Three colleges, lots of artistic wisdom

Students throughout the Coast Community College District are getting connected through the art of their teachers.

An art exhibit featuring work by faculty members from throughout the college district is currently showing at the Coastline Art Gallery in Huntington Beach.

“Collective Knowledge” encompasses some of the wisdom the art teachers from the three colleges — Orange Coast, Golden West and Coastline — have to offer to students and the community at large, said Shea Mayberry, curator of the Coastline Art Gallery.

“I think probably the main thing is to give students a chance to see the work of their teachers and to see them as professionals, practicing artists and not only teachers in the classroom,” she said. “I think it’s good for students to see. Sometimes, the path to ‘success’ is not clear. There are so many options for you, and it’s good to see that the teachers have gone on a professional level.”

The exhibit also honors one of the faculty members who gave more than 30 years of his knowledge of art to Coastline Community College.

Jay Sagen recently retired from his post as a curator at Coastline Art Gallery. A special reception was held March 25 in his honor, Mayberry said.

“‘Collective Knowledge’ pertains to Jay in particular and his 35 years of teaching and mentorship and experience at Coastline, and all the knowledge he passed on to the students,” she said.

The exhibit, which opened March 24, has 29 pieces by 29 of the district’s art professors. They include some of the professors’ recent artwork and represent various genres, including sculptures, assembled artwork and oil paintings.

The exhibit offers students and community members a chance to see contemporary art without having to drive to Los Angeles, Mayberry said. Throughout the year, the gallery features the work of young, mid-career and established Orange County artists, she said.

Anita Sinclair, the assistant curator and a part-time art instructor at Coastline, submitted an abstract multimedia piece that sits in the window of the gallery. Sinclair said she picked it because she felt it fit perfectly with the rest of the work.

“I’m passionate about this gallery,” she said. “It’s a wonderful space. It’s a great group of people to show with and it’s fun. It’s fun to put your work up, and it’s very gratifying. Each piece of art in this room is having a conversation with the rest of the pieces. So who wouldn’t want to be part of that conversation?”

If You Go

What: “Collective Knowledge”

Where: Coastline Art Gallery, 10156 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday until April 23

Cost: Free

Information: (714) 963-8475