Carlotta's Passion Fine Art presents: Both Sides of the Border

Folklorista - Oil painting by Mark Vallen

[ This Press Release last updated on Thurs, Jan. 12st., 2006 ]

BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER:
Latin American & Chicano Art
Carlotta's Passion Fine Art - Eagle Rock California
Nov. 19th through January 7th, 2006.

With the recent upsurge in popularity for Latino art, Carlotta's Passion Fine Arts intends to present a proper historical and aesthetic context for what is quickly becoming an internationally renown school of art. As an expression of a newly independent hemisphere, Latin American art has long delighted and inspired a world audience. Vibrant, compelling and rooted in the unique experience of the Americas, the genre provides a bridge for a new contemporary US art movement.

Chicano Art is the visual language of the Mexican-American community in the US, and domestically it has already made an impact with its bold aesthetics - now it is poised to become popular with the worldwide community. To help broaden that recognition, Carlotta's Passion Fine Arts presented - Both Sides of the Border: Latin American & Chicano Art from November 19th 2005 through January 7th, 2006.

Both Sides of the Border focused on original and limited edition works of art by Latin American and Chicano artists. The Latin American artwork included pieces by Raul Anguiano, Juan Sebastián Barbera, Elsa Chabaud, Vladimir Cora, Jose Luis Cuevas, Jean Charlot, Ever Fonseca, Jose Fors, Ana Marini Genzon, Wifredo Lam, Vanesa Martinelli, David Martinez, Eleazar Martinez, Jose Esteban Martinez, Roberto Matta, Lucia Maya, Carlos Merida, Gustavo Montoya, Cristobal Ortega, Salvadore Salaza, Jag Sanchez, Francisco Toledo, Victor Uhthoff,
and Francisco Zuniga.

The Chicano artists whose works were in the show included Ramon Atilano, Carlos Bueno, Yareli Cobian, Diane Gamboa, Margaret Garcia, Gronk, Sergio Hernandez, Leo Limón, Gilbert "Magu" Lujan, Manuel Martinez, Abe Mendoza, Xavier Montes, James Osorio, Felix Perez, Ramon Ramirez, Sergio Rebia, Frank Romero, The Royal Chicano Air Force, Hector Silva, Patssi Valdez, Mark Vallen, Israel Valenzuela, Benjamin Venegas, and Antonio Ybanez.

Both Sides of the Border opened with an Artist's Reception on Saturday, November 19th., from 6:00 pm to
9:00 pm. The opening Artist's Reception was well attended by some 300 people, and during the opening Martin Espino and Christopher Garcia of MEXIKA performed indigenous music using traditional instruments.

During Both Sides of the Border, Carlotta's Passion
offered educational presentations and activities.

Friday, Dec. 16th., 8:00 to 9:00 pm: Educator Diane Velarde-Hernandez and artist Mark Vallen gave lectures on the influences of identity and social activism on Chicano art. Vallen's lecture included an exciting slide presentation on the aesthetics of socially conscious art.

Meet the Artist Series

During Both Sides of the Border, Carlotta's Passion offered a Meet the Artist series. Each friendly and informal gathering gave collectors an opportunity to get to know artists on a more intimate basis than allowable during a typical Artist's Reception. In the course of the Meet the Artist social events, artists walked collectors through works on display, going into detail about each piece, taking questions, and giving insight into the artist's background, motivations and influences. Additional works not on display were offered by the artists. The Meet the Artist series was well attended by a number of interested individuals. The following artists were participants in the series:

Diane Gamboa - Sun., Nov. 20th, 4:00 pm.
Sergio Hernandez - Fri., Nov. 25th, 8:00 pm.
Vanesa Martinelli - Sat., Dec. 3rd., from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Ana Marini Genzon - Fri., Dec. 9th, 8:00 pm.
Leo Limón - Sat., Dec. 17th at 4 pm.
Mark Vallen - Sat., Dec. 17th at 8 pm.

Lithograph by Zuniga [ detail ]

Poetry Reading: Luis J. Rodriguez
Saturday, December 3rd at 8 pm.

Luis J. Rodriguez read from his latest poetry collection, My Nature is Hunger: New & Selected Poems.
Luis J. Rodriguez is an award-winning writer of poetry, children's books, fiction, and nonfiction, best-known for the memoir, Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA. He is a cofounder of Tia Chucha's Cafe & Centro Cultural - a bookstore/cafe/art gallery/performance space/workshop center in the San Fernando Valley. He is also editor of Tia Chucha Press. You can discover more about Luis J. Rodriguez at his official website.

Mark Vallen's latest oil painting appears as the cover art for My Nature Is Hunger, and the artist was on hand to talk about his work created especially for Luis J. Rodriguez. Some 40 people turned out for this evening of socially engaged art and poetry.

Both Sides of the Border exhibition booklet now available in PDF format
Download here [ 300k document ]

Download and printout a complimentary copy of the 36 page booklet containing biographies and artist's statements for all 45 participating artists in this impressive exhibition. Sure to be a collector's item, printed copies of this book were given away at the opening reception.

Painting by Victor Uhthoff [ detail ]

Carlotta's Passion Fine Art continues to present ongoing exhibitions of fine paintings, prints, and drawings. The gallery is located at:

2012 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, California (Eagle Rock,) 90041.
Click here for a MapQuest map.

Business hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

For more information, please call Robert Squires, at: 323-259-1563
or email rs@carlottaspassion.com.

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Serigraph by Leo Limon [ detail ]

Oil painting by Felix Perez [ detail ]

Painting by Sergio Hernandez
[ detail ]