(Santa Ana)—The Santa Ana College (SAC) Arts Gallery is hosting an exhibit titled “Home Grown,” featuring a collection of superb artwork by four Santa Ana College alumni. The artists include Susan Elizalde, Bill Gallagher, Mark Hendrickson, and Hiromi Takizawa. All learned their crafts locally, grew up in Southern California, and work locally now.

The exhibit, which is free to the public, will run through March 1. The SAC Arts Gallery is located at the Santora Building, 207 N. Broadway, Suite Q, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Gallery hours are Fridays, noon to 4:00 p.m. The gallery is also open for monthly ArtWalks on the first Saturdays, February 1 and March 1, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and by appointment.

Elizalde received her B.A. in art history, her M.A. in art and her M.F.A. from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).  She is known for creating contemporary figurative ceramic sculpture and has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. She has been artist-in-residence at the Watershed Center for Ceramic Art in Maine, International Museum of Ceramic Art in Denmark, and has served on artist selection panels for the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Public Art Projects, and on the board of the Southern California Women’s Caucus for Art. She currently serves as collaborating faculty at La Sierra University and associate faculty at Saddleback Emeritus Institute.

“My work relates to the human condition,” said Elizalde. “There is also a spiritual aspect to the work. It touches people in different ways.”

Gallagher began his journey with creating jewelry in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1974 when a local silversmith was looking for “a kid” to help him out. He worked after school and in the summer helping to make contemporary southwestern jewelry, mostly in turquoise and silver. Once he established his own business, he began consigning his work to a local art gallery.

“’Clean’ is the word I hear most often to describe my work,” said Gallagher. “I think of my work as very direct and straightforward. I strive for solid construction and fine finish.”

A third generation Californian, Hendrickson developed an interest in ceramics while working on his B.A. at CSUF. Captivated by ancient-looking art and artifacts, he began experimenting with hand stretching clay to achieve unusual and exciting results relying on the clay’s natural and random tendencies to rip, tear, and create stretch marks. Unlike most potters who either throw their pottery shapes on a wheel or use the coil method to build their work, Hendrickson continues to use the simple stretching method for his creations.

Takizawa received her B.A. in glass and her M.A. in glass from CSUF and her M.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. Her work explores a range of aspects that are inherent and specific to her Japanese cultural heritage. She began her art studies at Santa Ana College.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the visual phenomenon that occurs when light is transmitted, reflected, and/or refracted on, in, and through glass materials,” said Takizawa. “I integrate these observable optical phenomena into personal narratives; by using the perceptional shifts that only the quality of glass can generate, I transform my emotions into concrete materiality.”

For more information, contact (714) 564-5615.

About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which will turn 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 13,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Visit http://www.sac.edu to learn more.