Pop-up exhibits help celebrate Turlock’s Carnegie

See them while they last.

That’s the challenge to those who want to view works from four local artists during a series of “pop-up exhibits” at the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock during 2016.

The pop-ups are part of the art center’s centennial year of celebrating the original Carnegie building. Working with four regional artists, the exhibits will highlight the library’s history and aspects of its period architecture while showcasing work being created by artists living in the region.

But don’t blink, because they’ll only be up for 10 days each.

“Because the historic building is in high demand as a venue for parties and events, we had to set aside a few weeks during this special year when we could feature some of our most talented artists in this way,” Director Lisa McDermott said in a press release. “Ten days isn’t much time, but we hope that the community will come and explore each one in turn; these artists will bring a new perspective to the space we all love so much.”

The first of the centennial pop-up shows features work by Turlock artist Gordon Senior, a professor in the art department at California State University, Stanislaus, since 2003. Called “Hares, Birds & Butterflies,” the exhibit will include sculpture and works on paper.

Senior’s work, according to the Carnegie release, explores themes of voyages, migration and transformation – “issues that resonated with him as an artist navigating the transition from his native England to Turlock several years ago.”

A reception for the artist is planned for opening day, Friday, Jan. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The short-but-sweet pop-ups will help celebrate the historic Carnegie, which originally opened in 1916 as a library in Turlock. It was transformed into an arts center in 1979.

But in 2005, two men broke in, stealing a computer, printer and photocopier. In order to cover the theft, they started a fire that gutted the building, leaving only its original walls. Scorched brick remains on one wall now inside the modern expansion that opened anew in 2011.

The nonprofit Carnegie’s programs include exhibits, classes and programs, lectures and other activities in genres that include dance, music and theater – many of which are dedicated to children and teens.

The pop-ups planned include a video installation, more sculpture and prints. Here’s a list of the 10-day exhibits planned for 2016:

Jan. 8-17: Gordon Senior, “Hares, Birds & Butterflies,” sculpture and works on paper

April 8-17: Jessica Gomula-Kruzic, “Modesto Reborn,” video installation

Aug. 12-21: Dean De Cocker, sculpture

Nov. 11-20: Rob Stevenson, prints

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Pop-up exhibits help celebrate Turlock’s Carnegie."