From February 1-22, 2019, New City Arts presents Brotando, an exhibition of paintings, embroideries and sculptures inspired by the stories of Latina women by Karina A. Monroy. Karina is the Fall 2018 New City Arts Artist-in-Residence.
Del 1 al 22 de febrero de 2019, New City Arts presenta "Brotando," una exposición de pinturas, bordados y esculturas inspiradas por las historias de mujeres latinas de Karina A. Monroy. Karina es la artista residente de New City Arts en el otoño de 2018.
New City Arts' Welcome Gallery
114 3rd St. NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902
First Fridays
February 1 from 5-7:30 PM. Artist talk at 6 PM.
Gallery Hours
Noon-4 PM, Monday-Friday
Sponsors
This Welcome Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception is sponsored by Ting and Sugar Shack Donuts, and is supported by an Enriching Communities grant from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF).
Exhibition Statement (provided by the artist)
Brotando (sprouting). When a plant begins to sprout new life from its stems, it gives you the opportunity to take that sprout and plant it in a new place. If you’re lucky, and you have a green thumb, that plant will grow and it too will begin to sprout smaller plants one day. And just like that, one small plant can turn into a large and lovely garden.
Like the new sprout from a plant, the women in my life have successfully grown in new soil.
These paintings, drawings and sculptures were inspired by the stories of Latina women — some of whom I have known my entire life, and some of whom I just met. As I sat down with these women, I asked them to think of a space in which they are able to thrive. A space that is safe and comforting; a home for themselves. Using their stories as inspiration, a piece was created for each of them.
Amongst the stories of other Latina women, you will also find scenes from the soil in which I was able to root, grow and thrive — my mother’s and my grandmother’s homes.
Declaración de Artista
Brotando. Cuando una planta empieza a brotar, te da la oportunidad de tomar ese brote y plantarla en un lugar nuevo. Si tienes buena mano, esa planta va crecer, y también un día va brotar. Y así de fácil, una sola plantita se puede convertir en un jardín hermoso.
Como la planta que va brotando, las mujeres en mi vida también pudieron crecer en tierras nuevas.
Estas pinturas, dibujos, esculturas y bordados fueron inspirados por las historias de mujeres Latinas inmigrantes y Latinas nacidas en Estados Unidos. Unas que he conocido toda mi vida, y unas que apenas voy conociendo. Durante el proceso, le pregunte a las mujeres que pensaran en un lugar o un espacio donde se sentían seguras y feliz; un hogar para ellas mismas. De cada historia, hice una obra de arte específicamente para ellas.
Entre las historias de otras mujeres latinas, también encontrarás escenas de la tierra en las que pude arraigar, crecer y prosperar; la casa de mi mama y mi abuela.
About the Artist (provided by the artist)
Karina A. Monroy was born and raised in Southern California. In 2016 she received her B.A. in art and anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Karina’s upbringing as a daughter of Mexican immigrants has led her to seek a life and career dedicated to the social justice and representation of Latinx communities. Her work has been a process of decolonization and rediscovery of her ethnic identity. Karina’s primary research focuses on highlighting the often underappreciated and underrepresented brilliance, magic and feminine power of “abuelita knowledge” within Latinx-Chicanx-Mexican culture. Through shared story-telling and learning exchanges, Karina has been able to collaborate with Latinx communities from California to Mexico, and now Virginia. In addition to her community and artistic work, Karina takes joy in the little things in life like cooking, sewing, eating chocolate, talking to her plantitas and drinking tea and spending time with her mami, hermana y abuelita.
Conoce al Artista
Karina A. Monroy nació y crecio en el sur de California. En 2016 recibió su licenciatura en artes plasticas y antropología de la Universidad de California, Santa Cruz. Como hija de inmigrantes mexicanos Karina ha buscado una vida y una carrera dedicada a la justicia social y la representación de las comunidades latinas. Su trabajo ha sido un proceso de descolonización y redescubrimiento de su identidad étnica. La investigación principal de Karina se centra en resaltar el resplandor, la magia y el poder de “el conocimiento de las abuelitas" dentro de la cultura latina y mexicana. A través de los intercambios compartidos de historias, Karina ha podido colaborar con las comunidades Latinas desde California hasta México, y ahora Virginia. Además de su trabajo artístico, Karina disfruta de las pequeñas cosas de la vida como cocinar, coser, comer chocolate, hablar con sus plantitas y tomar té y pasar tiempo con su mamá, hermana y abuelita.
Artwork image courtesy of the artist.
