SURFACE TREATMENT: Hidalgo Watercolor Society

This exhibit is the artistic equivalent of comfort food. Non-confrontational and colorful, watercolors with an emphasis on traditional subject matter, it offers the viewer a pleasant respite from daily concerns. “Splashes of Color,” presented by the Hidalgo Water Color Society is hosted by the Upper Valley Art League and is currently on display at the Kika de la Garza Art Center.

Offering historical background, Renee Johnson, Chairperson of the watercolor exhibit, said, “The Hidalgo Watercolor Society has been active for about twenty years, and was originally located in Pharr, then UVAL offered the use of this wonderful building for our activities; we offer workshops and have beginners as well as people who have been painting for 30 years. We all share our talents with each other, and we just want everybody to have a great time.” Although they are a distinct from the Art League core, these watercolorists are Art League members. The two organizations share camaraderie.

Art as a means of social bonding is evident in this exhibit. With few exceptions, the artistic themes seem to reflect shared interests. Different categories of subjects are acknowledged and are displayed in thematic groupings. Works depicting floral expressions comprise about a third of the show. Watercolorist Dee Tunseth has several works on display, including images of single blooms that demonstrate a strong degree of focus and smooth technical control.

 “I’ve been watercoloring about ten years, confessed Tunseth.”

Commenting on her close-up treatment of the unfurling blossom in Pretty in Pink, she said, “I went taking photographs and moving in closely, I don’t know, the color and the light just seemed right.” The flower is shown slightly to the side; we do not see into the center of the flower. It remains a mystery saturated in a deep rose hue. Another notable watercolor by Tunseth, Catch of the Day, lightheartedly depicts her grandsons on a fishing holiday.

On the opposite wall, watercolors of wildlife hold court, with images of birds dominating. Elsewhere, there are scattered occurrences of landscape, mixed media, and less traditional expressions. My Mother’s Hands by Geraldine Best is a sensitive portrayal of her mother preparing food. Carol J. Hansen has developed a visually rich watercolor collage technique. Her work, Let the spirit Speak, is filled with delicate details, textures, and colors expressing Native American spiritual phenomenon.

C.J. Hansen, Marilyn Daun, Della Thompson, and Juanita Gibson have works too numerous to frame and hang. Portfolios of their watercolors in are strategically arranged in exhibition bins.

Overall, “Splashes of Color” suggests a neighborhood aesthetic. In this case, the “neighborhood” is a gathering of watercolorists who work together and are unified in their artistic purpose. “We have thirty-nine active watercolorists, with ninety-three paintings on exhibit,” said Johnson; “We have quite a great show in here.”

Nancy Moyer, Professor Emerita of Art from UTPA, is an art critic for The Monitor. She may be reached at nmoyer@rgv.rr.com