Citrus alumna created the “Chasing Blossoms” art show at Citrus’ Visual Art Gallery.
Nada Fakhreddine, a Citrus alumna, created the “Chasing Blossoms” show with the help of Citrus’ Visual Art Gallery Director and art professor, Dyane Duffy.
Fakhreddine said she started working on the art displayed in this show in 2023 for a different solo show she had called “Moments of Bloom.”
She said she finished the other half of the paintings not displayed in her solo show in 2023 right before the “Chasing Blossoms” gallery opened.
Depictions of nature and moments of creativity were Fakhreddine’s main inspiration.
“Nature is a symbol,” she said. “I borrow from the garden and get seed-like creativity. That’s where I got the idea of bloom and chasing blossoms.”
Fakhreddine said she usually gets inspiration for her art from photos, but this time, she took her inspiration from her garden.
“‘Chasing Blossoms’ means chasing the idea of how the art will become beautiful and bloom,” she said.
Fakhreddine was a student in Duffy’s class around 12 years ago and kept in contact with her after she graduated from Citrus.
When she graduated in December 2023 from Claremont Graduate College, Duffy came to see her solo thesis show “Moments of Bloom” and Fakhreddine got an opportunity to create a gallery at Citrus.
Fakhreddine said her favorite photo of the gallery was based on a photo of herself. The painting, titled “Longing Memories,” depicts memories of joy, she said.
Main symbols seen in her paintings are chairs and flowers.
“I would call it naturalistic and loose with brush work style, though I wouldn’t say she falls under a specific style,” Duffy said.
Fakhreddine described her style as mixing abstract backgrounds.
Duffy’s art students had positive things to say about the “Chasing Blossoms” show and Fakhreddine herself.
“She is really talented, I had to take photos and videos to show my family,” Citrus art student Cassie Gutierrez said.
The “Chasing Blossoms” show at Citrus College has been deemed “inspirational” by a Citrus College art student.
“I’ve been meaning to bring my parents here,” Citrus art student Leonardo Monroy said. “I’m currently working on a painting right now and when I went down there (the art gallery) I was inspired.”
Duffy’s art students were not the only ones who had positive things to say.
“I’m happy to have this gallery and happy that she gave me an opportunity to be here,” she said. “I’m grateful that she believes in what I’m doing.”
More information on Fakhreddine and her upcoming projects can be found here.
26 acrylic paintings are currently displayed in the gallery and will be open until May 20.
The next gallery to claim residence at Citrus’ Visual Art Gallery will be a student show called, “Chromatic Echoes.”
Duffy said any student can submit two pieces of artwork for the gallery, regardless of their major.
The artwork drop off date for the show is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m May 21-23.
The “Chromatic Echoes” show will be open June 3 – Sept. 17.
More information on the upcoming art shows can be found here.
