A new art exhibit that spells out 55 years of work by local artist Yermo Aranda is now on exhibit at the Santa Cruz Art League, 526 Broadway.
With a lengthy history of working with area youths and organizations on a wealth of murals at schools and businesses, the show explores decades of “cultural memory and cultural legacy.”
According to the Art League, “Aranda has devoted his life to creating art that honors community, ancestry, and the living spirit of culture. As one of the central figures in California’s mural movement, Aranda’s creative practice extends far beyond public walls—encompassing a rich body of drawings, color studies, and studio works that reveal the evolution of his vision and philosophy.”
The retrospective features mural studies, sketches, and a monumental six-foot-high by twenty-foot-wide mural on canvas—alongside paintings and drawings created between mural projects. Themes touched on include “Created from Plants,” “Sacredness of Animals,” “Relationship with Fire,” and “Respect Our Elders.”
Organizers state that the “exhibition celebrates not only Aranda’s mastery of form and color, but also his enduring message: that creativity is a bridge between tradition and the future.”
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IF YOU GO
The show runs Jan.14 – Feb. 20.
Artist Talk: Jan. 31, 1:30-3pm
First Friday Reception: Feb. 6, 5-7:30pm
Santa Cruz Art League, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz.
