The Bath House Cultural Center’s May of the Americas Exhibition Series presents
El Latido Incesante(The Endless Heartbeat)
Curated by Enrique Fernández Cervantes
Through June 2, 2012
The Bath House Cultural Center is bringing back its exhibition series,May of the Americas, in May of 2012. The series, which originated at the center in 1999, has the aim of fostering the awareness and appreciation of the artistic expression created by contemporary artists from nations in the Western hemisphere. Since its creation, the series has celebrated the artistic achievements of a diverse group of creators from different countries. Previous explorations of the series included art exhibitions and projects featuring artists from Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and theUnited States. This year, the series presents two exhibitions: El Latido Incesante (The Endless Heartbeat) and NaRRativa.
El Latido Incesante(The Endless Heartbeat)is an exhibition that emerged out of a dynamic and fruitful cultural collaboration between the Bath House Cultural Center and the government of the City ofApaseo el Alto, a progressive town in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Through a partnership with that city’s Mayoral, Cultural Affairs, and Economic Development Offices, and with the leadership and support of the local organization,Casa de la Cultura Apaseo el Alto Dallas, the Bath House Cultural Center was able to work closely with a group of sculptors, painters, and photographers from that region in Mexico, whose talent and artistic tradition is widely acclaimed for its exquisite elegance, wide imagination, and graceful style.
The exhibition features wood carving sculptures, paintings, photographs, and mixed media artwork with a particular technique described in Spanish as “policromado” and “dorado,” which involves the coloring and decorating of the wood sculptures with highly intricate ornamental designs done with oil paint, gold leaf, and other art materials. Many of the works of art are inspired by religious and historical themes, literature, and by scenes of day-to-day life inMexico. The artwork created by these artists, particularly the woodcarvings, are part of a rich artistic tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation, and continues to amaze art viewers centuries after the techniques were first used in theAmericas.
The exhibition includes works of art byJosé Moisés Aguilar Sendejas, Salvador Camacho Mandujano, Pedro Centeno Pantoja, Ramón Luis Centeno Gómez, Magdalena Centeno Gómez, Juán Girón Mandujano, Heriberto Girón Pantoja, Manuel Girón Pantoja, Aurelio Girón Sánchez, César Guzmán, Arnaldo Hernández Acosta, Adán Hernández Malagón, Georgina Herrera, Antonio Malagón Alva, Rosario Mendoza Toledo, Israel David Montecillo Razo, Miguel Ángel Paredes Galván, Saúl Isaac Rico Jiménez, Francisco Sauza Vega,andYesenia Serrano Mendoza.
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The Bath House Cultural Center’s May of the Americas Exhibition Series Presents
NaRRativa
Curated by Enrique Fernández Cervantes
Through June 2
The exhibitionNaRRativainvestigates the persistent element of narration and storytelling in the works of art of nine painters whose figurative art explores a variety of themes, symbols, and representations of reality and fantasy. The artists in this exhibition create artwork that is informed, to a certain degree, by their Latin American ancestry, which often demonstrates a predilection and affinity for the tradition of oral history, mythology, and storytelling. Just as importantly,NaRRativaalso demonstrates that regardless of the common Latino cultural background of the artists, their artwork is diverse and eclectic in its execution, style, and philosophy. Themes of family connections, personal identity, man’s relationship with nature, and statements about society, are investigated with eloquence and poignancy by the artists featured in this exhibition.
NaRRativa presents artwork byRay Albarez, Carlos Don Juan, Julio César Flores, Genaro Hernández, Juan J. Hernández, Ruben Miranda, Armando Sebastian, Giovanni Valderas,andJuán Torres Zavala.
