The University of Guam’s Isla Center for the Arts will present “Memories of My Papa,” a solo exhibition by Guam artist Rioanne Simeon, on view from Aug. 27 through Oct. 9.
A free public opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Isla Center for the Arts in Dean’s Circle on the University of Guam campus, according to a news release.
Memories of My Papa is a deeply personal exhibition that reflects on love, loss, and the enduring presence of a cherished family figure through fragments of memory and emotion, the release stated.
Through intimate ceramic works and expressive imagery, Simeon explores how memories persist not as a single narrative but as layered impressions of faces, gestures, and familiar moments that continue to resurface over time.
The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the fluid nature of memory, where absence and presence coexist and everyday moments often hold the greatest meaning. While rooted in the artist’s personal experience, the work encourages viewers to reconnect with their own memories of family, love, and remembrance.
“Personal stories are what define our lives,” Jerrold Dwayne Castro, coordinator of the Isla Center, said in a statement. “Rioanne’s showing is a testament to the goal of Isla, which is to showcase talented artists and present their stories to the community. Her personal story is a powerful example of how art resonates across generations and links communities through shared experiences.”
Simeon, a UOG alumna, uses ceramics to explore themes of memory, family, and identity, according to the release. Her work draws on personal experiences and combines illustration with handcrafted ceramic forms, inviting viewers to reflect on the moments and relationships that shape their lives.
The Isla Center for the Arts is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is closed Sundays and holidays. For more information, call or text via WhatsApp at (671) 735-2965 or email islacenter@gmail.com.