
Loyola Marymount University’s Laband Art Gallery welcomes seven contemporary visual artists from Tierra del Sol Studios for the spring exhibition, “Here Comes the Sun.” The show features more than 100 works on paper and ceramic pieces by artists whose careers have thrived in Tierra del Sol’s innovative and inclusive art spaces: Marlena Arthur, Shaina Barnett, Herb Herod Jr., Evan Hynes, Ericka Lopez, John Maull and Jeffrey Rinsky.
The selections span cyclical drawings of tender florals and vivid abstract ceramic sculptures to narratives about ancient Egypt and tiny renditions of classic guitars. Personal vulnerabilities are revealed; heroes and holidays are celebrated; and a collection of powerful female characters appear ready to save the world.
Tierra del Sol is a champion of inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Working out of two expansive studios in the San Fernando Valley and Inland Empire, the exhibition’s seven artists are representative of the more than 120 visual artists who participate in Tierra del Sol’s Career in the Arts programs.
The ethos of the program — founded in 1989 — is that human creativity and artistic expression ought not be limited by any notions of physical or intellectual disabilities. Individuals working in the studio program cultivate their unique creative voices as cultural producers, community leaders and professional artists.
The show’s title connotes a sense of hopefulness toward our contemporary moment’s acknowledgement and acceptance of historically marginalized communities at large, and in the art world, in particular.
Tierra’s trailblazing artists are in this vanguard, forging their own professional pathways while simultaneously advancing the cause of inclusivity within the arts and beyond. Follow the artists’ careers at @tierradelsolgallery.
Free Public Programming
Artists’ Walkthrough 1
Thursday, Feb. 16, noon to 2:30 p.m. Drop in. Laband Art Gallery
Artists from Tierra del Sol Studios will lead a tour of their show.
Artists’ Walkthrough 2
Thursday, Feb. 23, 1 to 3:15 p.m. Drop in. Laband Art Gallery
Artists from Tierra del Sol Studios will lead a tour of their show.
Art, Disability and Justice
Friday, March. 24, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Murphy Recital Hall.
A discussion with members of the acclaimed Tierra del Sol Studios community.
Image credit: Marlena Arthur, Cutie Marks, 2021, color pencil and graphite on paper, courtesy of the artist and Tierra del Sol Gallery
About the Laband Art Gallery
The Laband Art Gallery opened in 1984 at Loyola Marymount University with a generous gift from Walter and Francine Laband and is a key component of the College of Communication and Fine Arts. Located in the Fritz B. Burns Fine Arts Center, the gallery enhances the cultural life at LMU with rich programming and exhibitions that are open to the campus community and the public. Admission is free. The Laband is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. More information can be found at http://cfa.lmu.edu/labandgallery/.
About Tierra del Sol
Tierra del Sol Studios and Tierra del Sol Gallery are integral parts of the Tierra del Sol Foundation, a Southern California-based nonprofit organization renowned for its more than 50 years of service as champions of inclusion and value for all individuals with disabilities. More than 800 individuals participate in Tierra’s three programs areas: Workforce Development, College to Career, and Careers in the Arts. Since 1989, Tierra’s dedication to advancing creative careers in the arts has propelled countless artists into the world of contemporary art.
About Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is an elite, top-ranked national university by U.S. News and World Report, which places LMU among the top five Jesuit universities in the country and in the top six private universities in California. Founded in 1911, LMU is a Catholic, Jesuit, and Marymount university with more than 6,500 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students. LMU offers 55 undergraduate majors and 59 minor programs, along with 47 master’s degree programs, three doctorate programs and 13 credential/authorization programs. LMU’s intercollegiate athletics teams compete in the West Coast Conference with 20 Division I and varsity sports.LMU news and events are found at: www.lmu.edu/news.

Download Image by Marlena Arthur, Cutie Marks, 2021, color pencil and graphite on paper