The Kachina Lounge and Gallery has had some very interesting recent exhibitions, like Jill Renne-Smith’s “”Forgotten Girls,”” which makes the current exhibit “”The Last Sin & The Mending Tree”” by Ernesto Trujillo comparatively lackluster. Simple prints of black ink splotches resemble Rorschach tests while what looks like wrought-iron squares checker an entire wall. The Rorschach tests are supposed to represent the sinful self that is dealing with turmoil. This makes sense, since the lines and swirls of the prints are confusing and very abstract. The square pieces may represent slabs of tree bark from “”The Mending Tree,”” which seems to be a mythical tree that will heal the sinful human soul. The exhibit has biblical and redemptive undertones, but only due to its name. Looking at the art you’d be hard-pressed to make any conjectures except that someone was doodling in an insane asylum after taking a Rorschach test.

The Kachina Gallery is probably prepping its walls for greater exhibitions to come, especially because they are currently accepting applications for exhibition for the upcoming year. As it stands, this exhibit is easy on the eyes and almost too abstract for contemplation since there is almost nothing to latch on to and expound upon in greater detail. Everything is simply formed together, and while abstraction is a usual staple in the work of Trujillo, whose sometimes gigantic paintings reflect emotions and energy through raw abstract forms, this is not a display of what he is capable of. Trujillo is a veteran of the UA’s art galleries and you will probably be able to see some of his more enthralling work throughout the year. This exhibit, however, just doesn’t measure up.