The University of Redlands’ Hanging Gardens art exhibition was void of straight lines and rigid canvases as artists challenged traditional rules.
The opening reception for the Hanging Gardens exhibition took place on Saturday, Nov. 9, coinciding with National Go To An Art Museum Day. Lasting from 4-6 p.m. in the Ann Peppers Art Gallery, it featured refreshments and acoustic guitar music by Andrew Sandoval.
The University of Redlands’ second art exhibition of the 2024-25 school year, it showcases art from Southern California contemporary artists Christian Olid-Ramirez, Pamela Jorden, Matt Rich and Iva Gueorguieva.
Munro Galloway, the associate professor of art at the University of Redlands, curated this exhibition and said he chose the Hanging Gardens theme because it invites artists to think outside the box.
“For me, a hanging garden is like an artificial structure in which something can grow naturally,” he said, “and that’s what I think a lot of artists do.”
Each artist contributed two pieces of artwork for this exhibition. Pomona artist Olid-Ramirez works with paintings, sculptures and installations. His rasquachismo style expresses Chicano aesthetics and values of empowerment and resistance in his “Tres Cuetes” and “La JardĂn” pieces.
Jorden, from Los Angeles, is known for her paintings and use of vivid color and light on shaped stretchers. Her “Vine” and “Stone” pieces reflect Southern California’s landscape.
Rich lives in San Diego and creates layered paintings that defy boundaries and take on the form of wall reliefs. On display in the Hanging Gardens exhibition are his “Oval” and “Blue Sky” pieces.
Along with Gueorguieva, Rich was able to attend the opening reception and explained his style of artwork.
“I think about my work as operating in the field of expanded painting; work that seeks to interrogate, reimagine, expand the material and conceptual boundaries of the discipline of painting,” he said.
Gueorguieva’s abstract art comes in the form of paintings, tapestries and canvas. In addition to her “Sparrow and Shadow” piece, this Bulgarian artist, now living in Los Angeles, created the “Rainy Day” banners hanging outside the gallery.
Gueorguieva also collaborated with musician Matt McGarvey and dancer Gretchen Ackerman for a performance as part of their “Intersection” series. Started in 2021, “Intersection” has dancers interact with Gueorguieva’s work in an innovative style, reshaping the artwork as they perform. Additional “Intersection” performances can be found on this website.
The initial form of Gueorguieva’s “Sparrow and Shadow” before Ackerman’s “Intersection” performance. It occupies the center of the Ann Peppers Art Gallery. 
Ackerman rearranges Gueorguieva’s “Sparrow and Shadow” piece during the “Intersection” performance. This performance, which included music by Matt McGarvey, lasted roughly 10 minutes. 
Those in attendance admire how Ackerman changed Gueorguieva’s “Sparrow and Shadow” during the “Intersection” performance. As with all “Intersection” performances, this is how the artwork will remain.
Art Department Coordinator Maddi Spitzer explained that the University of Redlands Art Department holds five to six exhibitions a year, each organized by different faculty members. The Art Faculty Show, which ran from Sept. 16 to Oct. 27, kickstarted the year and there will be three more exhibitions next semester. First will be “Soil and Soul” by Salma Arastu in January, followed by Associate Art Professor Tommi Cahill’s sabbatical show. During this show, Cahill will share the art she created during the Spring 2023 semester. Wrapping up the year will be the Senior Reception, where the 12 senior art majors will then present their work as part of their capstone project.
Along with showcasing art, Spitzer said these exhibitions provide students with a glimpse into the life of an artist, enable them to practice critiquing artwork, and provide inspiration for the Senior Reception.
The Hanging Gardens exhibition will remain open until Dec. 8 (it will be closed Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 for Thanksgiving Break). For those hoping to check it out, the gallery is open 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 2-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Photos taken by McKenzie Rose
McKenzie Rose is a freshman at Redlands with interests in Environmental Studies and Journalism. She worked for the last three years as a freelance journalist with the Hermiston Herald, a newspaper near her hometown of Echo, Oregon. She is looking forward to covering the interesting, the exciting, and the intriguing happenings at the university for the Redlands Bulldog!
