Article by Tyara Estrada (BBA Business Administration '22)
On Thursday, November 14, 2019, Inter | Sectionality: Diaspora Art from the Creole City opened to the general public. The exhibition is a multidisciplinary show that explores the emergence of “Creole City” as a local, regional, and global phenomenon. From challenging social justice to celebrating identities and bridging communities through contemporary art, the exhibition allowed for artists from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life to express themselves at a critical time. The exhibition was curated by Sanjit Sethi, former director of the Corcoran, and current president of the Minneapolis College of the Arts and Rosie Gordan-Wallace, founder and curator of Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (DVCAI).
The featured works of art below are only a small portion of what is on display. Inter | Sectionality: Diaspora Art from the Creole City features 23 artists, with each offering a unique perspective. The exhibit will be on display until Friday, March 20, 2020 (Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., weekends 1 - 6 p.m.) at 500 17th St NW Washington, D.C. 20006. For more information click here.
See the full exhibition brochure here.
Man-Made Environment (here, there, everywhere) By Devora Perez
In her piece, Man-Made Environment (here, there, everywhere), Devora Perez tries to change the narrative of the landscape - a form of painting that enhanced colonial ideals. With the outline of a mountainscape made from asphalt, Devora spoke about the constant movement piece, as gravity shifts the asphalt it leaves behind a trail - leaving a mark where it has been.
Devora Perez is originally from Nicaragua and now lives and works in Miami. She received her bachelor’s degree from New World School of the Arts and is currently an M.F.A. candidate at Florida International University. Perez is interested in the domestic setting and its influence on gender, race and class in society.
Every Drop Counts by Evelyn Politzer
As an artist, Evelyn Politzer uses traditional methods of knotting, crochet and embroidery to create unconventional objects and spark conversation on the topics of place, motherhood, breast cancer and the fragility of the environment. Through her piece Every Drop Counts, Evelyn brings the ocean into the exhibition space.
Evelyn Politzer, originally from Uruguay, now lives and works in Miami, Florida. After attending law school in Montevideo, Uruguay, and moving to the United States, she pursued her passion for art. Her beginnings were in tapestry and knitting. Creating with wool was only natural in her native country of Uruguay, where the number of sheep far exceeds the number of human inhabitants.
Rituals of Commemoration by Rosa Naday
Rosa Naday commemorates the lives of those who have died from police brutality through her piece Rituals of Commemoration. This is just one example of how Rosa intersects contemporary art and social justice, a core theme in her work. She strives to self-reflect, create discourse, challenge traditional views and build understanding among people. These elements are evident in her piece on display as it creates a multidimensional space that draws in viewer curiosity and creates dialogue.
Rosa Naday Garmendia is from La Habana, Cuba, and lives and works in Miami, Florida. Her work is rooted in social issues, particularly the intersectionality of her identity as a woman, immigrant and industrial worker.
El Camino (o parte de El) by Juan Erman Gonzalez
Ceramic shoes and a cloth house evoke a sense of nostalgia in Juan Erman Gonzalez’s piece El Camino (o parte de El). Through his art, Juan addresses migration, uprootedness and displacement while creating imagined worlds and their inhabitants.
Juan Erman Gonzalez is a Cuban-born artist living and working in Miami, Florida. He often reflects on “el camino,” the metaphorical and actual path he has traveled since first working with DVCAI in 2002.
Photography by Denny Henry.
[video:https://vimeo.com/388576031 width:560 height:315 align:center lightbox_title:Inter | Sectionality Video by Maria Luz Bravo (MA in New Media Photojournalism, '18)]
Video by Maria Luz Bravo (MA in New Media Photojournalism, '18)