Mariano Gonzales discusses his show “Swimming Upstream” on May 4, 2017 at Kenai Fine Art Center in Kenai. The show will hang until May 27. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Mariano Gonzales discusses his show “Swimming Upstream” on May 4, 2017 at Kenai Fine Art Center in Kenai. The show will hang until May 27. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Swimming Upstream’ on display until May 27

Be careful with what you touch at the Kenai Fine Art Center this month— you may get shot by Mariano Gonzales’ piece “Don’t Touch My Cheese” in his show “Swimming Upstream,” which opened May 4 and will hang until May 27.

“For some reason, I wanted to make a piece of art that will shoot you in the face. It’s a snarky little piece, but I’m a snarky little guy,” Gonzales said of the work, which features a life-sized hand, holding a gun while guarding a second gun, a bible and the American flag — representing guns, God and militarism.

For the safety-concerned art critics Gonzales reassured that while on display, the piece’s swinging arm is locked and neither of the firearms are loaded.

“Mr. Gonzales looks past the impression of a perfect world to challenge and recognize what underlies the gloss of American life,” according to the Kenai Fine Art Center website.

Gonzales, who works as a professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, uses mixed media in conjunction with his computer and Adobe Photoshop to bring his art to life. He described the computer as a tool, integrating its power with wood, metal, prints and paints to create.

“I’m starting to realize what a computer is good for. It’s a tool, and without you a tool is nothing,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales is the coordinator of Digital Design and Printmaking at University of Alaska. He has taught a wide array of art courses at the university and has led art workshops across Alaska.

“A lot of the places I’ve gone to are not physical, they’re virtual. … It’s a totally different landscape,” Gonzales said.

At the opening night of “Swimming Upstream” on May 4, Gonzales held a small demonstration of how he comes up with some of his artistic ideas, what he calls ideation.

“It’s thinking about everything. I’m trying to find something, trying to divine what is here,” Gonzales said.

He took a random image from a web search — a photo of Swiss cheese, an apparent theme of Thursday’s opening — and manipulated it using Photoshop. The photo transformed into a piece of art in under five minutes, at which point Gonzales stepped back and said, “I hate it.”

“The computer allows you to look at things that might be possible, if you like it you keep it,” Gonzales said. “If you don’t, you delete it. What could be better than that?”

Gonzales has had previous solo exhibitions in the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center and in the Pan American Arte Galerie in Regensburg, Germany. He has also received the Outstanding Individual Award from the Anchorage Mayor’s Awards for the Arts.

Gonzales received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from University of Anchorage Alaska and his master’s in fine arts from Rhode Island School of Design. He has been a professor with the University of Alaska Anchorage for over 25 years.

“The thing that motivates me is a sense of exploration,” Gonzales said. “I don’t do anything straight.”

The show will hang until May 27 at the Kenai Fine Art Center, 816 Cook Ave. in Old Town Kenai. All galleries are open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Reach Kat Sorensen at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com

More in News

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management)
Assembly OKs concrete lease in Cooper Landing

The vote came amid widespread community opposition to the agreement

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Children hunt for Easter eggs during the Easter Eggstravaganza at Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Saturday.
Easter eggs, bunnies arrive on the Kenai Peninsula

There are plenty of opportunities to grab a photo with the Easter bunny or seek out some eggs

Flier for Bear Awareness and Electric Fencing Workshops. (Provided by Defenders of Wildlife)
Local workshops to focus on managing bear attractants, electric fencing

The series will run Monday through Friday, April 1-5, in Hope, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna and Homer

A person walks up the steps of the Alaska Capitol, Jan. 16, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Some KPBSD schools could benefit from internet bill passed by House

If House Bill 193 becomes law, an additional six KPBSD schools would be eligible for the state’s grant program

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A veterinarian with Greater Good Charities escorts dog Maggie into a free spay/neuter clinic at the Moose Pass Fire Station on Thursday.
Moose Pass rallies behind free spay and neuter clinic

The clinic was put on by Greater Good Charities Good Fix program

Signage marks the entrance to Nikiski Middle/High School on Monday, May 16, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski student arrested after school shooting threats

The juvenile student faces charges of terroristic threatening

Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bjorkman farm tax relief bill clears Senate

The bill is now up for consideration in the House

Most Read