AT ARCOMADRID? JOIN US
AT THE YES TALK AT ARCO'S PABELLÓN 7
MARCH 1 AT 1PM
More Than Collecting: alternative methodologies for investing in art
Panelists include, from left:
Mario Cader-Frech, YES Founder
Dani Levinas, Collector + Chairman of the Phillips Collection Washington DC
Pablo Martínez, CEO, Colección Solo
Attend with ARCO Madrid Fair entry.
WRITERS APPLY!
YES + ARTEINFORMADO
2019 WRITERS GRANT OPENS ON MARCH 1
YES announces the 2019 Arts Writers Grant, in collaboration with ARTEINFORMADO, at a talk on February 25 at Club Matador during ArcoMadrid.
The grant calls all arts writers working internationally to apply with an article idea related to Salvadoran contemporary art. The article will be published by ARTEINFORMADO in October 2019 and the writer awarded a $500 honorarium.
The grant will be awarded by an expert jury including (from left) Elena Salamanca, writer and 2017 Writers Grant awardee; Natalia Zuluaga, Editor of NAME Publication; Gustavo Peréz Diaz of ARTEINFORMADO. YES Arts Writers Grants are supported by Susanne Meline and Gabriela Poma.
Application forms will be available on March 1 at yescontemporary.org/application
Application deadline: April 30, 2019
Grant guidelines are available here.
YES ONLINE STUDIO VISIT
ERNESTO BAUTISTA AND JOSSELINE PINTO
On February 15 Salvadoran artist Ernesto Bautista and curator and writer Josseline Pinto of Manifesto Espacio connected online for a YES studio visit. Bautista recently returned to El Salvador from Colombia where he completed a Flora Ars+Natura International Artist Residency. During the residency he researched and worked on an exhibition as well as a new series of works which he shared with Josseline. Based in Guatemala City, Josseline Pinto visited El Salvador as part of a YES Art Trip and regularly shows artists affiliated with the country in her space. She also won the 2018 YES Arts Writers grant for her article on the work of Simón Vega.
Approximately 45 minutes, and featuring guest curators, museum and gallery directors as well as collectors, YES online studio visits offer a more in-depth introduction to an artists practice during a one-on-one conversation. Read more here.
OPEN!
BLACK MIRROR: AND OTHER THIRD WORLD REFLECTIONS
Some guests attending the Black Mirror opening posing in front of Walterio Iraheta's "Superputa" mural.
Black Mirror and Other Third World Reflections: works from the Mario Cader-Frech Collection opened on February 14, 2019 to an overwhelmingly positive crItical response. Guest artist Beatriz Cortez, whose artwork "Black Mirror" inspired the exhibition title, presented her practice, including installations, utopian shelters, and more, with humor and candor. This was followed by a panel with YES Founder Mario Cader-Frech and YES Director Claire Breukel who shared information about the YES Art Loan Program, which includes the work on view, as well as the themes of the exhibition Action Reaction: outside is inside and other performances and 'Third World’ City: identifying difference.
SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 20 AT 7PM
ROCÍO ARANDA-ALVARADO TO SPEAK AT FAU
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YES TALK
AT CLUB MATADOR MADRID ON FEB 25
Highlights from the talk at Club Matador on the importance of critical writing in Central America. The talk addressed topics of transcending colonial relations, and the importance of both informal and formal collaboration. Guests from Reina Sofia, Art Basel, Coleccion Solo, ARTEINFORMADO, IE, ICArt, Open Studios Madrid attended, collector Solita Cohen, renowned artists Javier and Alejandro de Villota, Salvadoran artist Rafael Diaz, critic Paco Barragan, and more, attended. Thank you to our expert panel Fredy Solan, Tamara Bringas Díaz and Luisa Fuentes Guaza.
See more images here. Photos courtesy Alejandro de Villota.
See the talk featured in ARTEINFORMADO here.
SEND US YOUR ART-BOOKS
EMAIL US AT : info@yescontemporary.org
SEE OUR YES ONLINE LIBRARY: Here
INTERNATIONAL
ALEXIA MIRANDA SELECTED FOR THE 2019 HAVANA BIENNIAL, CUBA
Celebrated Salvadoran performance artist Alexia Miranda has been selected to participate in the 2019 Havana Biennial in Cuba on view April 12-19, 2019. Miranda's work explores relationships of the body to the environment and her work will respond to the biennial theme “The Construction of the Possible”. She is joined by artists from 39 other countries.
EDDIE RODOLFO APARICIO A FINALIST OF THE 2019 LA ARTADIA AWARD AND AWARDED CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP
Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio is one of six finalists of the 2019 Los Angeles Artadia Award. Artadia is a national non-profit organization that supports artists with unrestricted, merit-based Awards followed by a lifetime of program opportunities. Finalists were selected by jurors Pavel Pyś, Curator of Visual Arts, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Erin Christovale, Assistant Curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; and Zina Saro-Wiwa, artist. The five other finalists include Carmen Argote, Ron Athey, Diedrick Brackens, Gelare Koshgozaran, and Jennifer Moon.
Aparicio was also awarded the 2019 California Community Foundation Fellowship for the Visual Arts, which provides support to help Los Angeles-based artists build thriving, sustainable careers. This year’s fellows were selected from more than 300 applicants.
Read more about the Artadia Award here. Read more about the California Community Foundation Fellowship here. See more of Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio's work here.
(Top) Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio, Holbein En Crenshaw (Washington Blvd. and Crenshaw Blvd., LA, CA), 2018. Rubber, Sulfur, Tree and Paint residue, and Wood glue on Cotton. Courtesy the artist. (Below) Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio, My Veins Do Not End In Me Installation shot, 2018. The Mistake Room, Los Angeles, CA. Courtesy the artist.
RAFAEL DIAZ PARTICIPATES IN MALA FAMA STUDIOS EVENTS DURING ARCOMADRID, SPAIN
Salvadoran artist Rafael Diaz is on of eight artists whose studio is featured as part of ArcoMadrid's Mala Fama open studio visits, and is participating in a Mala Fama event at Casino, Madrid.
A trained doctor who taught himself to make art with guidance from Salvadoran painter César Menéndez, Diaz moved to Madrid in 2003 and today works almost exclusively with photography.
Read more about Mala Fama here. See more of Rafael Diaz's work here.
Image courtesy Mala Fama estudios
THE FIRE THEORY AND BEATRIZ CORTEZ AT CCE IN TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS
The Fire Theory and Beatriz Cortez participate in "Al Dictado, Art and Conflict in Central America", curated by Isabela Villanueva and Juan José Santos, at the Spanish Cultural Center in Tegucigalpa. "Al Dictado" brings together artists who come from "heterogeneous" Central America whose artistic practice intervenes in the public sphere in a critical and/or unconventional manner. "Al Dictado" exhibition
originated at the Medellin Museum of Art in 2018.
Image: Melissa Guevara, "Anthropometry", 2012. Human bone powder and hourglasses. Artwork available for loan.
yescontemporary.org/loan
SALVADORAN ARTISTS AT ZONA MACO, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Three Salvadoran artists participated in Zona Maco art fair in Mexico City from February 6-9, which included more than 70 international galleries. Albertine Stahl participated in Luis Adelantado Gallery’s booth, Simón Vega in MAIA Contemporary’s booth, and Walterio Iraheta was featured in Rofa Project's booth.
See more of Albertine Stahl's work here.
See more of Simón Vega's work here.
See more of Walterio Iraheta's work here.
Image: Simón Vega, "Tropical Space Hostel", Sculptural installation at Maia Contemporary booth, 2019.
MAURICIO ESQUIVEL AT BRAC, NEW YORK, USA
Mauricio Esquivel's installation “Wall/Flag” is featured in the exhibition “Material with Meaning" at the Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) in New York. “Wall/Flag” is made of gold disposable blankets used in Arizona detention centers as well as in Europe to keep migrants warm while being held. The work is a version of “Flags”, an installation Esquivel created for his solo exhibition "At The Borders" at Lokkus Contemporary in Medellin. “Material with Meaning” is curated by Gail Nathan and Jim Wintner and also includes the work of Anthony O. Akinbola, Blanka Amezkua and Chuxi Guo.The exhibition is on view until March 16, 2019.
Image: Mauricio Esquivel, “Wall/Flag” at BRAC, courtesy the artist.
FRANCIS ALMENDÁREZ AT THE READING ROOM IN DALLAS, USA
“The Potential Wanderer” is a solo exhibition at The Reading Room in Dallas by Los Angeles-born, Houston-based Salvadoran artist Francis Almendárez. For this exhibition, Almendárez blends video, installation, and performance to ultimately investigate the liminal space one occupies as a second-generation immigrant. Almendárez asks: how does one preserve the cultural identity of one’s ancestry whilst assimilating to the culture of the present country? Curated by Caroline Elbaor, the exhibition is on view until March 2, 2019.
Image: Francis Almendárez, Installation View of “The Potential Wanderer” at The Reading Room, Dallas, TX (2019). Photo by Kevin Todora.
MURIEL HASBÚN AT BRENTWOOD ARTS EXCHANGE, MARYLAND, USA
Artist and educator Muriel Hasbún presented Documented: The Community Blackboard, an interactive installation that asks the public to post their family photos, documents and to write their own migration story on gallery walls. The exhibition aims to promote coexistence, creativity, remembrance, respect, and dialogue beyond borders. Hasbún shared her own family's migration story and discussed how art making has helped her construct a sense of identity and belonging.The exhibition will be on view until March 9 2019.
Image: Muriel Hasbún, "Documented: The Community Blackboard". Courtesy the artist.
CRACK RODRIGUEZ FEATURED IN GALLERIE MAGAZINE
Salvadoran artist Crack Rodriguez, known for his action-based performative work, is featured in Gallerie International magazine's "Unpacking Voices" current edition. Since 1997, Gallerie has been publishing on socio-political/cultural issues as interpreted through excellence in the arts and the written word. Read more about Gallerie International magazine here.
Salvadoran designer Lula Mena presented the exhibition "Nidos" at the Museum of Art of El Salvador. "Nidos" features a series of installations resembling birds’ nests, created in collaboration with more than 40 Salvadoran artisan women. The artist utilizes the nest as a symbol of life, existence and the connection between nature and humanity.The exhibition will be on view until April 28, 2019.
Image: Lula Mena, "Nidos", installation, 2019. Courtesy the artist and MARTE.
GABRIELA NOVOA AND PAOLA LORENZANA AT MAKTUB
Artist Gabriela Novoa and Performer Paola Lorenzana presented "Lazos" a one night exhibition event on February 16 at Maktub Cultural Coffee in San Salvador. The exhibition included recent artwork by Gabriela Novoa and a performance by Paola Lorenzana that addressed issues of misogyny in El Salvador. The event was followed by a conversation titled "A love that kills", which discussed love and the increase of feminicides in El Salvador, and included panelists Paola Lorenzana, Mariana Moisa and Keyla Cáceres.
Image: Gabriela Novoa's artwork at "Lazos". Courtesy the artist.
GABRIELA NOVOA SPEAKS AT ESPACIO 132
Gabriela Novoa is hosting the talk "Women in the arts, a history of resistance and emancipation" at Espacio 132 on February 28, 5-7 PM. The talk will explore the work of a group of visual artists whose practice is fundamental to understand the origins of feminist art.
Image: Gabriela Novoa, "Pulsión", 2018. Courtesy the artist.
EXHIBITION REVIEW OF
BEATRIZ CORTEZ: TRINIDAD/ JOY STATION
Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles
BY JP FRANCIS
Beatriz Cortez’ first major museum solo exhibition, Trinidad/Joy Station, explores the binary between consumerist American culture and communal social practices of ancient Mayan civilization. The show at the newly renamed Craft Contemporary (formerly known as the Craft and Folk Art Museum) in Los Angeles explores Cortez’s own experience of transition from her native El Salvador to the United States and the differences in societal structures between the two countries.
The show consists of objects made from sheet metal and industrial materials to provide a biting critique of capitalistic American society in comparison to Cortez’s utopian vision of communal Mayan culture.
Some of the exhibition’s signature pieces, Cortez’s geodesic metal domes, allude to a 1960s Colorado commune called “Drop City,” which sought to merge art and life in the pursuit of true freedom.
Upward-facing windows within the sculptures reference the astrological principles of Mayans, whose descendants reside in modern-day El Salvador. This parallel is further established through Cortez’s use of Mayan plants in a gardening installation, which sits in the center of the exhibition.
Cortez also uses sheet metal, chain-link, and Mylar to create two beds, which sit next to each other in the exhibition’s corner. The first bed is a prison-style cot which alludes to the separation of children from their families at the US-Mexico border, while the second is a petate, a traditional sleeping mat used by Central-American indigenous peoples.
The two sleeping surfaces juxtapose oppressive modern values perpetrated by a capitalistic political structure with the classical simplicity and collective compassion of indigenous people.
The exhibition displays Cortez’s ultimate goal of resisting capitalistic hierarchies through the expression of joy and celebration of past, present, and future Latin-American culture. Trinidad/Joy Station will be on view at CAFAM, 5814 Wilshire Boulevard until May 12.
View the press release for Trinidad/Joy Station here.
See more of Beatriz Cortez's work here.
Images: Beatriz Cortez, structures from Trinidad / Joy Station interacting with the Los Angeles River at the Bowtie Project, 2018. Courtesy of the artist and Commonwealth and Council, Los Angeles / Photo: Gina Clyne
