The College of the Canyons Art Gallery will present a series of Japanese inspired watercolor and oil paintings produced by renowned Southern California-based artist Sam Erenberg, as the first exhibition of the spring 2014 semester.

Having enjoyed a long and successful career as an abstract artist, painter and filmmaker, Erenberg has been exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Central America, with his works included in numerous collections across the globe.

In 2006, Erenberg spent time as an artist in residence at the famed Awagami Factory in Tokushima, Japan.

Located in the small town of Yamakawa-cho, the factory is famous for hand-making Kozo paper using the traditional Awa Washi process— Japanese papermaking —which produces paper and cloth from locally grown hemp and mulberry.

During his stay at the Awagami Factory, Erenberg created scores of watercolor paintings, eventually titling the series “AWA.”

Erenberg’s exhibition at College of the Canyons will include a showcase of the “AWA Series” in addition to several oil on canvas paintings that were produced shortly after the artist returned from Japan.

A full-color catalog with an accompanying essay by writer Shana Nys Dambrot will also be included as part of the exhibition.

“I am grateful to Mr. Erenberg for the generous loan of his work to College of the Canyons,” said Larry Hurst, director of the COC Art Gallery. “Artwork of this quality — truly high art — provokes deep thought, and this is especially important at the collegiate level.”

The exhibition “Sam Erenberg: AWA” will be on display at the COC Art Gallery fromTuesday, Feb. 11 through Thursday, March 13, 2014.

An artist reception will take place in the Art Gallery from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8.

A special conversation with both Erenberg and Dambrot will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19.

The College of the Canyons Art Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Those unable to visit the gallery during normal hours are welcome to contact the gallery to schedule a viewing appointment.

All gallery exhibitions and related events are free and open to the public. 

For more information about the College of the Canyons Art Gallery or the exhibition “Sam Erenberg: AWA” please visit www.canyons.edu/artgallery.