Not All is

Pollitico

Land of order Art Crossings

Nations, Pollinations, and

supports a structure for cultural cross-breeding.

by Bernadette Wycks

I met with Jorge Aguilar at Abruzzo’s on Commercial Drive yesterday. We had an easy chat about art, icons, politics, and soccer. Jorge is the curator of a new photo exhibit at Havana, entitled Nations, Pollinations, and Dislocations, running from September 30 to October 31/99. The show surrounds seven artists with connections to Latin America. It crosses cultural borders, creating connective tis- sue to nation states to the north.

My bias as a writer is political. I know a fair bit of the history of colonization of the ‘Americas’, of modern-day economic terrorism, and indigenous land claims. I approached Jorge at Abruzzo’s, hoping to incorporate some of this info into the article about the photo show. Jorge told me that artists from Latin America are often expected to pro- duce art dealing with politics or marginalization. He empha- sized that the focus of Nations, Pollinations, and Dislocations is to change that mentality; "to say we’re doing other work, not entirely related to politics, in any country or region."

Nations, Pollinations, and Dislocations is part of a

larger cultural sharing called ‘Americas on the Verge for the

Advancement of Arts and Culture’. ‘On the Verge...’ also includes films at the Pacific Cinemateque, a sculpture exhib- it at SFU, new media installations at the Western Front, and multimedia extravaganzas and symposiums here at ECIAD. All of the works bring perspectives from outside the main- stream, and transpose maps of marginalized voices onto boundaries of the dominating culture. Cultural boundaries are crossed. "All kinds of borders," Jorge explained, "are crossed: personal, geographical, political; any borders that can show influence within Latin American culture."

And if any of the photos in the exhibit at the Havana have political content, it is underneath, subtext, sublimated in the wake of daily life. Caitlin Johnson, one of the photogra- phers in Nations, Pollinations, and Dislocations focuses on the female form, which she uses as "an archetype representing the the creative force of life". She references Frida Kahlo’s hearts and also uses luscious cut squash to remind us that the "full lines and smooth curves of the female body display the inherent eroticism of life itself".

Jorge’s own work runs from a Georgia O’Keefe- inspired flower close-up to Mexican tourists in Drumheller. Jorge grew up in Mexico, and he uses Mexican icons to show his connection to his roots. He leaves it up to the viewer to interpret the multiple meanings behind hats and cactus plants. "I’m from Mexico," he said yesterday, "where it is hot, and we use hats everyday; it is part of daily life. Cactuses, we see everyday. I grew up with those things around me."

in the

Dislocations

Jorge believes that the baggage of ‘politi- cal icon’ can be put on Latin American work in North American, even though the images are not overtly political. Of course, I mentioned Diego Rivera, and his prolific use of Mexican icons in murals to help build soli- darity among the Mexican people. Jorge said that, growing up, he wasn’t influenced by Rivera so much as American TV.

This highlights the hybridization that is happening here in this western hemisphere, and the ‘cross-pollination’ happening in the photo show. And, while Nations, Pollinations, and Dislocations may not be the most boundary- pushing show, it is boundary-crossing. The larger show, ‘On the Verge...’, has started a dialogue between bodies of humans and nations: This framework will, hopefully for me, lead to a structure where the politcal is personal, and we can can art, and politics, at Abruzzo’s on Commercial.

Caithlin Johnson black and white photo

Call for Artists

All of the works bring perspec- tives from outside the main- stream, and transpose maps of marginalized voices onto boundaries of the dominating . culture.

Attention: ECIAD Students

building.

Individual work is also welcome.

INTERESTED?

if you have any further questions.

The film and video festival "Nations, Pollination’s, and Dislocations" produced by "Americas on The Verge Society For The Advancement of Arts and Culture" is end- ing its festival with a symposium at ECIAD. As part of the symposium that will be occurring late in October, we would like to launch a group show in the south

ECIAD students of Latino decendency are called on to collaborate with other stu- dents and reflect upon what it means to be part of multicultural environment.

Please contact the co-ordinator Edurado Menses as soon as possible at 531-5466

‘influx.:.Magazine October 1999 19

Pollitico

Land of Border Art

Crossings

Nations, Pollinations, and

supports a structure for cultural cross-breeding.

by Bernadette Wycks

T met with Jorge Aguilar at Abruzzo’s on ‘Commercial Drive yesterday. We had an easy chat about art ‘cons, politics, and soccer. Jorge is the curator ofa new photo exhibit at Havana, entitled Nations, Polliations, and Dislocations, running from September 30 to October 31/99, ‘The show surrounds seven artists with connections to Latin America, It crosses cultural borders, erating connective ts ‘ue to nation states to the north,

‘My bias as a writer is political. T know a fair bit of the history of colonization of the “Americas, of modern-day economic terrorism, and indigenous land claims. 7 approached Jorge at Abruzzo's, hoping to incorporate some ‘ofthis info into the article about the photo show. Jorge told ime that artists from Latin America ae often expected to pro ‘duce art dealing with politics or marginalization. He empha sized that the focus of Nations, Pllaions, and Dislocations i to change that mentality; "to say we're doing other work, not entirely elated to politics, in any country of region.

Nations, Polinations, and Dit

larger cultural sharing called “Americas on the Verge for the Advancement of Arts and Culture’. On the Verge.’ also includes films at the Pacific Cinem:

que, sculpture exhib ‘new media installations at the Western Front, and ‘CIAD. Al of the works bring perspectives from outside the main- stream, and transpose maps of marginalized voices onto boundaries of the dominating culture. Cultural boundaries are crossed, “All kinds of borders,” Jorge explained, are crossed: personal, geographical, political; any borders that can show influence within Latin American culture ‘And if any ofthe photos inthe exhibit at the Havana have political content, its underneath, subtext, sublimated in the wake of daily life. Caitlin Johnson, one of the photogra- phers in Nations, Pllnatons, and Dilocations focuses on the female form, which she uses as "an archetype the the creative force of ie". ‘She rel hhearts and also uses luscious cut squash to remind us that the "full lines and smooth curves of the female body display the inherent eroticism of life itsell Jorge's own work runs from a Georgia O'Ke inspired flower close-up to Mexican tourists in Drumbeller. Jorge grew up in Mexico, and he uses Mexican icons to show his connection to his roots. He leaves it up to the viewer to interpret the multiple meanings behind hats and cactus plants. "Tm from Mexico,” he sad yesterday, "where itis hot, and we use hats everyday’ its part of dail life. C yay. I grew up with those things around me,

‘multimedia extravaganzas and symposiums bi

in the

Dislocations

Jorge believes that the baggage of ‘politi- cal icon’ can be put on Lavin American work in

th American, even though the images are not overtly political. OF course, [mentioned Diego

Rivera, and his prolific use of Mexican icons in Caithlin Johnson

murals to help build sol black and white photo

darity among the Mexican people. Jorge said that, growing

Up, he wasnt influenced by Rivers so much as American. AIL Of the works bring perspec- Thc highiphs the braaton Ser MOPAOE vee’ from outside the maine Pulham, and Dileation may not be the mont boundary. Steam, and transpose maps of

pushing show, itis boundary-crossing. ‘The larger show; “On

theVerge.,has started a dialogue between bodies ofhumans Marginalized voices onto

and nations. This framework will, hopefully for me; lead to a

Structure where the politel is personal and we can ean ar, DOUNaries of the dominating culture.

here in’ this western hemisphere, and the ‘eross-polination’

and polities, at Abruzzo’s on Commercial

Call for Artists

Attention: ECIAD Students

The film and video festival "Nations, Pollination’, and Dislocations" produced by "Americas on The Verge Society For The Advancement of Arts and Culture" is end: ing its festival with a symposium at ECIAD. As part of the symposium that will be ‘occurring late in October, we would like to launch a group show in the south

building

ECIAD students of Latino decendency are called on to collaborate with other stu: dents and reflect upon what it means to be part of multicultural environment. Individual work is also welcome.

INTERESTED? Please contact the co-ordinator Edurado Menses as soon as possible at 531-5466 if you have any further questions.

influx.Magazine October 1999 19