SALINAS, Calif. — Hartnell College Gallery will open the 2025-26 academic year with Roots to Horizons, an exhibition celebrating three milestones: the 90th anniversary of Hartnell’s Art Department (1936), the 50th anniversary of the Visual Arts Building (1977), and the completion of a two-year renovation.

The exhibition highlights generations of faculty and artists who shaped the department, from founding instructor Leon Amyx to present-day faculty. Roots to Horizons features works by Chris Bassett, Joe Bragdon, Eric Bosler, Robert Butterbaugh, Philip T Cerney, Maureen Fenton, Georgesse Gomez, JC Gonzalez, Johanna Keefe, Jerri Nemiro, Pam Murakami, Eduardo Ramos, Lesha Maria Rodriguez, Leon Amyx, Marshall Sharpe, Gary Smith, and Trish Triumpho Sullivan.

Roots to Horizons also marks the arrival of Marshall Sharpe as Hartnell’s new gallery director and full-time art instructor. Sharpe brings both administrative experience and a strong artistic practice to the position, underscoring the college’s vision of uniting teaching, exhibitions, and community engagement. His own paintings, shown alongside those of his colleagues, highlight the vitality of the department and point toward its future.

A closing reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Thursday, Oct. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the brick courtyard on the north side of Building J (411 Central Ave., Salinas, CA 93901) to celebrate the reopening of the college’s revitalized hub for the visual arts. The event is free and open to the public, with drinks and appetizers provided.

The Visual Arts Building renovation was funded by Measure T bond initiatives, with additional support from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, an anonymous donor, the Burrell Leonard Art Gallery Endowment, and other private donors to the Hartnell College Foundation.

For more information and to view Hartnell’s permanent collection, visit hartnellcollegegallery.org. Local artists interested in participating in future exhibitions may contact Gallery Director Marshall Sharpe at dsharpe@hartnell.edu

About Hartnell College

Located in the heart of Salinas Valley, Hartnell Community College District is a leading institution serving over 12,000 students annually across our main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus, and education centers in King City, Castroville, and Soledad. HCCD is a Seal of Excelencia Certified institution and a recognized Hispanic-serving institution since 2000. We offer associate and bachelor's degrees and certificate programs to prepare students for successful transfer to four-year universities or immediate entry into the workforce. Learn more about our programs and initiatives.

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