Feelings evoked by the Crosses

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Oct 29, 2008 | by Sam Richards

LAFAYETTE -- Gi Gi Voris simply told the young artists to create a work of art based on how the Lafayette Crosses Memorial makes them feel. Beyond that, what form that art would take -- concepts, colors, even the specific medium itself -- was up to the artists.

"I wanted it to be thought-provoking, and I just let them go with it," said Voris, who operates the Art Room in Lafayette.

Though the hillside crosses have drawn national attention, the fact they were conceived and executed locally adds to their power for local artists, she added.

The 13 artists in the teen open studio class turned in a wide variety of images, mostly paintings, which are now on display at the Art Room. They reflect variations on the themes of war, peace, sadness, family and other ideas and emotions.

"There were no suggestions or influence of any kind as to how they expressed themselves," Voris said. "They also had the freedom to choose the medium they wanted to use. I think the variety of art created makes quite a statement."

The teen open studio class meets on Fridays, generally in six- week sessions. Voris said the students usually choose their own projects, but added that she assigns one each session. For the most recently completed session, the crosses project was the assignment.

The Art Room shares a space with the Lafayette Gallery, at 50 Lafayette Circle, downtown. The hours the Lafayette Crosses exhibit is open to public viewing correspond with the open hours of the Lafayette Gallery, which are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

-- Sam RichardsInfobox1