By Myracle Mugol
After a five-year hiatus, the Guam Art Exhibit, or GAX, made a highly anticipated return, announcing GAX NOW. This year's exhibit paid homage to the community of artists who have inspired GAX while creating a platform for fresh, innovative voices.
GAX NOW, which opened on June 20 and will run until June 30, drew a significant crowd of locals, tourists, artists and art enthusiasts to the gallery at The Dusit Place.
Visitors experienced a diverse blend of creative expressions unified by themes of strength, perseverance, and resilience. The GAX NOW exhibition is a collaborative collection of more than 40 artists, whose works evoke powerful themes related to identity, culture and impact.
One standout section of the exhibit featured refurbished and painted skateboards by Frank “Live” Candaso Jr., which offered an interactive experience when viewed with a smartphone using the Arloops App. This innovative piece captivated visitors, merging traditional art with modern technology.
Another highlight was a section by GAX artist veteran Jeff Egan. His work, "Table for One," is an oil and resin piece presented in a ceramic bowl.
“The ramen bowl symbolizes a sense of comfort and an endless source of individuality. A meal made for one by one," Egan explains in his artist's statement. "The ramen presented depicts this warm playfulness and reflects our complex preferences for consumption. In times of solitude, we’re able to slow down and let our resourcefulness pave the way for creativity. Instead of dwelling on and in the holes imposed by Covid and Mawar, we should embrace the depth and strength these events brought forth in us.”
In one corner stands a remarkable 3-D piece by Abby Crain. This unique sculpture of a manta ray is composed entirely of beach trash that the artist found while combing the shores of Guam.
Crain's work exemplifies circular creativity, transforming discarded materials into a stunning work of art. Her piece not only highlights the environmental issue of beach pollution but also showcases the potential of upcycling to create something beautiful and meaningful from what was once considered waste.
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