|
TRASA urban arts collective and South Valley Sanctuary present:
the second annual Utah Artists Against Domestic Violence
Saturday, September 13, 2008
These women are in a different place now. Strong. Their voices are being heard. – Cat Palmer, Artist TRASA urban arts collective and South Valley Sanctuary present the second annual Utah Artists Against Domestic Violence featuring work by Cat Palmer and Ruby Chacón through September 21st. The exhibition is in conjunction with a fundraiser to be held on September 13, 2008 from 6-10 pm. This annual event celebrates empowerment and recovery in the face of domestic violence and features bilingual discussions by Cat Palmer and Ruby Chacón as well as California artist, Nuvia Crisol Ruland. The evening includes poetry by Lizz Huerta, music by Vanessa Shuput. There will be a silent auction and refreshments will be served. Admission is $10.00 suggested donation at the door and all proceeds benefit South Valley Sanctuary's domestic violence programs. In addition, TRASA and South Valley Sanctuary are pleased to present the winner of our contest promoting South Valley Sanctuary's Domestic Violence Hotline. The contest was designed to advance public awareness through art and convey hope that men and women living in violent circumstances would seek information about resources to help break the cycle of family violence. The winning entry was reproduced as an outreach/education poster formatted to include tear-offs with the shelter's 24-Hour Hotline information. We are please to announce that Nuvia Crisol Ruland has donated her work to this very important community organization, not only to promote the importance of artwork, but to express the South Valley Sanctuary's vision in this aspect of their community outreach. For more information please phone Maria at South Valley Sanctuary 801.255.1095, info@southvalleysanctuary.com or visit www.southvalleysanctuary.com.
TRASA urban arts collective and South Valley Sanctuary presentan:
About the Artists: Cat Palmer: Cat palmer was born and raised in Orange County, California. Cat used to only shoot 35mm black and white, but she joined the "dark side" of professional digital in 2005. Women are cat's main subjects because to her they have such beauty and strength. She loves absurd things in objects and people. She loves the unexpected and dirty objects. Everything she shoots holds beauty to her. Since early 2007 cat has found her passion in shooting pieces with a message. Last year I was inspired to do a shoot representing the strength we share as women. I took 18 women to the Salt Flats and what we experienced is more than I can put into words. As sisters we bonded. I learned stories about their pasts. Some of them had been brutally beaten by former spouses and boyfriends. Their stories inspired me to make art that spoke out. These women are in a different place now. Strong. Their voices are being heard. El ano pasado quise hacer una exposición de fotografía que pudiera expresar la fuerza que compartimos las mujeres. Entonces lleve a 18 mujeres a la costa del Lago Salado. Lo que experimentamos es mucho mas de lo que puedo expresar en palabras. Nos conocimos como hermanas. Aprendí la historia de su pasado, algunas de ellas han sido brutalmente golpeadas por sus esposos y novios. Sus historias me inspiraron para poder hacer arte que protestara. Estas mujeres están en una situación diferente ahora. Son fuertes y sus voces están siendo escuchadas. Ruby Chacón: A native to Utah, Artist Ruby Chacón, is recognized as one of the contemporary voices in American Art. She caught the attention of collectors with a distinct style and approach in her brush strokes, extreme detail, color and subject. Without being didactic, she picked up the theme of her Mexican heritage and revealed large close-ups of family members, ancestors, friends, etc. Her work brought a fresh, yet startling, revelation to old themes. These figures transcend the canvas with emotion and impact leaving the viewer wondering about the stories, the lives and the histories of the people in the images on the surface. Images of farmers, sheepherders, women making tortillas, tattooed men in hairnets, natives and much more, these are not the happy romantic and nostalgic faces of immigrant workers seen in prints across the Southwest. These are bold, honest looks at humanity, faces that are tired, hands that are scarred, men that are dignified in their work and women who have lived lifetimes. This documentary aspect of her work quickly attracted the attention of various groups, who saw not only a unique signature, but also an important voice in American history who is capturing and telling the Chicano narrative with all its complexities and contradictions. With the same fervor she brought to her paintings she launched into muralism and has left a permanent record on the streetscapes of Salt Lake City, Utah. Ruby Chacón has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work including: the Cultural Heritage Award, Salt Lake City Mayor's Award for Visual Arts, Governor's Mansion Award for Visual Arts. In 2006 she was nominated as one of five Utahns of the year by the Salt Lake Tribune. In 2008 she was acknowledged as 1 of the top 25 cultural power brokers in the state of Utah. Other acknowledgments include: one of the 20 most influential Latinos in the State of Utah by Connect Magazine, one of the top 20 artists to collect, best Self Portraits and many more. Chacón is certain to be an artist who leaves her name in the historical record as she discovers herself again and again. Mis pinturas se han convertido en un recordatorio de quien soy; Yo soy la hija y la nieta de mi mama y de su mama y asi consecutivamente.Yo soy el producto de todas sus historias y tradiciones, de sus retos y de sus logros. Mientras maduro como artista y encuentro nuevo material, nuevos objetos. Mi trabajo se convierte en algo menos documentario y mucho mas exploratorio. Tengo una fascinación con la forma humana y su experiencia. Tengo curiosidad acerca de sus vidas, Tengo curiosidad acerca de cual es mi conceccion con otra gente y sus vidas. Honrro a la vida. Estoy agradecida de estar viva, estoy agradecida de continuar este camino largo de las tradiciones de mis ancestros, de contar la historia de la humanidad a travez de fotos y simbolos. Mis pinturas tienen sus raíces en mi historia personal y ha crecido en muchas direcciones. Exploro la experiencia humana desde muchos aspectos. Solo hay una coneccion en todo mi trabajo, una sola línea de vida; y esta viene de mi propia voz y mi experiencia como Utahtana, como Chicana y como Artista. Estas son mis pinturas. Y esto es lo que pienso. About Nuvia Crisol Ruland On the surface, a career in molecular biology and a passion for painting make strange bedfellows. Ever since Crisol graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in biochemistry/cell biology and a minor in studio art, she's been answering questions about this unusual pairing of interests. But to Crisol, there's nothing strange about this combination. Art is an integral part of culture throughout the world, and it is often expressed in a myriad of colors, shapes, textures and mediums. Mexican culture is a fine example of artistic diversity with its long history of ceremonial, functional, decorative and fine art. Throughout Mexico, art is preserved and continues to live tightly interwoven in the lives of Mexican people living in both cities and pueblos, successfully transcending the class barriers that often segregate its population. The United States has been slowly developing and improving this same emphasis on community wide access to art, by bringing art out of the museums and out into community supported venues or public spaces. Crisol has made a personal commitment to helping this continuous movement by displaying her own artwork in restaurants, café's, public venues and community events in her efforts to make art assessable to the comunidad. Influenced by the artist David Alfaro-Siquieros, whom dedicated his masterpieces, murals and community art spaces to the Mexican pueblo, Crisol understands that it is the artist's responsibility to make artwork readily available to ALL. By displaying her art in community outlets, Crisol hopes to share her enthusiasm and love for art with people that may not have the opportunity, resources or access to see art in a museum or gallery. About South Valley Sanctuary South Valley Sanctuary opened in its doors in 1998. They provide refuge, education and support to all survivors of domestic violence. They offer individualized, survivor-focused services that aim to empower men, women and children survivors as they work towards breaking the cycle of violence. They believe that engaging the community in critical dialogue on the fight against domestic violence is crucial in creating and sustaining safe homes, neighborhoods and communities. About TRASA urban arts collective With a focus on contemporary sociopolitical and cultural issues, TRASA urban arts collective utilizes art to stimulate community interaction, cooperation, and evolution. Emphasizing diversity and experimentation, TRASA encourages creative and social dialogue between artists, audiences, and the community and provides a non-competitive space for individuals to share ideas, knowledge and resources. Through cooperative relationships, we promote interdisciplinary learning and thought-provoking experiences, and provide a safe and supportive public environment for the exploration of art, performance, education, and community-building.
TRASA urban arts collective receives generous support from the Salt Lake City Arts Council, Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks and the Utah Arts Council, with funding from the State of Utah and the National Endowment for the Arts.
###
Media Inquiries contact:
|
