State of the Art NYC: This Week in Latino Art
Photo Credit: Ricky Powell
Twitter: @LaBarbaraaa
State of The Art is Remezcla’s weekly guide to Latin art openings in your city each week. Mingle with art admirers, collectors and casual passersby to check out these new works. And don’t forget to grab a free glass of wine…or three.
Exodus Photography Show
ExitRoomNY is quickly becoming my favorite spot to feel art vibes this year. Their second exhibition in 2014 is a group photography show composed of talented artists with wildly different approaches to multiculturalism and migration. Gianna Leo Falcon’s portraiture shows nuanced human grit while artists Melvin Sanchez & Yeimi Salazar aka Studio Sweet Home’s subject is peculiar scenarios composed of detailed miniature human figures. Other artists include Colombian political refugee Kike Seba, Ricky Powell, Ras Mugadu, Gigi Bio, Marcella Fierro, Stefano Ortega, Josiah Esowe, Rosanna Bach, Fernanda Lenz, Stefano Lemon, Yoav Litvin, Nicola Gnesi, and Ishmail Thoth Ra. The art party will be Thursday February 20th and will include performances by spoken word performer Shane Romero and L.atasha A.lcindor. If you can’t make the party, the studio is open every day from 5 to 8pm.
Exit RoomNY 270 Meserole St. Brooklyn, NY 11206
Ivan Navarro: This Land is Your Land @ Madison Square Park
Water towers holding neon reflections of fractal images signifying ideas of unity, home and progress will be the new public art piece installed at Madison Square Park. Chilean artist Ivan Navarro’s piece is contextualized amid the artist’s own experience of migration from a land that experienced violent dictatorial rule. Navarro blends conceptual ideas of light and repetition with the water tower– a static physical structure that has more history in tradition that contemporary practical use. I can also imagine the mirroring of words and images inside the water will make enchanting chaotic forms, perfect for an artsy Instagram. The unveiling is February 20th.
David Antonio Cruz: alwaysagoodtime
Each event this week in some way speaks about migration. People have been moving about and sorting out their geographical options since the beginning of time. However, regardless of the rainbows of moving peoples with distinct unique histories, the stories of migrants and their journeys can sometimes turn into tropes. The migrant’s story and imagery can come to be overpowered by the dominant group’s idea of what that imagery is. Artist David Antonio Cruz attempts to muddles the narrative of people that migrate, and through his work comments on this idea of a singular or “familiar” story. His chocolate, gold leaf and domestic object mixed media paintings, video projects and installations will be on view at Momenta Art through March 2nd. The gallery is open Friday through Monday from noon to 6pm.