Crossing Borders/Cruzando Fronteras

By -
The United States is a mosaic of people and cultures; there is no other country in the world with more diversity. Almost all of us have a recent or distant ancestor who has crossed a border to get where they are today. Historically, waves of immigrants from various parts of the world have populated and enriched our shores. We have embraced our diverse history and our thriving culture based on the patchwork of immigration; yet, there have also been anti-immigration sentiments. Today the civic discourse between those who see immigration as a source of strength for our country and those who see it as dangerous to our way of life focuses mainly on people entering the States from Latin America. Unfortunately, this national dialogue has become dichotomized into ‘us versus them,’ ‘liberals versus conservatives,’ and ‘Democrats versus Republicans.’ The nuances of this intricate concept get lost in impassioned debates, and the topic is only addressed in starkly contrasting blacks and whites.



The exhibit Crossing Borders/Cruzando Fronteras is presented in the belief that painters, photographers, sculptors, puppeteers, guitar makers, lace makers, and architects can promote civic discourse that included shades of gray (and a rainbow of colors.) This exhibit includes a diverse group artists working in a variety of medias. Some of the images and objects created by these artists reflect directly on the experience of leaving ones home, crossing a border, and settling in a new place. Others engage more broadly with questions and dilemmas posed by immigration.

Hera Gallery is pleased to be showcasing the work of Diane Barcelo, Claudia Flynn, Valerie Mendoza, Abel A. Ortiz, Alexandra Copley, Faith Hagenhofer, Barbara Milot, Agustin Patino, Isis Falk Donnelly, Linda LaBella, Victoria Lockard Morton, Prince V. Thomas, Ana Flores, Christine LoFaso Blake Novotny, and Troy West.

Concurrent events will include music, films, and a panel discussion. Please visit the Hera Gallery website for further details.

This exhibit is part of a larger collaborative project developed jointly by the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative and Hera Gallery with support from many individuals and community organizations. The goal of the project is to promote civic engagement and dialog on the theme of immigration. A joint exhibit, Crossing Borders: Redefining the Dream will be exhibited at the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative Gallery located at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860 May 11 through June 21, 2008. For more information regarding this show please visit the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative website, www.pawtucketartscollaborative.org.

Top to Bottom:  Prince V. Thomas, Assimilations; Alexandra Copley, Norma With Bad Apple; Agustin Patino, Immigrants With Five Senses. 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Artists From The Mill At Shady Lea

By -
Hera Gallery is pleased to present “Artists From Shady Lea Come to Hera,” an exhibition featuring the eclectic works of the artists from the Mill at Shady Lea. This show will feature the works of Jane Bailey, Roberto Bessin, Jon Campbell, Barbara Crane, Jeff Elsbecker, Jody Eyre, Susan Hayward, Karen Imbriale, Sandra Krupp, Sew Many Things, and Amanda Wright. The Mill hosts a vibrant and thriving community of makers; tucked away on Mattatuxet River, the Shady Lea Mill is home to over forty artists, craftsmen, and designers. Continually changing and expanding, the Mill is an organic entity thriving off of the creativity of its tenants. “Artists From Shady Lea Come to Hera” will present the diversity of work created by select tenants of Shady Lea. Included in this biopsy will be the large format pastel drawings by Jane Bailey. Bailey’s paintings are laced with a sense of poetic loneliness, and allows for the pastel drawings to examine depth of light and space. Similarly, Barbara Cr...
Read more

CALL FOR ENTRIES: "Landscape at the Edge: Contemporary Views"

By -
H E R A  G A L L E R Y Is pleased to announce an open call for… Landscape At The Edge: Contemporary Views Juror: Michele L’Heureux is a working artist, Gallery Director of The Beard and Weil Galleries at Wheaton College, and Curator of the Kniznick Gallery at Brandeis University. Concept: The contemporary viewing of the landscape is pluralistic and reflective of human relationships to the natural and manmade environment. This national juried show seeks a varied perspective on what contemporary landscape is through the artist’s engagement with the subject. We seek to explore the meaning of place, political or environmental issues related to the landscape, urban and rural landscapes, natural and manmade landscapes, or other points of view. Application Deadline: Friday, February 7th, 2014.   Exhibition Dates:   Saturday, April 5 th - Saturday, May 3 rd , 2014 Opening Reception: Saturday, April 5 th 2014, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Eligib...
Read more

Notes From The Coast

By -
Image
Hera  Gallery is currently exhibiting work by Kathie Florsheim and Barbara Pagh through September 5th. Stop by Wednesday - Friday from 1-5pm, and Saturday from 1-4pm. You can also view their extensive bodies of work on our website! https://www.heragallery.org/ current Both artists are exhibiting new work this fall after they recognized shared interests in the coastal environment. Pagh voices she decided to revisit the theme of the Rhode Island coast: “For Matunuck Intervals, I began in September by walking on the South Kingstown town beach and Moonstone Beach on an almost daily basis, using my phone to photograph details of patterns in the sand, sand fences, rocks, piles of slipper shells, burlap bags that form a buffer for a house. The photographs were altered on the computer and became digital negatives that were then exposed onto light-sensitive lithographic plates and printed on a variety of thin Asian papers. I collage the images together in spa...
Read more