A new kind of art exhibit is going on at Mission Arts Center, showing the culmination of Eugenia Ortiz’s artistic journey. Previously a textile artist, Ortiz shifted her focus after completing her MFA in 2011. Moving from textiles to painting, she traded muted hues for a more colorful palette, including vibrant blues highlighted by brilliant reds and yellows, reflecting her Hispanic ancestry. Ortiz’s art is shaped by her study of the hexagon in the natural world, a shape that still frames everything she creates—from canvas to clothing.Â
“It’s the strongest structure in nature,” Ortiz says of the hexagon. “It’s the most efficient, holds the most volume—and it’s made by bees, the greatest architects in nature.” She incorporates eggshells and fibers into her work today, often forming the same pattern—the hexagon. Crushed eggshells add texture to her already vibrant works, and her immersive art experience, RESURGENCE, also incorporates 3-D and black-light effects into several pieces.Â
The immersive show runs through November 11 and includes several special events, including a Black Light DJ party, a Sip and Paint party run by Ortiz, and live painting on clothes by Ortiz. “I’m still exploring and discovering,” she says, which is reflected in her art. “Although it’s been over 20 years, it still feels to me as if I am just getting started.”