A&E

Bright colors, abstract art
MHCC student showcases artwork

By Bryan DeLomba

 

The things that artists think about on a day-to-day basis — bright colors, abstract art, texture — can be seen in the work of MHCC art student Ramon Mejia and other student work in the library and around the campus.

“When making art, you need to have a good feeling about it if you want to present,” Mejia said. Pieces like Mejia’s “JJ’s lemons” are showcased all over campus. Mejia said “JJ’s lemons” was inspired by the artist Jasper Johns. “He inspired me to do this piece,” he said. “I tried to use different colors and multiple layers. There are a lot of secondary colors in this piece.”

Like most artists, Mejia is inspired by many things, including music. He finds inspiration in down-tempo music. “I have mellowed out a lot as I’ve gotten older,” he said. “I can sometimes listen to hard music like punk rock but I usually listen to nice mellow music.”

Mejia takes on art with the knowledge that each piece is different and equally challenging. “I am still working on painting the human form because it is hard to fake it, because there is so much detail to the body,” said Mejia.

MHCC art teacher Lori Lorion said, “Ramon has progressed on his own unique path with amazing speed. It is as if the artist within him was waiting to be released. It didn’t take much to release it.

“I hope he sticks with it,” Lorion said in an e-mail message this week from Paris, where she is on a one-term sabbatical. “Most people do not. He studies art, reads about it, watches videos of individual artists, asks intelligent questions, and attends exhibitions.”

Mejia has submitted some pieces that some might view as controversial. “You don’t limit yourself to what people like. I wish I could have a discussion with the people who find my art offensive and find out why it’s offensive to them,” said Mejia

Lorion said, “Most people understand the purpose of visual art in an adult academic environment. That doesn’t mean they like everything they look at, I’m sure. But most people on a college campus are interested in ideas, expressions, concepts, and communication.

“There is a slow, thoughtful rhythm to the way Ramon works. There are many ways to be an artist. I would describe Ramon as breathing this thing in, and breathing it out,” said Lorion.

Mejia said he likes having his work displayed around campus. “It’s a nice feeling to have a piece of art work displayed in public, even though we don’t get much feedback on our work,” he said.