Five Latin artists explore the importance, identity and belonging in “Los Encuentros” – Huge
Marfa sits at the 90-year-old crossing of the United States and the 67-year-old crossing in the wide Chihuahua Desert in Far West Texas. About 60 miles from Mexico, the U.S. Border Patrol vehicles are common along the way, besides the unmissable, otherworldly surveillance airship, hovering near downtown highways with one of its iconic most iconic facilities, Elmgreen & Dragset and Dragset’s “Prada Marfa”.
With the incumbent government’s immigration policy taking effect, the politics of identity and geography are again momentum and focus, often violent. In this remote border area, influential art world figures have redefined a hierarchy of towns in the fusion of traits of thought and lifestyles, a unique opportunity to engage in the themes of community, narrative, socio-economic reality, and a sense of status.
The summer exhibition at the banquet hall Marfa, Los Encuentrosbringing together works by Latino artists Justin Favela, Ozzie Juarez, Antonio Lechuga, Narsiso Martinez and Yvette Mayorga. The gallery describes the purpose of the show, whose title translates to “Conference” or “gathering” as “representatives of Latin culture to face the accessibility of artistic space, colonial art history, labor conditions and life experience.”
Reports on national ice raids in the Daily News Report, this work Los Encuentros It is a timely provocative exploration of the complexity of today’s society, and is also a way to “respond to the experiences of people and places that they interact and portray”, a statement said.
From Mayorga’s frosted, piped paint to Favela’s vibrant pleated paper installation, all artists have adopted a wide range of materials and techniques. Using Mexican blankets or Cobijas, Lechuga has created sewn textile collages that explore a wide range of experiences and perspectives in the current political climate.
Martinez continues to use produce boxes, bags and reused plastic as substrates to create intimate, candid portraits of farm workers to remind people of often invisible labor that puts food on American tables. Juarez completely transformed the facade of the banquet hall into a giant painting derived from ancient Central American patterns.
Los Encuentros Curated by Maggie Adler of Texas, he expressed his pleasure in being able to work with artists whose centers of practice allow members of various community to see their representation in the art space. ”
The show lasts until October 12. Find more on the gallery’s website. During opening hours, be aware of the colorful patchwork flag of Rachel Hayes, which fly out in front.
