29/2/2000
Talleres
Mexican Cultural Institute, New York
Mexican Cultural Institute is pleased to present Art from the Guadalajara Workshops.
Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque and Tonalá--all united by the urban sprawl of the city of Guadalajara--in the state of Jalisco in Mexico, have acquired a reputation for excellence in the production of handcrafts.
Despite industrialization, craftsmen in Guadalajara combine indigenous and Hispanic elements in a unique manner and still practice what they learned from their predecessors. Yet some of Mexico's leading industries are located in the area, and great technological development has also been furthered. The availability of traditional techniques and sophisticated technology provides numerous options for creative minds willing to experiment with new materials.
The exhibition Talleres is a summation of the creativity of numerous international artists and the efforts of the two workshops in Guadalajara: Taller Mexicano de Gobelinos, where the art of tapestry has been practiced for over 30 years under the tutelage of Fritz Riedl, and the Taller de Cerámica Contemporánea Suro, a ceramics factory established 50 years ago. Over the years, both workshops, under the coordination of the Gallery Arena México, Contemporary Art, have been inviting artists to work with them as well as with other workshops for blown glass, fiberglass, and carpentry, among others. The intent of the workshops has been not only to enliven traditional techniques with new creative energy. The team formed by José Noe Suro, Carlos Ashida, and Jaime Ashida, representatives of the workshops and the gallery involved, is one extremely keen on promoting and participating in the dialogue of contemporary art. As some may recall, in the 90's Guadalajara hosted one of the most important art fairs in Latin America.
By broadening the range of materials that artists can make use of, they intend to blur the distinction between high and low art, to reach broader audiences for art, and, in the words of Carlos Ashida, curator of the exhibition, "to achieve the goal that all vanguards have pursued throughout the twentieth century: to eliminate the divisions between art and life."
Featuring works by: Olga Adelantado (Spain)
Marco Arce (Mexico)
Fernanda Brunet (Mexico)
Mario Dellavedova (Italy)
Nicole Eisenman (USA)
Thomas Glassford (USA-Mexico)
Daniel Guzmán (Mexico)
Fabrice Hybert (France)
Gabriel Kuri (Mexico)
Diego Medina (Mexico)
Rubén Méndez (Mexico)
Jorge Pardo (Cuba-USA)
David C. Scher (USA)
Anna Sew Hoy (USA)
Ray Smith (Mexico-USA)
Luis Miguel Suro (Mexico)
Opening Reception: Wednesday, March 1, 2000 6-8 pm
Mexican Cultural Institute 27 East 39th Street, 2nd floor New York