Perhaps the hallmark of all true art is its attempt to illuminate something not readily apparent about its subject. A portrait tries to capture the soul of the model as much as facial features; a landscape may try to express the feelings created by the scene; Picasso looked at a bull and saw a simple series of lines. So what Patricia Triumpho Sullivan is attempting with her exhibit, "Esse Quam Videri: To Be Rather than to Seem," is not exactly new. But she has taken an intriguing approach.

The exhibit features nine, life-size, ceramic sculptures of human torsos, each topped with a velvet pad on which rests some object which Sullivan feels represents something about the model''s inner essence.

"Each of my models had something special they shared with me," says Sullivan. "Some things came out verbally; some things came out without saying, made themselves obvious."

Sullivan says the concept of using velvet cushions came to her as a result of trying to think of ways to emphasize the precious nature of each subject''s inner self.

"I was thinking of how I would present something that was very special," says Sullivan. "So I decided to use a velvet cushion on top of each of these torsos I made. Each of the inner things that is being shared is very special."

Among others, items displayed on the cushions include a broken ring, a sand dollar, a stone and a piece of driftwood.

According to Sullivan, she hit on the idea of driftwood for that particular model after hearing about that model''s life.

"This was a person who has travelled quite a bit and never had a home in any certain place," says Sullivan. "During the modeling session, he told me that sometimes he felt like a piece of driftwood, that he never had a place that he called home. He also told me that he was very strong, like a piece of driftwood that could withstand the ocean.

"It''s kind of an inner thing, something you wouldn''t see if you just looked at him."

"Esse Quam Videri" is Sullivan''s fourth exhibit at Hartnell, dating back to 1986. Her previous exhibits have included both photographs and sculpture.

A reception celebrating "Esse Quam Videri" will be held on Saturday, 4-6pm, at the Hartnell College Seminar Gallery, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 758-9126.

Openings

Hartnell College Seminary Gallery "Esse Quam Videri: To Be Rather Than to Seem." Ceramic sculpture "inspired by the inner spirit of each model" who posed for artist Patricia Triumpho Sullivan. 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 758-9126, 443-6161. Reception: 10/17, 2pm. Through: 10/23.

New Masters Gallery Marquetry--inlaid pieces of wood that create painting-like scenes--by Jean-Charles Spindler. Dolores Street, between Ocean and 7th avenues, Carmel. 625-1511. Reception: 10/17, 4pm.

Seaside City Hall Acrylic paintings by Juanita Anderson; ceramics by Kristine Safford. 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. 899-6270. Reception: 10/17, 7pm. Through: 10/30.

Art Listings

Back Porch Fabrics "Quilts and Paintings." Works by Wilda Northrop. 157 Grand Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-4453. Through: 10/15.

Big Sur Village Pub "Mask, Tiki and Mobile Show." Works by Gregory John Hubbard and Cheri Griffith. Highway 1, Big Sur. 667-2355. Through: 11/7.

Carmel Art Association "Watercolor: Four Views." Watercolors by Frieda Golding, Wilda Northrop, Alicia Meheen and William F. Stone, Jr. Dolores Street, between 5th and 6th avenues, Carmel. 624-6176. Through: 11/4.

Carmel Valley Manor "Photographs by Verna Johnston." Close-up photographs of animals, birds, forest scenes and flowers from around the world by Verna Johnston. 8545 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley. 626-4711. Through: 10/30.

Center for Photographic Art "So That the Souls May Sing." Photographs and paintings by Jeffrey Becom celebrating the Day of the Dead. At the Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. 625-5181. Through: 11/1.

Chapman Gallery & Frame Shop Plein air style oil paintings by Ron Elstad. 7th Avenue, between San Carlos and Mission streets, Carmel. 626-1766. Through: 10/15.

Gray''s Art Gallery "Art in Memory Of..." Group exhibit of works commemorating "those who have come before" and the Day of the Dead. 1104 K Broadway Ave., Seaside. 394-2711. Reception: 11/1, 6pm. Through: 11/7.

Grove Homescapes "Botanical Images," fine art photography by Mary Wurtz; "Yellow Boat," paintings by Tory Raggett. 472 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 656-0864. Through: 10/31.

Henry Miller Library "Sculpture ''98." Sculptural works by 21 members of the Pacific Rim Sculptors Group. Highway 1, Big Sur. 667-2574. Through: 11/5.

KAZU Community Room "Music Photography." Color photographs of jazz, rock and blues performers by Coast Weekly music columnist Beth Peerless. 167 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-7275. Through: 10/31.

Monterey Museum of Art "Juried All-Media Show." Works in many media by 95 artists from around the Monterey Bay. "Art From the Collectors'' Guild," paintings from private collections. "The Broken Road," art and poetry by Big Sur children created during the ''97-''98 winter. 559 Pacific St., Monterey. 372-5477. Through: 11/29.

Monterey Public Library "Metal Art in Action." Members of the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild present a photo display depicting the creation of metal sculptures. 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 763-2506. Through: 10/31.

MPC Art Dept. Gallery "MetaLmorphosis." Metal art and prints by Monterey Peninsula College students and faculty. 980 Fremont St., Monterey. 455-0635. Through: 10/30.

Pacific Grove Art Center "Patron''s Show," works by local artists to be raffled off on 10/25. "Reflections," nationally juried art. "French Details," photographs taken in France by Deborah Smolen. 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-2208. Through: 10/25.

Pajaro Valley Gallery "Harvest Home: Farm Works by Local Women Artists." Works "that have something to say about this fertile valley from ancient times to the present" by 12 women artists. 37 Sudden St., Watsonville. 723-3062. Through: 10/17.

Santa Catalina School Gallery "South Mountain/North Mountain." Landscape scrolls by Joan Larkey. 1500 Mark Thomas Dr., Monterey. 655-9350. Through: 10/18.

Valley Art Gallery "The Last of the Robys." A collection of oils and watercolors by the late John Roby. 218 Main St., Salinas. 422-4162. Through: 11/1.

Venture Art Gallery "Printmaking: Nostalgic Imagery." Monoprints by Lesley Anne Spowart. 260 Alvarado Mall, in the Doubletree Hotel, Monterey. 372-6279. Through: 10/30.

Vest Pocket Gallery Still-life paintings by students in the P.G. Adult School class taught by Anita DeCarlo. 551 Gibson Ave., Pacific Grove. 657-5200. Through: 10/31.

Weston Gallery "Italy: In the Shadow of Time." Photographs by Linda Butler. 6th Avenue, between Dolores and Lincoln streets, Carmel. 624-7190. Through: 10/26.

A Woman''s Wellspring Watercolor monotypes exploring "the visually meditative themes of dancers and webs" by Anne Downs. 575 Calle Principal, Monterey. 649-2320. Through: 11/30.

Searle Art Supplies "Contrasting Images in an Artist''s Soul." Monoprints by Antonella Brughera. 639 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. 373-0126. Through: 11/4.

Shallcross Gallery "Triad." Paintings by Sharon Kennedy, Claude Cirimele and Mira Kamada. 499 Calle Prinicipal (upstairs, inside the Galerie Monterey Building), Monterey. 655-0642. Through: 11/12.