VA GALLERY: ‘SEARCHING FOR THE SUNRISE’

Ruben Trejo was a Mexican-American artist, sculptor, educator, father, mentor and inspiration to many.

Now, his impressive works of art are on display in the Visual Arts Gallery at MHCC, where his influence on art instructors remains strong.

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The show, which runs through Nov. 21, is called, “Ruben Trejo: Searching for the Sunrise,” and is his first solo art showing in Oregon.

Trejo was born on Jan 7, 1937, in St. Paul, Minnesota – in a boxcar – to a migrant farmworking family who were indigenous Tarascan natives from Mexico. He was one of 11 children, and he and his family worked on many farms and helped build the railways.

Despite all the obstacles and tribulations of that start in life, Trejo still managed to get his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Minnesota. Through his works, one can see the influences of Mayan and Aztec civilizations and Chicano and Mexican-American culture within his love of contemporary art.

It’s also clear to see the love and care he used for the materials in his pieces. Some of his works have been entered into the Smithsonian American Art Muesum.

The Mt. Hood show is a posthumous retrospective (Trejo died in 2009) of four-to-five decades of his work, including sculpting, printmaking, collage, installation, and more. Some of his works have been entered into the Smithsonian American Art Muesum.

Later in life, Trejo was an educator at Eastern Washington University, and helped start and develop the Chicana and Chicano studies program at the school.  At EWU, he also earned the highest award given – the Trustees Medal – for faculty achievement and teaching excellence. 

While no longer with us, his work continues to shape and influence many lives. 

Trejo was important “for me and young Chicano artists like me who were influenced by these pioneers of art and culture, especially in the Northwest,” said Nathan Orosco, sculpture, drawing and design instructor in Mt. Hood’s visual arts department.

“I want to present (the display at MHCC) as a sunrise. Because we don’t want to forget artists like Ruben Trejo,” said Orosco. “I think that this… shows that struggle, that intense drive to succeed and to make a mark in the world and to people around you.”

Orosco and Gallery coordinator Miles Browne coordinated and helped installed Trejo’s work. Orosco worked with Trejo’s family and friends who provided some personal pieces, and said he really tried to show a range of all of the artist’s materials from all of the series.  

“In a case like (his) it’s about family, it’s about connecting, about providing a narrative for people to enjoy,” Orosco said.

Besides the many treasures to see and enjoy, a special artist reception occurred on Oct. 31, the start of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations – in which for a day or a couple of days, living persons take a photograph and light a candle on an altar to honor, celebrate and remember someone they wish to honor who has died.

This art exhibit of Trejo’s work is Orosco’s altar to honor him, the instructor said.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The display is free and open to the public, an amazing and historical show those who enjoy art should not miss.