It’s been four years since the Art Forum of Waco mounted its first “Prism” exhibit and the second show demonstrates shows the expanded net that the Waco arts organization and gallery casts.
“Prism 2,” which formally opens from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, is one of the Forum’s largest exhibitions, with more than 125 pieces of art from 37 artists from as far as Mexico.
For forum director Jesus Rivera, the exhibit’s geographic reach is its most impressive part, particularly considering the show is the first to require an entry fee from participating artists as well as a $5 admission to its opening. “To me, the greater success is (getting) artists from Mexico,” he said.
“Prism 2” brought in paintings, ceramics, wire sculpture, photography and more, with a total of $875 awarded for the top three pieces. As an interactive part of the exhibit, a 25-long mural in a side room, with the theme “Humanity Love Unity — Under the Sun” awaits finishing by participating artists.
The exhibit, which will run through Oct. 13, includes works by Waco artists Tea Aguilar, Deborah Propst, Susan Sistrunk, photographer Spencer Moore, Mark Kieran, wood-burning artist Marsha Wilson, Iris Wamalwa Naka, B.J. Williams and the forum’s artist-in-residence Nelda Lloyd; Dallas’ Mountain View College students and teachers; and Mexican ceramicist Jose Lusano.
It’s an eclectic show, including Wilson’s detailed representations of well-known Waco buildings; Rivera’s human-scaled paintings of Mexican lottery card characters, with faces cut out for people to pose for photographers; Susan Yow’s stained glass pieces: and three generations of artists represented by Danielle Reboli’s headdresses, her mother Jean’s watercolors and grandmother’s drawings.
For Rivera, the wide variety of artists, both professional and amateur, and art represented speak to the universality of human creativity.
