By Edgar Uriostegui
Staff Writer
The most recent exhibit at the University Art Gallery, “Altered Objects,” features extraordinary art inspired by ordinary objects from three L.A.-based artists. Starting on Oct. 24, the exhibit runs until Dec. 12 in LaCorte Hall, A-107.
The sculptures, ceramic pieces and paintings come courtesy of Nicolas Shake, Julie Schustack and Trina Renee Turturici. They each contributed art pieces inspired by the aesthetics of the desert, functionality, and observations of everyday objects.
Shake explored outskirts of L.A. County to find remnants of domestic interiors. He created pieces out of shovels and tires to show how the trajectory of these objects has changed to represent late capitalism.
Schustack’s work was complex and fit the exhibit’s theme. Her piece, “Music Box Toaster,” was a four-slice toaster with a yellow ceramic cone attached to it. This piece is a reflection of the multitude of capabilities that all people have.
Turturici primarily stuck to the medium of paint on canvas.
“I consider this painting to be my ode to Mexican beer because it helped me get through the hot summer nights in the studio,” Turturici said about her piece, “Desert Still Life with Cerveza.”
She used the process of painting to express the way our mind perceives the world within a given moment. She said she typically uses ordinary objects and scenery as subjects in her paintings.
“My process is mostly intuitive and improvisational scattered with moments of intentional decision-making,” she said.
Turturici’s process includes layering blank paper over parts of the canvas she works on. As she moves the sheets, it ultimately uncovers the work. She then decides if she wants to paint it back or continue layering paper.
“I think of my layering technique as a clumsy human’s version of Photoshop,” she said.
“It’s always inspiring to see how much work my friends are getting done and how their work is evolving,” Turturici said. “I’m also inspired by my parents, who taught me the value of hard work.
