Starting on Aug. 28 California State University Stanislaus, (Stan State), has been holding a Faculty Art Exhibition. The exhibit showcases work of eleven different Department of Art faculty, ranging in many different mediums.
The exhibit presents the faculties work to familiarize students with their style, skills and artistic enthusiasm. The works range from style to content, and it provides students with the opportunity to see what professors they may connect with artistically.
The exhibit held a reception on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 5:30 p.m. The artists talked about their work at 6:00 p.m. and interacted with the students, allowing them to better learn about the artist themselves. The room was packed full of people eager to know the stories and secrets behind the art.
One of the faculty artists, James Deitz, let his work speak for him as the crowd gathered. He was one of the artists that did not explain his work openly but allowed the group to ask questions instead. He explained his work as “collaging thoughts” and that as an artist, language is his work.
“Artists are the social conscious,” Deitz expressed, “we try to speak of what we see in the language that we know best.” 
Susan Stephenson, another faculty artist, solidified this idea of “communication” through her verbal proclamation of her art.
“What is art but communication to another human being,” Stephenson said.
Students came for many different reasons, some to ponder the works, while there were others who came on class assignment.  Ashley Bustamante (sophomore, Biology) was one student on assignment that day and was impressed by the art work she experienced.
“I always wanted to be an art major, but I’m not that great at it. But, I like looking at different art, I love it so far,” Bustamante said.
One piece in particular, “Begin to End”by Martin Azevedo, struck her attention.
“I really was interested in this one. It’s called ‘Begin to End,’ what I was thinking is just like a circle of life maybe,” Bustamante stated, “I really liked it, and I like how there’s pictures within a picture, like you’ll see the drawing of like the head and there’s like a blimp but there is also people within.”
Alondra Quevedo (sophomore, Art) also found enjoyment in her assignment for class, observing different mediums and especially the watercolors.
There were many students among the reception on a class assignment, but there were also those there for personal enjoyment.
“I’ve never seen any of the faculty shows,” Krystall Willhite (junior, Art) said, “this was the first one that I’m able to see, so its nice to see what other teachers can do in art.”
 Some students were even astounded by how thought-provoking the Art Department faculty’s work was. Manuel Escoto (junior, Art) was blown away by the talent amongst the room.
 “Honestly, I was actually very surprised because I was not expecting like this kind of art work from our professors,” Escoto said.
Willhite agreed, “You kind of have like a preconceived notion that yeah they’re our teachers, so they have to be good. But, when you actually see what they can do, it surprises you.”
The Art Faculty Exhibition will be open until Sept. 29, 2017, and is located in the University Art Gallery in the Theatre Building.
They are open 12:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They will also be holding evening hours, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Thursdays.