An announcement from STC Library

South Texas College’s Nursing and Allied Health Campus Library Art Gallery is proud to present “Exploratory Visions,” an exhibit featuring paintings by Juan Saenz and photographs by Lily Torrez. The exhibit is the first of many to highlight STC Library Art Galleries “Local Artist Exhibition Series.”

“Exploratory Visions” will be on view from Sep. 4 through Oct. 31, 2008. A reception for the artists will be held on Thursday, Sep. 4th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health Library located at 1101 E. Vermont Ave. in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public.

Juan Saenz is an art teacher at Nikki Rowe High School and an adjunct art instructor for STC. His work focuses on the aquatic fish. Upon viewing Saenz’s paintings one notices his use of bold, vibrant colors, as well as non-conventional materials like blue jeans and wood. The colors and materials provide a depth and texture to his acrylic on canvas and panel paintings.

“I use fish not so much as a subject, but as a journal entry,” said Saenz. “Every fish I study and paint is an exploration of different times in my life. I try to capture not only segments of my own history, but the environment I found myself in at that time.”

Lily Torrez, a retired school and university librarian, is an aspiring writer and photographer. Her passion for writing and photography stem from her extensive travels and employment abroad, capturing and documenting her life and experiences. Her photographs feature scenes from Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Alaska, San Francisco, and south and west Texas, just to name a few locations.

“A photographer sees the world with a different perspective,” said Torrez. “The beauty that surrounds us each day is astounding and moves me to try to capture it in such a way as to convey the excitement I experience with this particular genre.”

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery program exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information call 872-3488, email libraryart@southtexascollege.edu or visit www.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.