Fundamental Freedoms art exhibit opening at LTCC

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Community College Art Department instructor Shelley Zentner brings her large-scale portraits inspired by stories of freedom and expression to the Fine Arts building’s Foyer Gallery in her exhibit, “Fundamental Freedoms.” Zentner will host an artist reception and talk on Thursday, April 19 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. inside the Foyer Gallery. Mayor of South Lake Tahoe Wendy David will officially open the exhibit at 6:30 p.m., followed by an artist’s talk from Zentner. Wine and canapés will be served, and all are welcome to attend.

Zentner has created seven major new works since the presidential election that will be featured in this exhibit. She felt compelled to contribute in some way to the growing voice of protest, saying, “We are in the midst of a great societal and global paradigm shift, and I feel that the role of artists is to use this negative energy as a catalyst for creativity.”

Each painting explores different aspects of freedom: the freedom to vote, to learn, to explore the natural world, and to escape violence and enslavement. Zentner describes the work as, “a celebration of the heroic efforts of committed, passionate individuals to fight for fundamental freedoms. Diverse as these people are, what they have in common is bravery, curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to endure hardship to help others.”

Other paintings in this exhibit draw attention to lost freedoms. One piece entitled, ‘Lost Property,’ was used in a recent poster campaign by Tahoe Activist Artists to raise awareness about human trafficking in South Lake Tahoe. The oil painting depicts a victim branded by a barcode tattoo, a literal and symbolic representation of the cultural belief that women can be bought and sold.

In counterpoint to this image of suffering is a painting of the serene and beautiful Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban for speaking out in support of education for girls and women. She survived, and became the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace for her continuing work campaigning for the rights of women and girls worldwide.

To compliment this exhibition, a free screening of the award-winning documentary film, He Named Me Malala, will be shown in LTCC’s Duke Theatre on Friday, April 27 at 5:30 pm. A discussion panel will follow.

Local schools are invited to bring groups of children 5th grade and older to learn more about the issues raised by the subjects of each portrait in Zentner’s Fundamental Freedoms exhibit. The artist will be available for short presentations by appointment for the three-month duration of the show, and educational materials will be provided. All of the artworks are for sale, and a percentage of sales will be donated to causes and charities connected to each painting in the exhibit.

Zentner is a Welsh artist who has lived in South Lake Tahoe for 14 years. She is an adjunct faculty member in LTCC’s Art Department, and is also the founder of Tahoe Activist Artists.

After visiting the Foyer Gallery on April 19, all are welcome to the Haldan Art Gallery inside LTCC’s library building for a second exhibit and artist reception from 5pm to 7pm featuring new works created by faculty and staff in LTCC’s Art Department. Artist talks will begin shortly after 5:00 pm. Some of the featured pieces in this show include an additional piece by Zentner, photography by instructor Jim Grant, and much more.

These exhibits will remain open through June 21. The Foyer Gallery in the Fine Arts building can be accessed Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Haldan Art Gallery hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The Haldan Art Gallery phone is (530) 541-4660 x. 711. For more information about these exhibits and LTCC’s Art Department, please contact LTCC art instructor Phyllis Shafer at Shafer@ltcc.edu.