Picture perfect partnership Picture perfect partnership (January 13, 2006)

SPCA gallery gives space for LPC student artists
by Rebecca Guyon

It's not often that dogs and cats are allowed in an art gallery, but at the East Bay SPCA's Tri-Valley facility on Gleason Drive, they live there. When the SPCA opened its Tri-Valley site in 2001, an art gallery was part of the plans and for the past four years former Dublin Mayor Linda Jeffers--as an artist and former SPCA board member--kept the gallery filled with different shows. But in 2005 she retired from the post and the SPCA didn't know how it was going to keep the gallery filled--that is until it formed a partnership with Las Positas College.

Las Positas does not have a gallery on its campus, meaning art students had nowhere to display their work. Seeing a partnership as mutually beneficial, the two groups struck up a deal and now works from Las Positas students can be seen on display at the SPCA year 'round. Currently, the Las Positas Art Club is showing an exhibit titled "Winter" which runs until the end of January.

"When I turned 40 I thought I'd take more art classes and Las Positas is close," said Pleasanton resident Andrea Vasgaard whose paintings "Best Friends" and "Winter Rain" are two of the 33 pieces in the "Winter" show. Fourteen students contributed art to the exhibit. "I wanted to be in this show because I wanted to help with the SPCA. Art is about community, and I like that I can contribute something that will help the animals at the SPCA." The students' art work is for sale and 20 percent of the proceeds of each piece will go to the SPCA.

Entry into the show was not a competition, said Dean of Academic Services Philip Manwell who is also the adviser to the art club.

"We decided that, at least at the start, we wouldn't be judging the works, but that the group would get together, look at everything and rather than saying 'these are the best,' say 'these are the ones that, put together, make the best show,'" he said. "There is great work by beginners and advanced students, and I love that quality. It really represents the college."

Art club president Helene Ha said she enjoyed learning how to organize a show and set up work in a gallery.

"It's a very nice experience because we learn a great deal, especially team work," she said. "We meet (at the gallery) and everyone figures out together how to put up the show."

Art work from different classes will go on display in February, changing every two months until the summer when the art club will return with a new show. In the fall, the SPCA will put on a show featuring art by SPCA volunteers and staff from across the Bay Area and then finish off the year with another show by the art club.

"What's really nice about that is that there is always a new crop of art coming in and out," said SPCA Director of Communications Kirsten Park.

And with new opportunities to share their work, Manwell expects student participation in the Las Positas art program will grow.

"It's an opportunity to support student artists to help them get a sense of what it's like to be an artist," he said. "Not only to create, but also share with others. All artists ultimately need to share their work or it gets bottled inside them. If no one sees, appreciates or talks about their art, the experience gets shortchanged. The public is helping these artists to become truly fulfilled, and that inspires them to do more."
Seeing the show

"Winter" is on display until the end of January at the Tri-Valley SPCA gallery, 4651 Gleason Dr., Dublin. Call 479-9670 for more information.

E-mail Helene Ha at hha@laspositascollege.edu for more information about the Las Positas College Art Club. Visit the Art Club Shop at www.cafepress.com/lpcArtClub to see and purchase student works.

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