LUX Center for the Arts hosts exhibition by Santiago Cal and Joshua D. Lux alongside fundraiser for local resident battling cancer.

On Friday, August 1, LUX Center for the Arts welcomed guests for a powerful First Friday opening reception featuring Roots and Shoots, a collaborative exhibition by artists and longtime friends Santiago Cal and Joshua D. Lux. In addition to the exhibition, the evening included a heartfelt community fundraiser to support Joshua Lux, a local resident (not to be confused with artist Joshua D. Lux) currently undergoing treatment for a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Roots and Shoots explores visual, emotional, and sensory perceptions through light, sound, sculpture, and photography. Though their artistic approaches differ, both Cal and Lux share a deep interest in how people process experience and expand their understanding of humanity.

Joshua D. Lux’s installation created a deeply immersive space with the help of sound therapist Jennifer Bacwar (Blue Bindu), who offered a continuous sound bath performance during the event. Her practice grounded the experience in healing and resonance, aligning with the themes of perception and care.

Santiago Cal’s sculptural work examines the human condition through scale, material, and symbolism. Using wood, ductwork, and personal references such as suitcases and chanclas, his work evokes emotional vulnerability and the complexities of cultural memory.

The artists’ collaborative history, over two decades of shared projects and experimentation, infused the exhibition with a sense of mutual trust, exploration, and emotional depth.

Alongside the opening, guests had the opportunity to support the fundraiser for Joshua Lux through the purchase of limited-edition photographic prints by Joshua D. Lux and locally grown plants generously donated by Oak Creek Plants and Flowers. All proceeds from these sales are being directed toward Joshua’s ongoing care.

The LUX Center extends sincere thanks to Jennifer Bacwar for her generous participation, and to Oak Creek for their support. The exhibition Roots and Shoots is on view through August 30, 2025, in the West Gallery.