By Khalida Sarwari
Schematic circuit designs in art form isn’t something most people see every day, but it’s what Jason Challas, an art instructor at West Valley College, was inspired to turn into a computer mixed-media painting on canvas.
The installation is one of two that Challas, who also takes on the title of computer artist, will present as part of the annual art faculty exhibit at West Valley College, which is open to public viewing in the college student center through Feb. 21. His other piece is an acrylic painting of a lightbulb.
The exhibit also features the works of 11 other art instructors at the college and includes paintings, mixed media pieces, life-sized sculpture, ceramics, photography and drawings. The collection is comprised of more than 30 works of contemporary art by faculty in the drawing, painting, sculpture, digital media and ceramics departments.
Exhibiting faculty members include Kathy Arnold, Wes Burns, Heidi Brueckner, Kimberly Cook, Chris Cryer, Ron Guzman, Bill Heiderich, Francisco “Pancho” Jimenez, Mark Nobriga, Michael Pauker, Dave Ogle, Sylvia Rios, Yori Seeger and Gary Tolomei.
After the exhibit, the artwork will be featured in a South Bay-wide exhibit of community college instructors, which, in addition to West Valley, includes those from Evergreen, San Jose City College, Mission, Foothill and De Anza. That exhibit will run March 1-23 at the Art Ark Gallery, at 1058 S. Fifth St. in San Jose.
The West Valley exhibit is free and open to the public. An opening reception will be held on Feb. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. The public, as well as students and others in the college community, is invited to attend and mingle with the featured artists. Refreshments will be served.
The art faculty exhibit will be on display Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit http://finearts.westvalley.edu/gallery.html.
