The exhibit explores the vibrant artwork of Texas native Santa Barraza and her mythic figures and icons.
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El Centro Cultural Latino tiene el orgullo de presentar a Santa Barraza: La Mano Poderosa. Esta exhibicion explora el arte brillante de la nativa tejana Santa Barraza y sus miticas figuras e iconos. Las obras de Barraza nos ayudan a entender como la artista chicana alimenta su arte con la produccion folclorica de sus antepasados y reinventa esta tradicion de manera innovadora y esteticamente placentera. El Centro Cultural Latino abrira la exhibicion a partir del 2 de febrero de 2006 a las 5:30 p.m. con una recepcion gratis abierta al publico. El arte estara de exhibicion del 2 de febrero al 1 de abril de 2006.
El arte de Santa Barraza es inconfundible con sus verdes, rojos, azules, cafes y rosas vivos e influencia de muralistas y pintores mexicanos como Rivera, Orozco y Siqueiros. Ella ha encontrado inspiracion en los codices Aztecas y esta influencia es evidente en los colores que elige tal como los rojos y amarillos. Annie Kostiner, colectora de arte y duena de una galeria, expresa buena opinion de Santa con las siguientes palabras: “Sus obras son ricas en representaciones miticas, religiosas y femeninas de las culturas pre-colombianas y norte y sur americanas… la multitud de simbolos que ella usa actuan como una base en la cual ella logra mostrar el significado del cuento expresado en todos sus lienzos.” Las pinturas de Santa animan los sentidos, retan nuestras opiniones politicas y nos transportan a un mundo trascendental en donde existen dioses y diosas. Ella logra todo esto con un brochazo de su pincel energico. Su arte ofrece al mundo artistico momentos gloriosos. Santa Barraza es una guerrera en esa noble mision de construir una nueva vision mundial; un nuevo comienzo alimentado por y originado del pasado.
Barraza ha experimentado con diversos estilos, temas y materiales en su trayectoria artistica. Una perseverante linea en su desarrollo ha sido la articulacion de un vocabulario visual que expresa su identidad cultural como mestiza con fuertes raices en la geografia mitica de las tierras fronterizas de Texas y Mexico. Ella ha continuado uniendo las piezas que crearan una nueva y poderosa vision de totalidad cultural. Las obras de Santa Barraza son un testimonio visual de la relacion reciproca entre la vida y elrte.
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The Latino Cultural Center is proud to present Santa Barraza: La Mano Poderosa. The exhibit explores the vibrant artwork of Texas native Santa Barraza and her mythic figures and icons. Barraza’s work helps us understand how the Chicana artist nourishes her work from the folk production of her antepasados (ancestors) and reinvents this tradition in innovative and aesthetically pleasing ways. The Latino Cultural Center will open the exhibit beginning February 2, 2006 at 5:30 pm with an opening reception that is free and open to the public. The exhibit will run from February 2 – April 1, 2006.
Santa Barraza’s art is unmistakable with its bright greens, reds, blues, browns and pinks and influence from Mexican Muralists and painters such as Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros. She has been inspired by the Aztec codices, and this influence is evident in both the colors she selects, such as bright reds and yellows. Art collector and gallery owner Annie Kostiner expresses her positive opinion about Santa in the following words: “Her work is rich in mythical, religious, and female representations of the Pre-Columbian cultures of North and Central America…The multitude of symbols she uses act as a foundation from which she achieves the significance of the story told in all her canvases.” Santa’s paintings enliven the senses, challenge our political positions, and transport us to a transcendental realm of gods and goddesses. She does all these things with a stroke of her powerful brush. Her art has given the art world godlike moments. Santa Barraza is a soldadera, a warrior woman, in that noble mission of constructing a new world view; a new beginning nurtured and rooted in the past.
Barraza has experimented with diverse styles, themes, and materials in her artistic trajectory. A persistent line of development has been the articulation of a visual vocabulary to express her cultural identity as mestiza with deep roots in the mythic geography of the Texas-Mexican borderlands. She has continued to piece together the shards that will create a new and powerful vision of cultural wholeness. Santa Barraza’s work is a visual testimonial to the reciprocal relationship between life and art.
