Fullerton, CA    Sculptor, S.A. Hawkins had his MFA thesis exhibition open this past saturday at Cal State Fullerton and rocked it! Alongside the large and impressive Faculty exhibit, S.A. took both of the other galleries (The East Gallery and the West Gallery) on the CSUF campus and dominated the night. His abstract and hypnotic glass and metal artworks are surprising and comforting, compelling narratives involving abstract life forms made of glass, metal, rust, found objects, and brightly colored silicone creating interesting non-verbal conversations within the institution and within the art space.
The sandblasted glass creatures seem to flow and slide around in their metal plains, unable to penetrate our world, but reflecting a similar life in their own way. Looking at these pieces, the viewer can feel a variety of nostalgic and sentimental feelings, looking in on a personal expression, relating and reflecting the human experience. It’s inspiring.
This artist has a way of captivating history and tradition and involving contemporary and edgy practices in art-making. One of the busiest nights I’ve seen in Fullerton, Hawkins’ work made the faculty exhibition look outdated and lackluster in comparison, though on its own, the faculty exhibition was a blockbuster show for CSUF. The two galleries are so different in juxtaposition they complement each other perfectly. As the title infers, Duae Personae: Vitrum/Ferrum screams “split-personality” with one space invoking the salon-style of exhibition like the old Italian Masters–with a hodge podge of work, ranging in size and in concept, and the other space looking ahead in contemporary expression–with the modern exhibition style of the white cube gallery.

There is something very entrancing and provocative about this kind of work. I think the play between abstraction and the familiar, as well as the subtle energy persuasions in the composition are strong and relatable to most viewers. the shine of the glass next to the rough and rusted hard and heavy metal create a provocative relationship, and the silicone adds a curious inquiry into who this artist is and what kind of art practice is involved with this creative and unique work.

This show is definitely a must-see, and by the looks of it, this artist is going places, and keeping tabs on him is definitely going on my to do list. Check it out.

CSUF East and West Galleries

800 State College Blvd. Fullerton, CA.

Visual Arts Department

www.sahawkins.com

This artist also is in the Brea municipal gallery’s current exhibition, So-Cal: A Graduate Introspective as well as a large number of amazing So-Cal grad students.