LCC students beat the heat with cool watercolor exhibit

Caption: A painting by Laredo Community College artist Samantha Proa is shown. The creations of Rachel Ortiz, Proa, Marcos Valenzuela Jr. and Penelope Warren will be among the students whose watercolor paintings will be displayed in the second annual "Hot Summer-Cool Watercolor" exhibit. The community is invited to view the art and meet the student artists during an opening reception on Monday, Aug. 23, at 10:30 a.m. in the Yeary Library.

During the dog days of summer, some college students sought relief from the blistering heat by expressing their thoughts and creativity with a couple of dabs and strokes in watercolor painting classes offered at Laredo Community College.

Some of that impressive student art work has been selected for display as part of the second annual "Hot Summer-Cool Watercolor" exhibit at the Yeary Library on the LCC Fort McIntosh Campus.

Students, faculty, staff and art lovers from the community are invited to attend an opening reception on Monday, Aug. 23, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the college library to view the art work and meet some of the student-artists. Admission is free of charge.

The watercolor paintings were made by 33 students, including art and non-art majors, who were enrolled in Watercolor 1 and 2 classes taught by Art Department chair/instructor Dale Short and instructor Mary M. Bausman.

"The displayed works are examples of each student's exploration into the medium of watercolor," Short said. "The watercolor medium is often overlooked because of oil painting's long history; however, watercolors can be extremely versatile."

Among the Watercolor 1 students whose works are featured in the exhibit are: Bambii Baker, Jasmin Cantu, Kimberly Esparza, Rebeka Garcia, Oscar Garza, Angelica Gomez, Margarita Gonzalez, Rafael D. Hinojosa II, Kimberly Jasso, Kelsey Lara, Gloria Lozano-Mares, Mikael Martinez, Ana Montoya, Rachel Ortiz, Juan Oviedo II, Denise Rodriguez, Leyda Rodriguez, Whitney Rodriguez, Raymundo I. Torres, Marcos Valenzuela Jr., Aldo Vasquez, Pedro Vazquez, Priscilla Vega, Selene Villarreal, Penelope Warren and Andrea Wieden.

Watercolor 2 students featured in the art show are Joan Harris, Nelly Wampach Hays, Gloria Lozano-Mares, Margo Paz, Stephanie Perez, Samantha Proa and Jeoffrey Westbury.

"Come see what some of the possibilities are in the wonderful medium of watercolor," Bausman said. "ARTS 2366 Watercolor can be used as a fine arts credit, and will be offered in the spring semester and summer session of 2011."

The exhibit may be viewed through Friday, Sept. 10. Library hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the community.

The show is sponsored by the Yeary Library and the LCC Art Department.

For more information, call the Yeary Library at 721-5280.