Los Angeles-based artist, Alicia Piller envisions historical traumas, both political and environmental, through the lens of a microscope. Her sculptures and installations conceive of past atrocities, suffering, and accomplishments as biological forms–broken down to a cellular level. A variety of materials including vinyl, latex balloons, and photographs, are employed to examine the energy around wounds societies have inflicted upon themselves and others, but also give optimistic glimpses of a possible future with bright colors that show signs of life and proliferating forms that show signs of growth. Her subject matter is often informed by her studies in anthropology and her sculptural process by her time in fashion and craft making. Alicia Piller received her MFA from the California Institute of the Arts.

Deborah Aschheim and Center for Civic Engagement PLACE Project

Deborah Aschheim creates large scale immersive installations, sculptures, drawings, and public art projects based on invisible worlds of memory, communication, and information. Her work attempts to reconcile the physical structures of the built environment with the human experiences that buildings and cities contain and support. This exhibition features a survey of Aschheim’s most recent projects including a public art project examining issues of housing instability she has developed in collaboration with COC’s Center for Civic Engagement’s PLACE Project (Partnerships for Listening and Action by Communities and Educators), the City of Santa Clarita, and Bridge to Home (BTH), Santa Clarita Valley’s Homeless Shelter unhoused people in our community.

Aschheim received a B.A. in Anthropology from Brown University and a M.F.A from the University of Washington. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

Pablo Azar is a successful Mexican-American actor and painter. Known worldwide for his
participation in both Latin and American TV series and movies, he has made a name for himself
after more than 15 years of an impeccable and arduous career.

Through his great passion for the performing and visual arts, Pablo’s undeniable talent,
creativity and unique profoundness guides his spectators to discover a world full of color, life
and the most unexpected of treasures in each and every one of his artworks. He is considered to be a
pop surrealist artist who created a very unique painting style he named “Toonymania” in which he
takes us on a fantastic journey beyond the evident. His main objective is to make us, the observer,
gaze upon his artwork, losing ourselves in a timeless dimension where he invites us to discover
what Pablo himself denotes as “his creatures.” In perfect harmony, his multiple and diverse “creatures”
fuse together creating one, bigger and complete picture.

Toonymania art has a very special characteristic, giving it a particularity of its own. Every time
the spectator stands in front of any one of his paintings will be a memorable experience since
there is so much to discover. His paintings are composed of many elements, “creatures,” each
representing something specific yet creating a larger and deeper composition. There is a story
to be told in each of his artworks.

Dancing Leaf Spirits is a site-specific installation of leaves and other materials gathered from the local SoCal region (including whirlybird seed pods from around the WVTC’s turtle pond) that are embellished with metallic-leaf, then pinned upon the wall in a style reminiscent of mandalas. The ancient geometric patterns were used by various spiritual traditions as a tool that helped focus the mind for the art of meditation and also acted as a divine map of the cosmos.

In this day and age, there are so many ways we are disconnected from the natural environment. By creating these inspiring geometric patterns and using leaves from the surrounding region, Jenn aims to re-establish a connection between the natural world, the gallery space, and the viewer. Despite its meager size, the complex structure of a leaf is a thing of beauty in and of itself. It inspires many meanings and possibilities. Even in death, the dried form is intimately connected with life. As part of nature’s sublime cycle, it will return to the earth via decomposition to feed other forms of life. The addition of metallic-leaf on the leaves (a knowing pun) reminds the viewer of nature’s divinity and echoes the use of precious metals in holy items throughout cultures.

“I encourage and invite viewers to develop a unique relationship with the mandalas, whatever form that may take. Whether one slows down to admire the details or has a quick moment to take a selfie, each possesses its own particular merits in this context as both are reinserting themselves into a symbolic reconnection with and appreciation of nature.”

Jason Jenn is an interdisciplinary multimedia artist. His works vary in roles as performer, writer, visual artist, director, producer, designer, curator, and video editor. He creates for exhibition on stage, on screen, on the page, in galleries, and at site-specific locations. Discover more at JasonJenn.com.

Join us for a FREE Art Reception celebrating the newest exhibit at The MAIN.  Enjoy the art and light refreshments from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“Water and Paint” features the art of Bob Hernandez.  Bob is fearless in his exploration of new ideas and always strives to master whatever style or technique he tries. As an illustration major at California Institute of the Arts, Bob always found himself gravitating towards fine arts and the wonderful freedom it gave to the artists. Bob believes we are put on this planet to make a difference.  Bob is the founder of The ARTree, an organization that helps individuals reach their creative potential.

His current work reflects his quest for more clarity, but at the same time exhibiting his freedom with paint in spontaneous, fluid, and use of a varied palette of colors. Bob’s inspiration comes in many forms, from everyday subject matter to people and locations that touch his creativity.

“Watercolor and acrylics are my mediums in this exhibit as I explore the diverse qualities of people, animals, and open spaces.” Bob Hernandez

The exhibition of art will be on display from March 2 to March 27, 2022.