The Cosumnes River College Art Gallery reopens for its new art show “Chromatic Distortion” on March 5.

The art show will feature abstract paintings from California artists Susan Aulik, Cherie Hacker and Kathleen Thompson.

As the art gallery curator, art professor Yoshio Taylor chose the theme of the show, as well as the artwork that will be displayed.

“I had some reaction, strong reaction, when I was looking at their paintings,” said Taylor. “I selected from several different painters and I came up with these three. I think they’re really strong painters.”

Hacker, who earned her Associate Arts Degree from CRC, said it is an honor to be presenting her work on campus.

In abstract artwork, the artist has to make decisions based on what is happening with the paint, Aulik said. She describes the artist’s interaction with the piece as a “kind of a dialogue.”

Thompson said that people bring their own experience when they view art. Because each person’s perception is different, an abstract piece will mean something different for everybody.

The point isn’t to see the recognizable image, it’s to experience your emotion, your feeling and your reaction, Taylor said.

“You’re actually initiating that conversation with the painting,” Taylor said. “‘What are you? Am I supposed to be seeing something?’ The important thing is that you’re actually spending time to explore and understand what the artist was trying to do. People’s interpretation may be different, especially with this type of painting.”

Hacker said that once her work is out there, she lets go of it. Hacker said she likes to hear the different interpretations, and although she might prefer her work arranged a certain way, she recognizes that others might see the piece differently.

Taylor chose to put on an abstract art exhibit as a contrast to last semester’s “Exploration of Natural Perspective” show, which featured easily recognizable landscape paintings.

“Chromatic Distortion” also differs from last semester’s art show in that the paintings are much larger. The average size of featured art pieces from last semester was 24×34 inches, whereas this show will have paintings of 5×6 feet or 6×8 feet, Taylor said.

“My intention of running this gallery is to bring what I call ‘museum-caliber’ type of an artwork to expose our students as well as nearby community to come and experience that, without going to a museum in San Francisco or anything like that,” said Taylor. “It’s a great opportunity.”

The artists will be at the gallery opening on March 5 to discuss their works. The show will be on exhibition until March 28. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.