Since the 1960s, Dallas College has inherited, purchased, cared for and exhibited works of art that can be found on all seven campuses.
Now, more than ever, Dallas College is featuring students’ work alongside these distinguished pieces.
Dallas College is supporting its students, alumni, faculty and professional artists by showcasing their work as well as encouraging instructors from all departments to utilize the works of art as educational tools of instruction.
Richland is the home to The Brazos Gallery. Every semester, the gallery and art department put on a student showcase, which is open for anyone who is taking a visual arts class, according to Randall Garret, Dallas College gallery and art collection manager. Kimberly Russell, professor of art at Richland Campus, said it gives a good opportunity for beginner artists to have their show in a professional setting.
“Some of the students have never shown their work before, so for those people, that’s the first exhibition on their CV and resume, which is so exciting,” Russell said.
Several students are having their work shown this fall in the gallery for the student showcase, and one has even won awards for her art.
Francheska Concepcion has had her work presented twice in the Brazos Gallery, and she said it has made quite an impact on her.
“The first time I saw mine and everyone else’s art there, I was really kind of amazed that I could see my work with all these other talented people and in this space that other people could view it. too,” said Concepcion.
She said the work she submitted to the gallery was all class work.
Other students, Favor Oparaji and Aimee Cox, said the same thing, with their professor having them submit the work for an assignment as well as to build their CV.
The gallery space is regularly used for instruction, with faculty taking their classes there to admire the current pieces or as a new environment to create, said Russell.
“I would absolutely take either my drawing classes or my painting classes over there for a walk-through of the exhibit. It’s kind of a professional practice space,” she said.
According to the Dallas College website, the galleries are dedicated to presenting innovative exhibitions and programs that reflect the scope and diversity of visual art, and they aim to be a vital component of the academic and cultural life of Dallas College.
“Our galleries serve primarily to function as support for the educational process in our visual arts program, and secondly, they serve as points of engagement for the near community and the community at large,” said Garret.
Richland’s Brazos Gallery hosts events that are free and open to the public. One event is the student reception, where students who have their work shown can receive awards for their pieces presented in the gallery.
This reception is where student Concepcion received an Honorable Mention for her work in the showcase.
Other events open to the public vary between school-sponsored and outside entities renting gallery space.
