YES ART LOAN PROGRAM BORDERS OF FREEDOM ONLINE EXHIBITION IN COLLABORATION WITH
LOS ANGELES CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS (LACE)
AND TIJUANA CULTURAL CENTER (CECUT)
October 10 to November 22, 2020
Image: Guadalupe Maravilla, "OG of the Undocumented Children". 2018. Courtesy the artist.
The YES Art Loan Program exhibition Borders of Freedom curated by Patricio Majano will be presented online in collaboration with the renowned non-profit Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) and with the support of Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT).
The exhibition will premiere on October 10 and will be available until November 22.
Borders of Freedom is a video exhibition featuring artists living in El Salvador and its diaspora, whose work addresses the concept of freedom from different perspectives, connecting it with intimacy, spirituality, gender, migration and sociopolitical context, and includes works by Alexia Miranda, Sayre Quevedo, Guadalupe Maravilla, Fredy Solan, Crack Rodriguez, Abigail Reyes.
View more about the exhibition and the premiere here.
Read more about YES Contemporary Art Loan Program here.
Y.ES ONLINE STUDIO VISITS
Beatriz Cortez and Ilaria Conti
Salvadoran artist Beatriz Cortez (left) lives and works in Los Angeles. She received an MFA in Art from the California Institute of the Arts in 2015, and a Ph.D. in Literature and Cultural Studies from Arizona State University in 1999. Cortez’s work explores simultaneity, life in different temporalities, and different versions of modernity, particularly in relation to memory and loss in the aftermath of war and the experience of migration, and in relation to imagining possible futures.
Ilaria Conti (right) is an independent curator and art worker with a focus on social justice and engaged artistic practices, epistemological pluralism, and the relationship between institutional infrastructures, communal care, and public engagement. Most recently, she served as Research Curator at the Centre Georges Pompidou for Cosmopolis, a multiyear platform devoted to research-based art. She is the Vice President of African Art Dialogues, a non-profit organization producing the African Art in Venice Forum.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
BEATRIZ CORTEZ TALK AT CSU
Los Angeles-based artist Beatriz Cortez participated in an online conversation with the associate curator from Hammer Museum of Los Angeles, Erin Christovale, on September 24, 2020. The talk was hosted by the California State University. During the event, Cortez shared about her experience creating art projects in public spaces.
See more about the talk here.
See more about Beatriz Cortez here.
Image: Beatriz Cortez. Photograph Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times. Courtesy the artist.
PATRICIA ORELLANA SOLARES AND ARIA XYX SELECTED FOR CREATIVA COFFEE DISTRICT RESIDENCY
Salvadoran artists Patricia Orellana Solares and Aria XYX were part of the artists selected for Creativa Coffee District virtual residency. The residency will support the artists in their production and aims to foster research and collaborative practices. The residency is taking place from September 14 to October 23, and the final results will be presented from October 26-30.
See more of Creativa Coffee District here.
See more of Patricia Orellana Solares here.
Image: Aria XYX. Courtesy the artist.
FRANCIS ALMENDÁREZ AT GALVESTON ARTS CENTER, TEXAS
Houston-based artist Francis Almendárez presented his project “rhythm and (p)leisure” at Brown Foundation Gallery at Galveston Arts Center. Curated by Dennis Nance, the exhibition features Almendárez’ ongoing investigation into the fruit and labor of working-class people, specifically of Central American and Caribbean diasporas. As part of the exhibition, the artist also participated in a conversation with Leslie Moody Castro on September 9. The exhibition is on view from August 22 - November 15, 2020
See more of “rhythm and (p)leisure” here.
Watch Leslie Moody Castro in conversation with Francis Almendárez here.
Image: Installation view of Rhythm and (p)leisure at Artpace, San Antonio, TX in 2019. Photos by Seale Photography Studios. Courtesy the artists.
KARLOS CÁRCAMO AT “ALTERED PRESENCE”
New York-based Salvadoran artist Karlos Cárcamo is participating in the collective exhibition “Altered Presence” at ArtPort Kingston, an Alternative Art Space in Kingston Hudson Valley. The show presents a selection of works exploring the idea of transformation. The exhibition will be on view from August 29 to October 4, 2020.
See more about the exhibition here.
See more about Karlos Carcamo here.
Image: Karlos Carcamo. Courtesy the artist.
ALEXIA MIRANDA AT THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ONLINE TRIENNIAL OF PERFORMANCE “DEFORMES” CHILE 2020
Salvadoran artist Alexia Miranda is part of the artists selected for the First International online Triennial of Performance DEFORMES Chile 2020. The triennial will feature artists from Asia, Europe and Latin America whose work explores different preformative practices such as activism, ritual, sound performance, video performance, and more. The triennial will open on November 9, 2020.
See more about the triennial here.
See more about Alexia Miranda here.
Image: Alexia Miranda, “Debajo del agua”. Courtesy the artist.
ERICK ANTONIO BENITEZ TRAWICK PRIZE
Baltimore-based Salvadoran artist Erick Antonio Benitez was awarded second place at the Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards.
His work is also being presented as part of the 2020 Trawick Prize Finalists exhibition at Gallery B, Maryland. The exhibition will be on view until September 26.
Image: Erick Antonio Benitez, “Portrait of the Living Sky” (detail), courtesy the artist.
STUDIO LENCA AT SWAB ART FAIR
London-based Salvadoran artist Jose Campos (Studio Lenca) will be participating in Swab Barcelona Art Fair, in its virtual edition from October 1-15, 2020. Campos is represented by La Única Gallery from El Salvador, directed by Nadie (Javier Ramírez) and Caroline Lacey. In the fair, Campos will be presenting a selections of his photographs, paintings and sculptures.
See more about Swab here
See more about Studio Lenca here.
Image: Studio Lenca, “Lenca Pot”. Courtesy the artist.
RAFAEL DÍAZ AND MURIEL HASBUN AT GALERÍA MEMORIA IN MADRID
Madrid-based artist Rafael Díaz, and Washington based artist Muriel Hasbun are participating in the collective exhibition “El Castigo”, at Memoria Gallery in Madrid. The exhibition is curated by YES alumnus and founder of the gallery Alejandro de Villota. The show is on view by appointment from September 10 to October 30, 2020.
See more of Rafael Díaz here.
See more of Muriel Hasbun here.
Image: Rafael Díaz, drawing from "Once Upon a Time". Courtesy the artist.
ORLANDO VILLATORO AT ALLEGRO GALLERY, PANAMÁ
Salvadoran artist Orlando Villatoro is presenting his online solo exhibition “Hiperrealidad”, hosted by Allegro Gallery. The exhibition includes paintings juxtaposing images of historical artworks and characters from tv and video games. The show was on view from August 12 to September 12, 2020.
See more about Orlando Villatoro here.
Image: Orlando Villatoro, “Las Tres Gracias” (Detail). Courtesy the artist.
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION “CONNECTED DIASPORA” AT STAMP GALLERY, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
The collective exhibition “Connected Diaspora” was presented at Stamp Gallery, University of Maryland. The show features artists from Central American diaspora in the United States, including Eddy Leonel Aldana, Kimberly Benavides, Jessy DeSantis, Xiomara Garay, Galileo Gonzalez, Isidra Sabio, Celea Guevara, Paulino Mejia, Keith Torres, Kim LaVonne, Glenda Lissette, Kiara Machado, Juan Madrid, Julia Mata, Veronica Melendez, Dennissé Carlota Nieto Zelaya, Elizabeth Fernanda Rodriguez, and Johanna Toruño. Curated by Veronica Melendez, the exhibition presents works reflecting the artists’ experiences as first and second generation Central Americans in the USA.
See more about the exhibition here.
Image: Julia Mata. "Batido", 2018, Pen and Ink, Digital Color, 8 x 6 inches. Courtesy the artist.
STUDIO LENCA WINS PHOTO FRINGE OPEN20 SOLO
Jose Campos (Studio Lenca) has been selected as the winner of Photo Fringe OPEN20 SOLO, and will be working on a solo online show part of Photo Fringe 2020 festival, opening on October 3, 2020. Campos participated with his photograph series “Los Historiantes” which interprets characters from Salvadoran folklore.
Image: Studio Lenca, "El Historiante en blanco" (detail), from the series Los Historiantes, 2019
EDDIE RODOLFO APARICIO SOLO EXHIBITION AT COMMONWEALTH AND COUNCIL
Los Angeles-based artist Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio opened his solo exhibition Espinas Amorosas/Loving Thorns at Commonwealth and Council in Los Angeles on September 18, 2020. Aparicio is presenting his work that explores memory, migration, community and landscape.
The exhibition will be on view by appointment from September 18th–October 24th, 2020.
See more about the exhibition here.
See more about Eddie Aparicio here.
Image: Eddie Aparicio, courtesy Commonwealth and Council and the artist.
EL SALVADOR NEWS
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION HOSTED BY MERKADO CENTRAL
The online exhibition “09.09-10.10.2020”, features works by 10 artists from Central America including Natalia Domínguez, Nadie, San Cannesa, Alejandra Segovia, Gabriel Granadino, Legan Rooster, Vanessa Oreli, Mario Santizo, David Ramírez Cotón, and Marcela Araya. The show presents works reflecting on themes relevant to current times, especially in relation to the pandemic and the way it has affected reality. The exhibition will be on view from September 9 to October 10, 2020.
View the exhibition here.
Image: Natalia Domínguez. Courtesy Merkado Central and the artist.
COLLECTIVE ONLINE EXHIBITION HOSTED BY THE CULTURAL CENTER OF SPAIN IN EL SALVADOR
The online exhibition “El tiempo es una imagen indescifrable”, hosted by the Cultural Center of Spain in El Salvador, premiered on September 17. The show curated by Walterio Iraheta features photographs by 11 artists from El Salvador, Latin America and Spain, including Roberto Anaya (SV), Rodrigo Dada (SV), Víctor Hugo Portillo (SV), Clara de Tezanos (GT), Germán Hernández (SV), Gilberto José Ramírez (GT), Isabel Herrera (GT), Iván Guevara (SV), José Díaz (CR), Marcos López (ARG), and Regina José Galindo (GT). The exhibition presents a selection of photographs that present different stories related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
See the exhibition here.
Image: Victor Hugo Portillo, Photograph from “Robocop” Project. 2018. Courtesy the artist.
DESPERTARES COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION AT IL BONGUSTAIO
Salvadoran artists Antonio Cañas, Alex Donado and David Duke are presenting the collective exhibition “Despertares” at Il Bongustaio in San Salvador, The exhibition opened on September 10 and features a selection of the artists’ recent work.
See more about David Duke here.
See more about Antonio Cañas here.
Image: David Duke, Detail. Courtesy the artist
ÓSCAR PÉREZ MÉNDEZ AT VISUALES TALK
Salvadoran artist Óscar Pérez Méndez was featured in an interview with René Rivas at Visuales on September 14. During the interview, the artist talked about his sculpture work juxtaposing icons prevalent in contemporary society.
Watch the complete interview here.
Image: Óscar Pérez Méndez, "La Dolorosa". Courtesy the artist.
PRESS
CAROLINA ALVAREZ-MATHIES AT ARTNEWS
YES Contemporary Councilmember and Dallas Contemporary's Deputy Director Carolina Alvarez-Mathies was featured in Artnet News. In the interview, she talks about her current projects, Salvadoran artists, her role as part of YES Council, and more.
FRIEZE SCULPTURE GLACIAL ERRATIC Beatriz Cortez
September 1 – October 2, 2020
BY PATRICIO MAJANO
In 2019 Beatriz Cortez won the inaugural Frieze Arto LIFEWTR® Sculpture Prize. As a result, she was commissioned to create a large sculpture to be displayed at Rockefeller Center in New York. Postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the show opened on September 1st.
For the exhibition, Cortez created “Glacial Erratic”, a sculpture inspired by rocks that were brought to New York City by melting glaciers, during the last ice age. The artwork references migration before the human era and movement in different temporalities. By extension, the piece also references other kinds of migration, —in animals, for instance— that have been present throughout the planet’s history.
The metal sculpture was created by hand, something the artist relates to the manual work performed by immigrants in the United States. This also relates to the fact that the piece required the collaboration of a large team in order to be completed. This collaborative act of creation is also an adequate analogy to migrant communities, which, through organization and community efforts have been able to thrive.
The dialogs that this piece can generate are more relevant than ever, as this piece was created in a moment where migratory policies affect millions of people in the United States and the world. Cortez addresses the complexities of migration from an empathic perspective, and in “Glacial Erratic”, she makes visible the natural character of migration and the fact that it is inherent to this planet, emphasizing how absurd and violent is the criminalization of this act.
Images: Beatriz Cortez, "Glacial Erratic", 2020. Courtesy the artist.
See more about Frieze Sculpture 2020 here.
See more about Beatriz here.
