Golden paintings of Mexico

BY GINA MAUCIERI
HORNET STAFF WRITER
Published October 14, 1998

Glistening gold and silver leafing shimmers on an oil painted canvas, while an etched polychrome sculpture of a carousel horse waits to be admired.

The colorful, original and metallic artwork is at CSUS and awaits your visit.

"The New Pictoral Art," a collection of paintings and sculptures by Mexican artist Claudia Hecht, will be featured in the University Union through Nov. 6.

The date of the reception, Oct. 12, corresponded with Columbus Day, or Indigenous People's Day, because much of Hecht's art portrays native lives.

"Her art has a lot of indigenous and folkloric influence," said Jorge Santana, professor of Spanish.

Santana said the arrival of Hecht's exhibit at CSUS has been in the making for about a year. The CSUS Foreign Languages Department, as well as the CSUS College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), the CSUS Art Department and the Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California, are sponsors of the exhibit.

This will be Hecht's first showing in the Sacramento area, and her first show in a university venue.

Her art features relief painting using gold and silver leafing, and sculptures of wood and stone. Her works are inspired by the region of Guadalajara where she lives, and she comes from a family of artisans.

Hecht has a degree in business administration and has studied dance, in addition to training under several accomplished artists.

The Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California promotes a Mexican state each year. This year the state is Jalisco, which encompasses Guadalajara

"We want to promote our new artists from Mexico," said Guadalupe Castaneda, direcotr of the center. "Hecht is a contemporary artist of the new generation."

Beginning October 13, Hecht's exhibit will be open in the Exhibit Lounge on the second floor of the Union, Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., as well as Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.