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HCC Ybor Exhibit Illustrates Spanish Influence

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2007

TAMPA - Two artists from Oviedo, Spain, one of Tampa's sister cities, will bring their works to the Ybor Campus Art Gallery of Hillsborough Community College from Oct. 9 through Nov. 3.

The exhibit, 'En Espanol,' came about by chance.
Gallery director Carolyn Kossar is normally busy putting together shows and directing art-related events, but with the gallery under renovation this summer, she had to ply her curatorial skills elsewhere.

She ended up in Oviedo, in the principality of Asturias, for 10 days in July. There she met Consuelo Vallina and Ester Sanchez, who were recommended to Kossar by Tampa people familiar with their work.

'Before I went, the artists sent me slides and catalogs of their work,' Kossar said. 'They had shown extensively in Europe, and when I saw their work, I liked it immediately.'

Sanchez, an illustrator and graphic designer, is known for her illustrations in children's books as well as a myriad of designs on bags, T-shirts, billboards and promotional material.

'She does these large signs in Spain that are like a big fist for fighting crime,' Kossar said. 'She has five books of illustrations that she'll be bringing to the show also.'

Sanchez founded the graphic design and publishing company Pintar-Pintar, which designed the invitation for the Ybor exhibition.
Kossar wanted to showcase an accomplished graphic artist because of the many design, graphic arts and drawing classes offered at HCC.

'And we've never done a graphic arts illustration show,' she said.

Vallina, who studied contemporary tapestry in Barcelona, Spain, and Poland, creates the paper she uses for her paintings.

That intrigued Kossar, who is a fiber artist.
Vallina uses cotton linter to make her paper and then paints with marble dust and pigment.

'The effect of the handmade paper is beautiful,' Kossar said. 'It's all about texture.'

The artists will attend the opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 9 at the gallery in the Performing Arts Building, at Palm Avenue and 15th Street. The exhibit is free.

Call Kossar at (813) 964-8995 for information.

Old Cigar Factory Hosts Art Evening

The former Santaella Cigar Factory, 1906 N. Armenia Ave., will play host to an art event from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday.

The juried exhibition 'Nueva Evolucion' will introduce the community to the new West Tampa Center of the Arts, housed on the factory's second floor. The exhibit features various styles and media by artists who rent space in the building, as well as works by other artists.

Admission is $3.

For details, call (813) 453-4381 or e-mail WTCA.art@gmail.com.

Correspondent Esther Hammer can be reached at (813) 835-2108 or ehammer@tampatrib.com.

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