The L.H. Horton Art Gallery opened its newest exhibit ‘Visions in Clay’ on Thursday, Sept. 1. Those who attended the gallery on the night of the opening reception were greeted with food, drinks, and a crowd gathered to celebrate the works of artists from near and far.
This is the 13th annual ‘Visions in Clay’ exhibit; highlighting 28 artists with a total of 43 artworks.
The show includes works by Best in Show winner Ahrong Kim, second place and Regional Artist Demonstration Award winner Lorraine Bonner, and third place winner Taylor Robenalt. The winner of the San Joaquin Potters Guild Founders Award this year, with pieces ‘Screwed up’ and ‘Screw it,’ was Melodie Sidhu, a San Joaquin Delta college alumni and Stockton native.
“Visions in Clay” creates an opportunity for the Delta College community to experience art that it has never before.
“I find it to be more of an intimate experience if you just look at it (the artworks) physically instead of scrolling through your Instagram page and that’s it,” said student and gallery attendee Michael Hernandez.
The exhibit offers a unique perspective into ceramics.
“I think without this gallery, a lot of pieces would go unrepresented and I love the way that they are showcasing our ceramic artists,” student Steven Nguyen said.
Offering an exhibit of this type and caliber brings new artists close to home.
“I think art should be available to everyone and I think that being out in Stockton, in the valley, we’re a little bit further away from the Bay Area where there is a lot of art happening in Oakland and San Francisco,” said Professor of Ceramics Shenny Cruces. “And having a gallery of this caliber, where we’re inviting artists in and showing top-notch work and allowing our students to have access to this gallery space, and then the community, is just amazing.”
The show is not only for Delta’s art students or even only those who consider themselves creatives.
Many of the pieces differ greatly in their style, message and emotions behind them. Regardless of major, students are encouraged to spend even a short amount of time in the gallery, as there is likely something for everyone to enjoy, relate to, and/or draw inspiration from.
“It’s going to inspire people. It’s going to inspire young people to look around and see all this amazing art that’s happening and that you can be a part of it too,” said Cruces.
“Visions in Clay” will run at the Horton Art Gallery located in Shima 144 through Sept. 23. The gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays. Admission to the gallery is free to the public for everyone to reduce for everyone.