Self-contained art: Variety of abstract pieces featured in UVAL exhibit

‘In the Abstract’

WHERE: Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St., Mission

WHEN: Through May 31

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

CONTACT: (956) 591-0282 or www.uppervalleyartleague.org

COST: Free and open to the public

“In the Abstract” is an exciting deviation from the representational fare that usually dominates the Upper Valley Art League space.

With submission guidelines restricting works to those based on the Abstract genre — art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures — the show is surprisingly large with 33 artists showing 87 artworks.

“I was surprised about what people define as abstract art,” summarized Veronica Lucas, acting registr