Now playing in the film nook: Verónica Vides

We are very excited to have on loan from the Mario Cader-Frech Collection the artist film- La Barrida. Now showing through October 25. Introduced to us by curator Clair Breukel, from Yes Contemporary

Veronica Vides
La Barrida
Video
Duration: 3 mins
On loan from the Mario Cader-Frech Collection

“La Barrida” depicts a group of twenty ex-combatants, each of whom suffered immense hardship during the Salvadoran Civil War (1979-1991), sweeping the ruins of the Aguacayo church. The church is in ruins, and is one of many living examples of the destruction caused by armed conflict in the country. The video proposes that the activity of cleaning could somehow improve the situation, but in the end the action only serves to absurdly multiply the dirt, adding to the burden.  

Verónica Vides
La Barrida
Video
Duración: 3 minutos
Préstamo de la Colección Mario Cader-Frech

"La Barrida" representa a un grupo de veinte excombatientes, cada uno de los cuales sufrió enormes dificultades durante la Guerra Civil Salvadoreña (1979-1991), barriendo las ruinas de la iglesia de Aguacayo. La iglesia está en ruinas, y es uno de los muchos ejemplos vivientes de la destrucción causada por el conflicto armado en el país. El video propone que la actividad de limpieza podría de alguna manera mejorar la situación, pero al final la acción solo sirve para multiplicar absurdamente la suciedad, lo que aumenta la carga.

 About the artist:

Verónica Vides (El Salvador, 1970) 

Veronica Vides is a Salvadoran artist with a background in Graphic Design. An early accolade included winning first place at the JUANNIO art contest in Guatemala in 2003. That same year she was invited to participate in Arte Paiz Biennial and HABITART in El Salvador. In 2004, Vides received honorable mention at the IV Central American Biennial, and in 2010 was selected to participate in the 1st Triennial of the Caribbean, Dominican Republic as well as the VII Central American Biennial. In 2011, Vides participated in CHANGE at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., USA , and in 2014 was awarded the Honor Prize at Salón Artes Plásticas in Esquel, Argentina. In 2016 she participated in the Plan de Evasion residency at the Tunca Foundation, and the X Biennial of Central America in Costa Rica.  In 2018, Vides participated in the exhibition Donde hubo fuego… at Museum of Art in El Salvador (MARTE).

Her artwork is part of many public collections, including: Ministerio Relaciones Exteriores, México; World Bank, USA; MADC and TEOR/éTica in Costa Rica; Museum of Art in El Salvador Collection; and the Ortiz Gurdián Foundation Collection, Nicaragua.  Currently, she lives and works in Patagonia, Argentina.

Verónica Vides (El Salvador, 1970)

Verónica Vides es una artista Salvadoreña con experiencia en Diseño Gráfico. Uno de los primeros galardones que recibió  fue ganar el primer lugar en el concurso de arte JUANNIO en Guatemala en 2003. Ese mismo año fue invitada a participar en la Bienal Arte Paiz y HABITART en El Salvador. En 2004, Vides recibió mención honorífica en la IV Bienal Centroamericana, y en 2010 fue seleccionado para participar en la 1ra Trienal del Caribe, República Dominicana, así como en la VII Bienal Centroamericana. En 2011, Vides participó en CHANGE en el Banco Mundial en Washington, D.C., EE. UU., Y en 2014 recibió el Premio de Honor en Salón Artes Plásticas en Esquel, Argentina. En 2016 participó en la residencia Plan de Evasion en la Fundación Tunca y en la X Bienal de América Central en Costa Rica. En 2018, Vides participó en la exposición Donde hubo fuego... en el Museo de Arte de El Salvador (MARTE).

Su obra de arte es parte de muchas colecciones públicas, entre ellas: Ministerio Relaciones Exteriores, México; Banco Mundial, Estados Unidos; MADC y TEOR / éTica en Costa Rica; Museo de Arte en la Colección El Salvador; y la Colección de la Fundación Ortiz Gurdián, Nicaragua. Actualmente, ella vive y trabaja en la Patagonia, Argentina.

Artist spotlight: Jackie Kern

I would like to introduce you to the artist Jackie Kern. Although we have been working with Kern for years and have showcased her earlier work, I feel the summer of 2019 marks the point in Jackie Kern's art career where she found her voice. The current body of work fits into the category of Abstract Expressionism.

There are two type of abstract painters: the action ones like Jackson Pollock who seem manic and attack the work with big gesture and color. Then the second type, often referred to as the color field painters such as Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. They were more interested in allegory and the response of the audience to their work.

Looking at her new body of work, I can see hints of both styles of abstract expressionism. There are some similarities to Lee Krasner and even Willem De Kooning, but Kern’s color palette is more reminiscent of the primitivism movement or indigenous works of art. This immediately attracts me to the work.  In her work Remembrance [shown above], I can see some of the frantic emotional input with her ink scribble lines and her repetitive oval shapes. With Declaration [shown below], she also utilized very bold frantic outlines surrounding her reoccurring oval shapes. In all of these works I see a deeper, implied use of shape that in my mind conjures human forms. Regardless if this is Intentional by Kern or invented by my penchant for narrative work; I react with an emotional response to her work that does not happen with most abstract expressionist work.

I feel this body of work is more contemporary than the past abstract expressionists. I can see similarities to Justine Hill’s work. Her work combines Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and Primitivism. She uses misshapen canvases that ultimately turn her abstract works into creatures. Her bold use of lines and limited color palette remind me of Kern’s work.

This library has a very special history with contemporary art. After having several long conversations with a retired Harvard Literature professor, Benito Rakower, I introduced this new body of work to him. He had the same reaction as I did. Rakower spoke highly of the work, “I immediately understood Kern to be an intelligent painter and very skilled. She understands what she is painting and teaches us to understand her work by the mark making and decisive style of the work”. He also saw the human figure and stories enmeshed within the abstraction of the work.

Enjoy more images of the new work below:

 

Dr. Jaqueline Kern

BFA [Painting/Drawing] Purchase College State Univ. of NY

MS Education [concentration in visual arts] Univ. of North Dakota

PhD Teaching & Learning [concentration in visual arts] Univ. of North Dakota

Artist website: www.jackiekern.com

Artist Statement

The formal work that I have created throughout my professional career contained imagery of places, objects, people, and animals heightened by bright colors, expressive lines, and vibrant patterns. As I approach this next phase of work, the places, objects, people, and animals have disappeared to reveal my focus on colors, lines, and forms. My emphasis on the nonobjective (devoid of people, places, and things) seeks to explore and express the dimensions of feelings without the trappings of recognizable imagery. Unburdened with having to recreate recognizable imagery from life, I feel most free. In this freedom, the compositions unfold on the canvas and paper in fresh, lively, and authentic statements—raw, honest, open, unfussed with, primitive, and sophisticated. 

Drepung Loseling Monks visit the Jupiter Campus

As part of their Mystical arts tour, the monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery [and here] came to the Jupiter Campus of Florida Atlantic University to produce a sand mandala. The mandala they produced for us was a medicine mandala.

The Mystical Arts of Tibet is a world tour endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to promote world peace and healing by sharing Tibet’s rich and authentic sacred performing and visual arts with modern audiences.  The tours offer a rare opportunity to witness one of the world’s most ancient sacred traditions presented by a group of monk artists for whom these traditions are a way of life [Drepung, 2017].

The event was organized by Jupiter Campus Life Staff and hosted by the Jupiter campus library. After they finished their ceremony, they gave each of us a small bag of the sand used to create the mandala, as a way to pass along the healing energy and beauty. The rest of the sand was placed into a body of water to spread the healing energy and beauty to the rest of the world.

This was an extremely calming and inspirational event to witness. We are lucky.

Here are images of the event.

Art Postcard Collaboration

THE STAND UP! ACTION ART POSTCARD CAMPAIGN 2016

The library participated in a Collaboration with the 

Climate Action Coalition of South Florida and Artists for Climate Action
 

This action art campaign will inform South Florida elected representatives at County, State and Federal levels about the strong constituent support for their action on these key issues that are part of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan. Member organizations are reaching out for signatures, home and email addresses on the cards. After the November general election, CAC representatives will hand deliver the cards to the new representatives.

Here are some images of Aaron and Jeffrey signing our cards from the first installment of two events on campus.

These are the postcards:

This message encourages action on the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan by County and Municipal elected officials, as the 110 SEFLRCAP recommendations are intended to be acted upon locally. Most of these should be inserted in county and municipality comprehensive plans. See:http://tinyurl.com/SEFLRCAP.

Very specific to Palm Beach County. The “Ag Reserve” is the fertile region between Florida’s Turnpike and the Everglades west of Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. The area is second to California as the prime supplier of winter vegetables. It was set aside years ago to protect wetlands and encourage small farming. This message encourages Palm Beach County Commissioners to reconsider their recent vote to allow more development in this area. Keeping development out will address food security and clean water needs. See:http://tinyurl.com/SAVEAGRESERVE

Protecting our health as climate related diseases increase with more flooding and heat requiresimproving the level and diversity of our health infrastructure. The Governor and Legislature must acknowledge that climate change is real by taking ACTION in preparation for mounting health problems.Federal representatives’ active support in seeking funding for this purpose is also crucial. This message will go to State and Federal elected representatives.See CAC member group Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton’s pilot project Rising Together encouraging communities at most risk to organize and identify resources:http://tinyurl.com/FLRISINGTOGETHER

Studies and experience clearly demonstrate the danger of fracking chemicals to groundwater. Despite this evidence,the Governor and majority in the legislature continue to ignore these risks, and recently have threatened to remove the ability of county and municipality elected officials to ban fracking in their local areas. This message goes to State Senators and Representatives 

These are the dates we will be out on campus with a table asking people to sign the postcards. Stop by our table.

Make a Difference (MAD) Monday

Event sponsored by SAVI (Students Advocating Volunteer Involvement)

                 Monday, Aug. 29^th 11 am – 1 pm
                  Location: Dining Hall (Check-In) and various locations on-campus (Service)

Clubfest 
Event sponsored by COSO (Council of Student Organizations)

                 Thursday, Sept. 8^th 4-6 pm

                 Location: Rec Field or Burrow Student Union (rain location)

Local exhibition

Call for entry FAU students