VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

What masks do people wear to hide honest, real feelings? Find out in the photo exhibition Abdiel Urcullu:  We Are on display Tuesday, July 20 through Thursday, Aug. 12 in the Bosque Gallery at Lone Star College-CyFair. The artist explores the public and private worlds of people.

“As an artist, I’ve always been interested in identity. Not who we show the world we are, or pretend to be, but who we really are,” said Urcullu, an artist, photographer and graphic designer. “As humans, we tend to act as if life were perfect. When we are in our chambers, a private place, our territory, we tend to forget who we are, and we just are. When we go out into the world and leave our space, we tend to put on a mask and neutralize our feelings and react to what happens at every moment. The masks vary in thickness, but nonetheless, we tend to always wear one.”

Photos feature a series of masks, in a closet, hung on a hanger to represent the ability to be worn when leaving the home. They are distanced from the wall as people detach themselves from their honest and real feelings, said Urcullu.

“While I photographed the models for the outside set of the pictures, I asked the models to wear no make up and remove accessories,” he said. “An interesting fact is that some people still wore something. They were not letting go and that made me even more excited about this project. “

Join the artist at an opening reception from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28 for further discussion of this project.

The Bosque Gallery is located in the Center for the Arts building on the Barker Cypress campus at 9191 Barker Cypress. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

For gallery information, go to LoneStar.edu/bosquegallery or call 832.482.1038.

About Lone Star College-CyFair
Lone Star College-CyFair is the 5th comprehensive college in the Lone Star College System. Lone Star College-CyFair is a comprehensive campus at 9191 Barker Cypress Road. Lone Star College-Fairbanks Center is located at 14955 Northwest Freeway. For more information about Lone Star College-CyFair and its programs, call 281-290-3200 or visit the Web site at LoneStar.edu/cyfair.

About Lone Star College System
With more than 62,000 students in credit classes in spring 2010, and a total enrollment of nearly 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the second largest and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. LSCS consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.

Pictured above: Title – Mask 1, Medium – Black and white photo, Artist – Abdiel Urcullu.