Sept. 16, 1997 Contact Pauline Austin (541) 346-3129 Editor's Note: Mexican artist Sebastian uses only one name. EUGENE--Oregonians will have a rare opportunity to see sculptures by 11 of the top contemporary artists in Mexico at the 11 x 11 International Sculpture Exhibition, which opens at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland Thursday, Oct. 2, and on the University of Oregon campus Monday, Nov. 3. Eleven Oregon sculptors and 12 Mexican sculptors are participating in the 11 x 11 show that will bring Mexican pieces to Oregon and send Oregon sculptures to Mexico. University of Oregon graduates Francisco Salgado and Kim Campbell, co-owners of Hall of Dreams Studios in Portland, developed the exhibit in partnership with Devin Laurence Field, a UO graduate and noted Portland sculptor. Two participating Mexican sculptors will present a preview of their work at a free public lecture at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in Room 177 of Lawrence Hall, 1190 Franklin Blvd. on the University of Oregon campus. Award-winning sculptors Yvonne Domenge and Sebastian will show slides of their pieces at the Oct. 3 lecture sponsored by the UO Department of Fine and Applied Arts and the UO Office of International Affairs. A 7:30 p.m. reception for the artists will immediately follow the lecture at the LaVerne Krause Gallery in Lawrence Hall. The exhibit organizers selected artists who are established masters as well as artists of new emerging talent for the project to show a truly contemporary look at the art of each country. Salgado and Field say the show will be the first of its kind to connect the Northwest and Mexico. Salgado, a working artist of Mexican descent, organized the show as a way to exhibit his work in his native country and at the same time to promote cultural awareness, goodwill and interest in the fine arts communities of both Mexico and Oregon. "This exhibition will create opportunities to share and exchange ideas about how art impacts culture," explains Salgado. "By presenting the works in each respective country, a bridge is being built that crosses borders and celebrates a universal commitment to art." Laura Alpert, UO fine arts department head, says the show offers Oregonians a rare opportunity to view works by such artists as Sebastian, whose monumental works are exhibited in Japan, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and New York; Jorge Marin, whose highly sought after figurative works have sold out in gallery shows internationally; and Yvonne Domenge, whose work is part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Monterrey and the Museum of Modern Art of the State of Mexico. Other Mexican sculptors in the show include Humberto Del Olmo, Yolanda Gutierrez, Miriam Medrez, Sara Mekler, Kiyoto Ota Okuzawa, Maribel Portela, Paloma Torres, Marco A. Vargas and Oscar Zamarripa. All of the Oregon artists, whose sculptures are being exhibited in Mexico, have connections with the University of Oregon. For more information, contact the UO Department of Fine and Applied Arts, (541) 346-3610. -30- #P-6012/Local,A&E,OrDailies