There is a pretty interesting show over at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art (SJICA) currently in their main gallery space, “Chico and Chang”, featuring Latino and Asian artists who discuss the impact of Latino and Asian cultures on the “visual landscape” of California. The work curated in this show are heavily loaded with content, and are rooted in cultural iconic and symbolic references connecting the contemporary art objects and images on view, with the stories and concepts stemming from immigration and the shift seen in the California cultural climate. The show was curated by Kevin B. Chen from Intersection for the Arts, a non profit in San Francisco. The artist’s in the show are: Pablo Cristi, Sergio De La Torre, Takehito Etani, Ana Teresa Fernandez, Clement Hanami, Mike Lai, Angelica Muro & Juan Luna-Avin, Favianna Rodriguez, Lordy Rodriguez, Tracey Snelling and Charlene Tan. The show comes down on September 16th, 2011 so go check it out while you still have time.
Sergio De La Torre. This is not in Spanish, 2011; neon; 1 x 14 ft. Collection of the Kadist Art Foundation.
Clement Hanami. Goon Squad Garage, 2009; mixed media; 48 x 96 x 50 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
Ana Teresa Fernandez, Carry On (detail), 2011, Mixed media, Courtesy of the Artist
Press Release Excerpt:
Chico & Chang explores the interwoven and sometimes incongruous cultures of two of California’s largest populations, the Latino and Asian communities. From a low-rider rickshaw to work made by “Dreamers,” undocumented youth who are fighting to gain legal status, Chico and Chang examines the impact of Asian and Latino cultures on the changing face of California through sculpture, video, illustration and painting. Posing complex questions about the assumption and construction of culture, the work in this exhibition provides opportunities to see where the boundaries of these two immigrant populations begin, intersect and sometimes collide.
Chico & Chang is funded in part by a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Donor Circle for the Arts
VISIT THE WEBSITE: http://www.sjica.org/detail.html?eid=862
