STC NAH Campus Library exhibits surrealist artwork

When: November 12 - December 11, 2009
Where: Nursing and Allied Health Campus

“The Seed,” an oil on canvas by the artist known as “Puente.”

South Texas College’s Nursing and Allied Health Campus Library Art Gallery is proud to present “The Bridge from Reality to the World of Dreams,” an exhibit featuring paintings by the artist known as “Puente.” The exhibit opens Thursday, Nov. 12 with an Art Talk at 11 a.m. The exhibit will be on view through Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health Campus Library Art Gallery located at 1101 E. Vermont Ave. in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public.

Puente was born and raised in Mexico City and has lived in Brownsville, TX since 1976. She has studied at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

In regards to her paintings, Puente says, “painting and drawing are a means for me to escape my everyday life into a surreal world of fantasy.”

“Puente relies on her subconscious as a channel for inspiration,” said David Freeman, STC Library Art Gallery Program curator. “She processes her dreams and configures much of the symbolism and imagery that fills her canvas from this muse. She experiments with various materials such as her palette and perspective, including flying and floating figures, and twisted perceptions. Obsessive compulsive mark making and bizarre narratives are also evident in her works. 

“All these somewhat brooding themes are presented in a beautiful melancholic visual wonder, added Freeman. “There exists a genuine sense of wonder - poignantly human and tranquil - within her allegories that read like existential poetry and allow the viewer to connect with beauty, morality, salvation and a spiritualist philosophic enlightenment. Puente’s self aware ‘subconscious’ discourse is a declaration to the power of the mind and its direction in all we do, even when we aren’t awake. It’s also an affirmation to the power of art as a tool for personal enlightenment and awareness.”

South Texas College’s 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 contact Sofia K. Vestweber at 956-872-3488 or libraryart@southtexascollege.edu, or visit http://lag.southtexascollege.edu.