Paintings, photos, mixed media, and installation pieces were exhibited, and members of the Black Leadership Collective performed a music piece to mark the start of a reception on Wednesday Nov. 5 for De Anza’s Faculty and Staff art show at the Euphrat Museum of Art.

Black Leadership Collective members Yiann Chou,18, history major; Tyanna Braswell, 19, liberal arts major; and Alexis Hodge, 30, medical assistant major; combined guitar playing with spoken word and singing to create their piece about the incarceration and struggles of African Americans as part of the Jerome Project.

“We had never done a piece like this before,” said Hodge, who said she was surprised by the talent they had brought together.
Several pieces appeared to garner much attention from viewers because of their strong messages on injustice.

Rocky Lewycky’s “Is It Necessary” piece displayed neatly organized ceramic animals, some of which had been smashed to reveal their blood red interiors.

“We watch the artist smash these pretty sculptures, and then we realize that we kill millions of these animals everyday,” said Omer Yosef, 19.

“It’s important because it’s a great opportunity to show their work,” said Victoria Elainia Sanders, 29, sculpture major. She said she has been helping set up shows at the museum for over a year.

Faculty and staff members, who are usually too busy working, took the opportunity to talk with their colleagues and see what art projects they’ve been working on.

“I think it’s great,” said Chia Wen, photography lab technician. “I think having the venue and the opportunity to show our work expresses what we do and for the students to go see what the faculty are doing is always exciting.”

Wen exhibited some of his own photography: a black and white series of photos of the Salton Sea in Southern California.

“I was down there for about a day and took a few shots,” Wen said. “These are different from what I usually do.”
The art show can be viewed in the Euphrat Museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the end of fall quarter on Dec. 4.