"A Day in the Life of ArTrujillo"
2001-09-07 until 2001-10-13
CreArte, Chicano Latino Arts Center and Museum
Minneapolis, MN, USA United States of America

CreArte is proud to present an exhibit of new work from the ArTrujillo Studio Gallery -- a multi-cultural collective of Latino, Middle Eastern, European-American and African-American painters, sculptors and designers based in South Minneapolis. A Day in the Life of ArTrujillo features paintings, sculpture, installations, photography and performances -- art of many styles and expressions, demonstrating the energy found on any typical day at this unusual studio and gallery.

Artists were encouraged to work large and to complete each work within 24 hours, in keeping with the exhibition title, with no restrictions on media or theme.

The result is a vigorous sampling of ArTrujillo artists.  This an extraordinarily diverse group, and each artist have a story and unique vision to share. There are progressive abstractions (Alejandro Trujillo) and punk-anarchist paintings (Américo Juan) with roots in urban Mexico.   Self-taught naturalism (Frijolito) and coloristic decorations (Patricia Mendoza) drawn from the folk traditions of ranchos and pueblos.   Sophisticated photographic statements reflect on the personal experiences of emigration (Xavier Tavera) and war (Keith Holmes).  Babylonian friezes meet Picasso-esque figures (in the work of Haider Al-Amery), and scientific description meets eastern-influenced ink painting (in a canvas by Jim Grafsgaard).  Parenting, recovery, gender identity, mythology and cross-cultural issues are also addressed in intriguing ways (by Maria Cristina O'Brien, Lorenzo Ariza, Brenda VonAhsen, Anselmo Cornejo, Lamonté Johnson, El Fitcho, Mario Perez, Terry Morris, David Munson and guest artist from New York City Altagracía Berrios).

The opening event will be held from 7-10pm Saturday Sept 8th at CreArte Latino Arts Center and Museum, which shares a building with El Colegio Charter High School at 4137 Bloomington Av South in Minneapolis (1 mile south of Lake St. on Bloomington).  At 9pm there will be a reading by local journalist Jay Miskoweic from his translation of Mexico Madness by Eduardo Garcia Aguilar.  Other entertainment will include poetry and musical performances by various guests (including writer Victor Rojas and musician friends, jazz maestro Stewart Blue, songwriter Char and folksinger Josh Mattson), plus a specially produced video review of the exhibiting artists at work.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of Minnesota

Other Important Exhibitions in Minneapolis