The InterCultural Center is hosting an exhibit entitled "Filipino Footsteps in California" in the ICC Gallery in the Student Union at Sonoma State University from Oct. 6-31.
The opening reception will be held on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. in the ICC Gallery . An artist's talk will be held at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 14 gallery.
The featured artist, Ro Lopez, will be showing pieces that represent the history of Filipinos in California as well as other works the represent broader social commentaries.
Lopez is an emerging artist with a background in scientific research and a degree in veterinary medicine. She is one of the members of that rare breed whose left-brain and right brain functions interdigitate effortlessly. "I love the sciences but art is my passion!"
A prolific and versatile artist, this year she has exhibited in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Patrons in America, Canada, Europe and Asia own her paintings. She is an active board member of the Vallejo Artists' Guild and Arts Benicia.
A self-confessed "computer geek", Lopez also does computer graphic arts, designs web pages, slide presentations, large format posters, corporate logos and corporate identity packages.
On Oct. 18, 1587, the first Filipinos set foot in America in Morro Bay, CA. These Luzones Indios were members of a Spanish exploration team. Since that time, Filipinos have been arriving on U.S. shores as laborers, seamen, sailors, students, professionals, and families and as WWII veterans.
Whatever their reasons for coming to America, Filipinos have played an important yet unknown role in the history and culture of the United States. This exhibit will highlight some of those contributions. Through text, photographs and art, over four centuries years of Filipino presence in California will be told.
The InterCultural Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For further information, contact, Darius Spearman, InterCultural Center Coordinator, (707) 664-2710.
