Briarcliffe College Art Gallery Presents The Long Island Latino Art Exhibition

LongIsland.com

The LI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to hold networking event at Art Gallery June 29th. Public invited to attend Artist Reception August 4, 2011

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In the exhibition Expresiones: Celebrando Arte y Cultura Latina, The Long Island Latino Art Exhibition, on view June 27 through August 4 and open to the general public, Briarcliffe College Art Gallery at 1055 Stewart Avenue in Bethpage, will showcase local Latino artists Tonito Valderama, Lorena Salcedo-Watson, Rosamaria Eisler, and Janet Cruz.

Briarcliffe College has a large Latino student population and this exhibition celebrates the culture of Long Island's Hispanic community while it educates, provokes and inspires. Faculty members Beth Giacummo and Karyn Cernera Bush are curators of the exhibit.

Artist Tonito Valderama creates mostly large-scale, site-specific installations using available materials and fibers. The natural elements inspire the themes of his works: to experience our connection to the earth; to recognize nature's beauty and resilience; to foster a sense of engagement with and protection of, the natural world.

Lorena Salcedo-Watson's drawings focus on the structure and essential qualities of form, illustrating her fascination with human anatomy, botany and entomology. She filters personal experience, observation and her imagination to create landscapes that transform and re-interpret aspects of nature.

Rosamaria Eisler, a printmaker and oil painter, creates works based on personal life experiences, relationships, and daily activities. Her visuals feature figures holding umbrellas - a symbol stemming from her childhood in rural Mexico where the sky appeared to be a big duomo (or huge umbrealla) and the shimmering stars the poinpoints of light shining through, but always blocked, beyond reach, and intriguing.

Janet Cruz uses a vibrant color palette in her abstract paintings. By incorporating universal objects in her work, viewers from different cultures may identify and relate personally to her art.

On Wednesday, June 29, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host a networking event at the Art Gallery. All are welcome. The cost is $25 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members. Advanced registration is requested. For additional information, contact Brenda Aguilar at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at (631) 393-6400, or visit www.LIHCC.org.

The Artist Reception for Expresiones: Celebrando Arte y Cultura Latina, The Long Island Latino Art Exhibition will be held Thursday, August 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and will be an opportunity to meet the artists Tonito Valderama, Lorena Salcedo-Watson, Rosamaria Eisler, and Janet Cruz. The event is free - as is the parking - and open to the entire Briarcliffe College community and the general public. For additional information about this exhibition, the artists or the closing night Artist Reception, call 516-918-3600 or email: gallery@bcl.edu

About Briacliffe College Art Gallery (Hours Open)
Biarcliffe College opened its Art Gallery at 1055 Stewart Avenue in Bethpage in April 2010 to showcase professional, faculty and student exhibitions featuring artists living and working in Long Island. The Art Gallery is open to the general public - with free parking and no admission fee - on the following days and times: Mon-Thu: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Fri: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sat: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

About Briarcliffe College
A proprietary institution with locations in Bethpage, Patchogue and Queens NY., Briarcliffe College is a four-year career education college offering degree programs in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, graphic design, information technology, management and paralegal studies. Programs vary by location. The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (267) 284-5000 accredits Briarcliffe College. Briarcliffe College does not guarantee employment or salary. Briarcliffe College is also a member of the Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO) network of colleges, universities and schools. For more information, visit www.briarcliffe.edu or www.bcl.edu.