TAMIU Grad’s Artwork selected for Exhibit
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) alumnus Teresita De la Torre (’12) is among 40 artists selected to participate in the 6th Annual Rising Eyes of Texas, an annual statewide juried exhibit featuring undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education students in the visual arts. The exhibition is currently on display through Saturday, April 6 in the Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport, Texas.
De la Torre is the only artist chosen from TAMIU, one of 16 Texas colleges and universities showcased.
“We wanted to reach out to the incredible mine of creativity in Texas art programs,” says John Aäsp, Director of Visual Arts Director and Curator, of the chance for students, faculties, and patrons to enjoy the wealth of young talent in the region and throughout the state. “It not only provides a chance for students to exhibit and compete for awards, but the exhibition allows the Center to make connections with all of our Texas academic institutions, making them aware of Rockport’s efforts to recognize students emerging in the visual arts outside the classroom,” he said.
The exhibition identifies formal characteristics like composition, use of color, arrangement or collage, execution, and presentation, but really looks for students on the verge of finding their own voice.
Aäsp adds, “Students hardly ever get to see the work of their peers in other regions and it’s important to give student artists a stage where their work can be seen off-campus. It made sense to bring Texans together into one exhibition for celebrating National Youth Art Month.”
“We like to see work addressing a variety of different concepts – whether it’s formal, socio-political, or aimed at art history itself. What makes a student become an emerging artist is that threshold – where their own style starts to take over their work, where they are no longer emulating, but evolving,” says Aäsp.
An art major and communication minor who graduated this past December, she recently presented her works in a solo art exhibit, “Yo Soy Clandestino (I am Clandestine),” in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, México.
De la Torre first reached for her camera to document the immigrant experience when she traveled to Italy. She also works in video and painting. Her self-produced video about the TAMIU’s “Powered by TAMIU” campaign won an honorable mention.
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