Ventura College Press

Issue date: 4/4/05 Section: A & E

Media Credit: Joseph Viscia Angelica Medel and Christine Ghadir take a rest outside the crowded gallery the opening night of the Pure Woman show.

Red paint and the words "Por Que?" etched across the faces of women, "El Infierno en la Tierra de las Mujeres Asesinadas de Juárez" (Hell on Earth of the Murdered Women of Juárez) portrays the anger of Maribel Hernandez. This is just one display of incredible art that can be seen at the Pure Woman art show at the California Street Gallery until May 15.

"The idea was to show works from different women that come from different cultural backgrounds, determined mainly by their country of origin. The exhibiting women are from many different countries, ranging from locals, like Cecile Faulconer, to Mexican, like Maribel and Lupe, and me, from Argentina," said artist, Sol Mesz. She has mostly glass art in the show. Her inspiration for the Flower Series came from an assemblage piece she saw in a museum. It gave her the idea of superimposing pieces of glass to make a design. "The first thing that came to mind were flowers," Mesz said.

Some of the most striking art of the show was that of Maribel Hernandez. "My goal is to bring awareness to everyone about the hundreds of women, murdered women, in Juárez, Chihuahua, México, that have been killed and continue to be killed," Hernandez said. She has been painting since 1997, but she feels she has been an artist her entire life. When she was a young girl living in Michoacan, Mexico, she used to draw on the ground using a stick or stone on rainy days. When she was 18, she moved to California and began to pursue art.

Lupe Vasquez creates sculptures and vases from a temmoku blend of glazes and carving. She is a Ventura, native who has pursued various art genres. Her original interest was in oils and pastels; Vasquez later began to experiment with glass mosaics and tile. She has also taken private sculpture classes and draws her inspiration from her travels.

Cecile Gurrola-Faulconer has many masks in the show that exude creativity and feeling. She has her own show at the Buenaventura Gallery.

The art of these talented women will be on display until May 15 at the California Street Gallery located at 40 S. California St., Ventura. Admission is free. Call the gallery at 805-653-0321 for hours as they are subject to change. Come support your fellow VC artists, and see their beautiful artwork on display.

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