Art Gallery

The Ethnic Resource Center Art Gallery was created in December 2016 and came into fruition April 2017. The Art Gallery was meant to revamp the ERC lounge space as well as to offer a culturally sound and inclusive gallery for all students; with an emphasis on students of color and their experiences.

Cultivated twice a year as we ask for submissions from students and the community to display 2D art, all interested artists are welcome to contact us for more information or if you, yourself would like to have work displayed in the gallery, contact us at ercadmin@ucsc.edu with the subject line "ERC Art Gallery Interest". If you are interested in purchasing artwork from the gallery, please send us an email with the subject line 'ERC Art Gallery Purchase Interest." 

The reception includes light refreshments and a program to showcase the artist and their artwork. If you would like to give us feedback about the reception, feel free to submit one online here. We thank you for your participation and hope to see you attend the next one!

•  

  ---

  

  Brenda Alvarez:
  I gather inspiration from watching my first-generation family excel in intellectually creative situations. Still, I recognize that economic obligations have hindered their potential for self-fulfilling jobs, such as in the arts. The reflective imagery showcases mostly distant remnants of fading comforts in conjunction with darker portrayals of transitional emotions. Taboo illustrations interest me, and I find ways to present them in elaborate approaches and limited color palettes.

•  

  ---

  

  Nathan Casey:
  Early in my life art was not a main focus or something I was really interested in but in 8th grade, I fell in love with drawing during classes I didn't enjoy. The idea of entertaining myself with just a blank piece of paper and a pen anywhere anytime was liberating. In high school, I took art classes all four years and got the chance to develop my skills in my junior year during the covid lockdown. The lockdown presented lots of time to reflect on my life specifically my racial identity as a Chinese/White man. During this time I read "The Arts of China" by Michael Sullivian, a textbook on Chinese art. After educating myself on such artistic achievements found myself much more prideful. Most of my work incorporates components of East Asian illustration which is my way of taking pride in my Chinese ethnicity after trying to suppress it as a kid growing up in a majority-white town.

• ---

   

  

  Sage Alucero (they/he) is a multimedia visual and performance artist. Through oil painting, traditional and digital drawing, sculpture and performance he creates works with themes of interconnection with nature, gender expansiveness and more. Currently Alucero’s art lives on online platforms, local publications, and as physical prints.

• ---

  

  Alise Morgan

  My art is a subject of my own self-discovery as I've taught myself how to do everything thus far. Everything that I've made is not of intention, so my pieces are documentation of me being present during creation. I'm very passionate about the use of color, which makes itself known throughout my pieces - the more vibrant the more eyecatching it'll be! I'm also trying to maintain my own unique, identifiable style but my process is highly influenced by surrealism and abstractionism. As of right now, my only mediums are pencil, pen, and marker as its easiest for me. Nonetheless, I'm still exploring the art realm in hopes of improvement and expansions.

• ---

   

  

  Alana Nunez-Garcia is a second year Psychology major who's still trying to figure things out.  She draws the ideas that are difficult to put into words and finds inspiration in the ordinary.  When Alana isn't trying to make art, she's usually listening to music, or doing something unproductive. You can find her other work on instagram @visualana

• ---

  

  Maya Iverson

  I’m a Sociology Ph.D. Candidate whose interest in science fiction makes me believe anything is possible. I started drawing because it felt like graduate school wanted to take this from me. Art allows me to wander just far enough out of academia’s grasp to retain a sense of who I am, who I want to become, and who I might be. 

  I draw cities and landscapes as a reminder that new worlds are created one move at a time. My drawings are not just fantasy spaces, they are aspirations. As a graduate student constantly fighting imposter syndrome, drawing has become a practice in believing my imagination and vision is enough to build the life I want to live through my work. Ultimately, my art reminds me that to create is to build / to practice is to climb / and to persist is to believe in my future.

• ---

  Diego Torres-Casso is a queer POC from Southern California. He has a passion for creating content and bringing new perspective and eye behind the lens. He strives to be a strong individual who believes the arts and efforts and puts out will be relatable to his story. Through his lens, you can see the people and places he deems as special. His artwork is centered around representing unconventional spaces and people while bringing a sense of openess and inclusion.

• ---

  

  Luis Cubas has been passionate about photography from the moment he walked into his photography class junior year of highschool. After spending hours sharpening his skills, he knew it was more than a hobby as it became a passion that lived in him. He uses his camera as a way to captures the world around him. He enjoys seeing objects endure time and believes everything has a story of how time has affected them.

• ---

  

  Sid Verma is a third year at UCSC. Affiliated with College 10 and studies computer science. A creator of stuff and doer of things. He shares his passion in computer science, photography and aerial videography. If he's not behind a camera then he's behind a computer either programming or editing.