ARTIST ENLIGHTENMENT
ANDREA DAVILA OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Life & Leisure
Every time I walked by the art gallery in the Robeson Campus Center, I felt a little guilty because I hadn't written the piece that I had indirectly promised I would. During one of those head-down, quick walk, pretend-it's-not-there moments between me and the gallery, I looked up out of curiosity. Some type of crew was assembling a new exhibit, which I later learned was the senior art thesis exhibition.
But, besides curiosity, what was it that implanted that desire in me to look up in the first place? I will definitely have to credit one of the pieces from David D. Oquendo's series Son of Pop. Not only was it huge in size, but it also had so much color, life and drama.
And it definitely did POP.
That "I don't have time" excuse disappeared and was replaced by a "where there is a will, there's a way" attitude. I was SO willing to write about the piece because it spoke to me. It whispered in my ear and invited me in to discover the intricacies of its bold details.
So when the gallery opened its doors, I strolled in carelessly, hoping it had forgotten my indifference to it. It warmly welcomed me in. Its one wall held one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I couldn't get over the fact that every stroke, every color, shadow, figure, design, line and shape painted on the various canvases comprising the work seemed to portray my perspective of the world. It was as if someone had opened up my interior and thrown it on the wall.
This work was by no means like that of Michelangelo or any other renowned artist. It wasn't super detailed or precise. It would definitely never know the Louvre or MET. Yet, in all its "flaws," it was perfect. Naturally, I wanted to know who was it creator. "David D. Oquendo," read the label to the bottom left of the series. I wrote the name down, and decided to contact him. However, when on the hunt for his contact information, I came across a flyer that announced an artist talk featuring the four seniors whose work was displayed at the gallery. So to save myself the embarrassment of asking a stranger to meet with me to talk about his work and inspiration, I decided to attend the artist talk that was to be held two days later.
But, besides curiosity, what was it that implanted that desire in me to look up in the first place? I will definitely have to credit one of the pieces from David D. Oquendo's series Son of Pop. Not only was it huge in size, but it also had so much color, life and drama.
And it definitely did POP.
That "I don't have time" excuse disappeared and was replaced by a "where there is a will, there's a way" attitude. I was SO willing to write about the piece because it spoke to me. It whispered in my ear and invited me in to discover the intricacies of its bold details.
So when the gallery opened its doors, I strolled in carelessly, hoping it had forgotten my indifference to it. It warmly welcomed me in. Its one wall held one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I couldn't get over the fact that every stroke, every color, shadow, figure, design, line and shape painted on the various canvases comprising the work seemed to portray my perspective of the world. It was as if someone had opened up my interior and thrown it on the wall.
This work was by no means like that of Michelangelo or any other renowned artist. It wasn't super detailed or precise. It would definitely never know the Louvre or MET. Yet, in all its "flaws," it was perfect. Naturally, I wanted to know who was it creator. "David D. Oquendo," read the label to the bottom left of the series. I wrote the name down, and decided to contact him. However, when on the hunt for his contact information, I came across a flyer that announced an artist talk featuring the four seniors whose work was displayed at the gallery. So to save myself the embarrassment of asking a stranger to meet with me to talk about his work and inspiration, I decided to attend the artist talk that was to be held two days later.
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