Art is a puzzle.
That’s a phrase professor Tina Medina likes to share with her students, and she’s been helping them solve that puzzle since joining Dallas College as an art professor in 2006. After almost two decades of teaching students, it never gets old when she sees a student figure out a solution to the puzzle.
“They come up with things I’ve never seen before,” Medina said. “I’ll say, ‘Wow! That works. Let’s do that.’ So, in some ways they’re teaching me by showing me different ways to solve that puzzle of art.
“I always say, ‘This is a great gig.’ Not only am I teaching something that I love and that I do myself, but I’m also learning things throughout the process. Even after 20 years, which seems like a long time, I still learn every semester.”
Staying Involved
Along with becoming a respected professor, Medina has also stayed involved in the art industry. She is part of the Nuestra Artist Collective which will have an exhibit called “Entre Mundos” opening later this month at the Moudy Gallery at TCU in Fort Worth.
The exhibit opens Thursday, Jan. 16 and runs through Thursday, Jan. 30.
According to a news release sent out by the collective, the exhibit “focuses on the broader concept of Nepantla — a space for anyone who has ever felt caught between worlds, identities or expectations.”
The exhibit is designed to celebrate the beauty and tension of existing “entre mundos” — between worlds. Medina is also excited about how the collective has made the exhibit interactive where visitors can become part of the artwork by writing responses on paper and placing it in the space.
“We want the viewer to contribute by answering questions and adding to it,” Medina said.
Among the types of artwork displayed include video installations, large-scale paintings, photography and other individual work.
At the end of the day, Medina believes there will be pieces that resonate with every type of viewer as most can relate to the overarching theme of living in multiple worlds.
Medina’s work will also be displayed later in the month as part of an exhibit called “Quince Latinas: One Common Thread” at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas from Jan. 25-Feb. 26.
Why Dallas College?
Medina is a great example of the type of faculty members at Dallas College as many are still actively involved in their respective fields. That ensures real-world and practical advice is being shared to students.
That is something that has always set Dallas College apart from other higher education institutions.
As Medina tells her students, “Here at a community college, you have smaller classes and you’re able to get one-on-one interaction with someone who not only has their degrees but has experience. We’re successful individuals. I don’t want to brag, but I feel like I’ve been really accomplished.
“I love teaching here and having that smaller classroom setting where I can talk one-on-one with students. I love speaking to them and interacting with them.”
