The PC Art Gallery Presents - Cessation

A lively blend of energy and thought-provoking conceptual artwork engulfs the viewer in Pascual Arriaga’s exhibition Cessation at the freshly refurbished Porterville College Art Gallery. The public is cordially invited to immerse themselves in an enthralling expedition through Arriaga’s expansive and emotive sculptural installations from October 5 - 26, 2023.

The exhibit consumes the gallery, saturating the space with a dynamic selection ranging from large, ambitious ceramic figurative sculptures, medium-sized busts, and egg-sized portraits displaying a spectrum of expressive facial gestures. Arriaga harnesses the potency of found objects, including TVs, bee boxes, pallets, old computer towers, and other technological debris, orchestrating them into a tempest of dynamic composition that speaks vividly to the rapidity and pressures imprinted by society and its media influence.

Arriaga thrusts the viewer into a contemplative space, nudging them to explore the chasm between endings and new beginnings. His work compels the observer to reckon with the cessation - a pause, a liminal space where the familiar crumbles, paving the way for the unknown. “Life as you knew it ceases to exist. What will happen next? How will you react? Will you evolve or dissolve? Do you have control, or are we controlled? Do we just fade away?” questions Arriaga.

Arriaga’s military background as a Marine Corps veteran and his deep academic investment into the arts have conjoined to carve a distinctive pathway in his artistic journey. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from Cal Poly Pomona and advancing to secure his Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in ceramics from California State University, Fullerton, Arriaga has illuminated various venues with his explorative and insightful works. He has been showcased at the National Ceramic Conference and esteemed Southern California venues such as the Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana and the W. Keith and Janet Kellogg Art Gallery at Cal Poly Pomona. Arriaga now extends his passion and knowledge to students, teaching Fine Art at Porterville College and Reedley College in Central California.

Visitors can explore the energy and interrogative nature of Cessation from October 5 -26, 2023, during gallery hours, Monday through Thursday from 12 to 2 pm and 4 to 6 pm. As parking is restricted, attendees are advised to contact the front desk upon arrival for a complimentary temporary parking permit.

For further inquiries, please contact Theodore Lyons at theodore.lyons@portervillecollege.edu.