Peeling back the many layers of Alison Saar’s artwork uncovers mythical, political and personal symbolism that draws attention to cultural controversy.

Saar, a nationally recognized African American artist, will bring her sculptures, drawings and prints to City College’s Atkinson Gallery. She will also donate five one-foot tall sculptures to support the art department. And local artists believe her pieces encompass broad historical meaning, allowing the viewer to look beyond the work itself.

“Being a woman and being biracial, I think I have a tendency to be seen specifically through lenses by other people and it’s interesting for me to establish my own ideas and point of view about those things,” Saar said.

Growing up around a family of artists in Los Angeles, Saar has the ability to draw inspiration from found elements, her personal history and American culture. Born to an African American mother and white father, Saar has been able to connect with both sides of her culture.

Her mother Betye is also a nationally known artist who Atkinson Gallery director Dane Goodman described as “truly one of the first most famous female artists nationally recognized in America.”

“Some would say it was a disadvantage to rebel against our parents to become artists,” said Saar. “But it’s what we’ve been since we were young.”

Saar said she’s been inspired by the art her parents made, their ability to create a family and their success in both endeavors.

“She and her family represent the new face of American art,” Goodman said.

Goodman invited Saar to judge the annual Small Images exhibit at the Atkinson two years ago. It was then when he asked her to have an exhibit in the gallery but have not had time to do so since now.

The pieces shown in the gallery will play into her family history and her culture. “Bat Boyz,” “Sweeping Beauty” and “Blue Plate Special” are all pieces playing into her concern and perspective of cultural issues.

Goodman said the piece “Bat Boyz,” a number of carved faces on the end of baseball bats, could represent an African American war club or the Negro baseball leagues from the 1950s.

Saar said when she titles her works, she gives the names levity because the imagery is so heavy.

The piece “Sweeping Beauty” is a play on women’s roles and their hair. Saar said she uses a lot of hair in her work because part of what describes her as an African American is her kinky and wiry hair.

Saar and Goodman, Art Department Chair Ed Inks, and instructors Nevin Littlehale and Christopher Bates created 10 one-foot tall bronze pieces in City College’s art department out of Saar’s design.

The team purchased 2,000 pounds of bronze and poured the sculptures over the past few months. Saar has made numerous visits and Littlehale is finishing the pieces this week. Saar has agreed to give the Atkinson Gallery five of the sculptures to do anything with.

The piece they created, titled “Inheritance,” consists of a bronze sculpture of a girl with a large, hand-woven cloth ball on her head.

Goodman said the piece allows the viewers to ask themselves is she inheriting the history of the past pertaining to slavery or the big weight of women’s traditional roles.

“I think they’re very loaded, marvelous pieces. Artists are supposed to evoke somebody in the audience,” Littlehale said. “[Saar] makes you think about African American issues and stereotypes.”

Saar said she likes her ideas to come across through her work but also likes that her pieces can also come across on a personal level.

“I think it’s a really nice piece,” Bates said. “You can tell a story to yourself through it.”

Goodman said she is an important American artist.

“I think its great that our school has the opportunity to have such a well known artist come share her work with the art students here as well the whole city of Santa Barbara,” said art student Marcos Carreno. “It is a great chance for students to see what is happening in the world of contemporary art and see what it takes to become recognized.”

Saar said that her favorite piece that she has created is “Proclamation,” a six foot tall cast bronze braid that has been cut.

“I’ve had two children, one that’s in the second year of college and one that’s 16 and it resembles cutting my strings and allowing myself to pursue new things in my art,” Saar said. “It’s an icon for where I want my work to go.”

Saar looks back on her work and sees it differently. She sees the future as an opportunity to start on a new direction.

“As her time goes on her star will rise even higher because of the work she’s done and will do,” Goodman said.

Saar’s exhibit begins Nov. 11 in the Atkinson Gallery. The gallery will also host a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 13. She will also host a lecture as part of the art department’s lecture series at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 in Room 101 in the Physical Science building.