Land Report Collective, featuring Sculpture Professor Leticia Bajuyo, Makes Corpus Christi Debut

As an artists’ group based in Wyoming, Tennessee, and Corpus Christi, Land Report Collective focuses on exploring geopolitical issues connected to the environment and the landscape. The six-artist collective, which includes Leticia Bajuyo, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Assistant Professor of Sculpture, makes its Corpus Christi debut at the Islander Gallery at 4024 Weber Rd., with a performance, panel discussion, and opening reception on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 5-7 p.m.

Dr. Laura Petican, Director of University Galleries, said the exhibit “Land Report Collective: West I” features two- and three-dimensional artwork that reflect inter- and cross-disciplinary perspectives from collective members Leticia Bajuyo, Jason S. Brown, Brian R. Job, David L. Jones, Patrick Kikut, and Shelby Shadwell.

“The collective’s members work in a contemporary aesthetic language, so the work is relevant to a broad audience but also to our students, who are emerging practicing artists,” Petican said. “There will be some performance and installation work as well as some 2-D works in the show – some paintings, for example – but it will be primarily based in the foundational and unifying interest in sculpture.”

As part of the panel discussion, Land Report Collective members, including one who will participate via Skype, will discuss the dynamic of their collective practice with a focus on some of the works featured in the exhibition.

The collective has participated in numerous exhibitions across the U.S. since making its debut at Hanover College in Indiana in January 2015. Other exhibitions have been held at the University of Tennessee, Murray State University in Kentucky, and at Coop Gallery in Nashville. Earlier this month, members Bajuyo and Brown co-chaired a panel discussion at the 2019 College Art Association Conference, which was titled, “Land Art Reconsidered: land use, water rights and indigenous sovereignty,” in New York City.  

Petican said collective exhibitions are somewhat uncommon at the University Galleries due to their heightened logistical planning and funding requirements, so there is a great sense of excitement among students and faculty in anticipation of the reception and exhibition. 

“It’s not only a chance for artists and the community to experience cutting-edge contemporary art, but it’s also an educational opportunity for our students to see how contemporary artists are forging their practices in our current geographical and geopolitical environments,” she said. 

Following the Feb. 28 reception, the exhibition will be on display through April 7. The exhibition is made possible by the support of the Cotillion Club of Corpus Christi, the Friends of the University Galleries and The Arts Grant Program, which is funded by hotel occupancy tax funds collected by the City of Corpus Christi through the Arts & Cultural Commission. The Islander Gallery is free and open to the public; gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday.

If you go 

• What: Opening reception for “Land Report Collective: West I”
• Where: Islander Art Gallery, 4024 Weber Rd.
• When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28
• Cost: Free
• More information: tamucc.edu/art/Galleries.html