On Sept. 21, 2023, Moorpark College students and community members gathered for an art reception at the Moorpark College Art Gallery to view John Galan’s exhibit, “En Mis Sueños (In My Dreams).”
Galan is of Mexican descent and is an alumnus of Moorpark College. After graduating from California Lutheran University, Galan became a visual art teacher at Moorpark High School.
The exhibit consists of numerous paintings, mostly acrylic on canvas, stemming from Latinx influence. The gallery also features familiar public figures including Frida Kahlo and Selena. Galan spoke about his preferred medium of paint, and how already hopes to expand his art collection even more.
“I typically do art through painting and drawing, but I’m hoping to get more of these pieces in different types of art forms like ceramics,” Galan stated to the audience at the reception.
The gallery contained pieces from his “Organ Series” which displays paintings of food with human organs to show how they are interconnected. His website further describes symbolism for the several natural elements incorporated into his work.
“John now looks to the foods and healing practices passed down by his ancestors to help treat his body and mind. The ongoing series combines the universal archetypes of the lungs, brain, and heart with symbolic imagery from contemporary Chicanx culture and cuisine.”
The next showcase featured “Cerebro de Huitlacoche IV,” a vibrant painting that depicts a blue brain with corn mix inside.
“Corn smut is a fungus that grows along the maize (corn),” Galan said. “In Mexico, it is a delicacy that is known as huitlacoche.” The artist also says he likes the “idea of the smut taking over the brain and being one with the human.”
Each painting has intricate hidden references to Latinx culture that can go unnoticed by the viewer until observing the work several times; one being “Santo y Seña Fresa.”
In this piece, the writing on the box of strawberries says, “”Mijo, in the fields of campesinos, el poder y pensar es mas peligroso que los insecticidas y GMO’s que llenan la panso de America, del capitalismo.”
This translates to, “Darling, in the fields of farmers, power and thinking are more dangerous than the insecticides and GMO’s that fill the breadth of America, of capitalism.”
Galan grew up in the Ventura area right next to Oxnard – the agricultural city known specifically for its strawberry fields. Galan’s art consistently expresses his perspective after growing up around underpaid, hardworking farmers.
Jackie Martinez, a returning Moorpark College student, attended the art reception due to the gallery’s ties to Latinx culture. Martinez shared her thoughts on the showcase content as a local Mexican-American resident.
“I see a connection with Latin farm workers and how they are known for that specifically,” Martinez said. “It saddens me to know that people with Latin backgrounds are mainly known for working in the field, only to know that it is an extremely important and hardworking job that provides the resources we need to survive, but yet they are underpaid, poor, with no benefits and not given enough credit for their hard work”
Martinez also reacted to the artwork’s unique features and the storytelling Galan implements in each piece.
“My first thought was that it was creative but the more you look at the art, you notice that it’s telling a story,” Martinez explained.“The way they used food in relation to organs such as the heart, brain and lungs expresses their dedication to making a living and being persistent to continue providing for us and themselves.”
Galan’s must-see exhibit will be presented in the Administration Building from now until Oct. 13 as a part of Latinx Heritage Month. For more information, click here.
