REDDING – Contemporary Wintu artist Frank LaPena and his works will be featured in an artist’s lecture at 11 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 1) at Shasta College.
Born in San Francisco of Asian and Indian parents, LaPena spent his early youth in government-run Indian boarding schools and was later placed in a foster home in Shasta County, where he regained contact with the Native American community. His ancestors were the traditional cultural keepers and medicine people for the Wintu tribe.
As he became re-involved with his heritage, La Pena began painting and writing poetry in which he used themes related to his experiences as a traditional singer and dancer. Although he graduated from CSU, Chico and received his M.A. from CSU Sacramento, where he taught for many years, he considers the teachings of his elders to be the most important education in helping him understand the joy and sacredness of life.
Exhibited throughout the U.S. and Europe, his paintings convey his deeply spiritual concerns and the magical essence of Indian imagery. His interpretation of ceremonial events and figures is accomplished by the symbolic use of color, which reinforces the meaning of his forms and their relationship to the earth and spirit.
The exhibit is shown in the Shasta College Art Gallery (building 300) beginning August 16 and concluding September 24 at these times: Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Monday – Thursday evenings, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
There will be an artist lecture on September 1, at 11:00 a.m. in Room 400 on the Main Campus, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding, CA. For more information, contact the Shasta College Arts, Communications, and Social Sciences Division at: (530) 242-7730.
-from Shasta College press release
A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Greenberg, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment.
