparicio, Vanessa Conte, Yasmine Nasser Diaz, Genevieve Gaignard, Juliana Paciulli and Jennifer West. The pieces shown at the exhibit portray the way women are behind closed doors.
The artists’ pieces search for the source of a woman’s power,raising questions of whether the power comes from within the woman, from their family or ancestors, or from life experience.
The artwork displayed at the gallery combines traditional art work, such as photography, paintings and video, along with technical art work, such as textile elements, stained glass and sculptural aspects.
The piece that first drew attention to my eye was Tears by Susan Aparicio. It is a stained glass piece that has eyes in the shape of tears colored in a mix of blue and green, making it a refreshing turquoise shade. Beneath the eyes, it has tear drops made out of stained glass hanging from chains, mimicking tears running down a face. There is black stained glass on the top and bottom of the eyes shaped like thick, mascara coated eyelashes. One of the bottom black stained glass pieces appears to be dripping, giving the image of smudged mascara.
Tears by Aparicio is dramatic yet silent. It seems like the piece has been trying to hold back tears to where they fall out at once without any noise behind them. I appreciate how the tears hanging on each chain are not symmetrically placed or parallel to each other. The stained glass on the chains is so long they continue a path on the floor. These characteristics are similar to real tears that fall from a face.
The next two pieces, Irina and Sadie, by Vanessa Conte are oil paintings that measure up to nine feet tall, and convey chaos and frustration. Irina depicts a woman who is crouched on her knees and taking her anger out on herself. Conte uses motion lines to show Irina slamming her head into her breasts and wanting to scream. Sadie is similar, as Conte painted motion lines to show the arms and body of Sadie swinging in anger as if she wants to hit something.
From a woman’s perspective, Irina and Sadie are relatable. No matter how upset or frustrated a woman may be, society pressures us to hold in our emotions until we are alone or behind closed doors.
On Hold is a beautiful piece by Yasmine Nasser Diaz. It is a silk-rayon fiber etching piece that includes a burnt red paisley textile and a flower pattern textile with a vintage look. In the center is the outline of a woman sitting down on the phone, connecting the title On Hold. Looking at the details, it’s obvious how much time, patience and gentleness went into the work.
I could not help but to think of my mother or grandmother while admiring this piece, expert multitaskers who can sew torn shirts back to life while on a lengthy phone call. It made me think of how important a woman’s role is in the house, expert sewing skills or not.
Every artist apart of Our Lips Are Sealed poured their passions and talents into their artwork. They showed their ideas and thoughts on how women are behind closed doors. The exhibit is located in the CSUDH University Art Gallery in LaCorte Hall. It will be open to students and the public Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until April 15.
