Camille Gavin: Stunning Latination exhibit highlight of First Friday
| Monday, Aug 31 2009 04:57 PM
Last Updated Monday, Aug 31 2009 04:59 PM
GO & DO
What: "Latination" reception
When: 5-9 p.m. Friday
Where: Metro Galleries, 1604 19th St.
Admission: Free
Information: 634-9598
First Friday
"Latination" is only one of many activities the public can take part in at First Friday in downtown Bakersfield.
Ellie Jaye's Baby Boutique next door to Metro at 1608 19th St., will hold a children's I.D. program in conjunction with the Bakersfield Police Department.
Spotlight Café, 1622 19th St. is offering a variety of pastas, and a no-host bar serving wine and margaritas.
A film from the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival will be projected from the adjacent parking lot onto the west side of the building occupied by Metro.
House of Flowers, a florist shop, and Kuka's, which features quality items from Mexico and Central America, will each hold an open house Both shops are on the south side of 19th Street.
And only a block away at 1703 20th St., Surface Gallery is celebrating its first anniversary with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. The current show, titled "One," features new art work interpreting the word "one" by artists Yvonne Cavanagh, Vikki Cruz, Brent Eviston, and Liz Sherwyn. Wine and appetizers will be provided by Valentien.
"Latination." It's a rhythmic four-syllable word that dances easily off the tongue. Try saying it out loud; I think you'll agree.
Now you won't find the word in a standard dictionary, at least not yet. But it has a broad meaning, as defined by Don Martin, so maybe it will make its way into Webster's pages next year.
Martin, who coined the phrase to describe the theme for the juried exhibit that opens Friday at Metro Galleries, is using it to describe a celebration and exploration of the Latino culture in our community. And along with that, to show how different artists interpret that theme.
"I've wanted to do a show on the Latin culture for some time," Martin explained, "We're so influenced by it here; it's all around us in everything we do. Three or four months ago I was brainstorming about what to call it. I liked the sound of the two words together: Latin and nation."
A total of 45 artists submitted work for the show. Most are local but some are from other cities in the state. Each artist was limited to only two pieces. Mas magazine, a sister publication of The Californian, co-sponsored the exhibit, along with Grimmway Farms, Dr. Luis Cousin, attorney David Torres and Kim Jessup.
The exhibit was open to all artists, not just those of Hispanic heritage.
"I didn't want to limit it to Latinos," Martin said. "And I did the same kind of outside-the-box thinking for the panel of judges. They are more like the average person, not the ones who usually judge art shows."
For artist and teacher Alberto Herrera, "Latination," means family.
"My mom, who was born in Mexico, came from a big family," said Herrera, who is known for his vibrant, surrealistic paintings. "In our culture we do a lot of things with family -- family is very important to us."
As a result, that's the subject matter for the two pieces of artwork he submitted for the show. One is a portrait of his mother, who was born in Mexico. It's called "India Maria," because that's the way she was known to him and his family.
"There are a lot of Marias in our culture -- Maria Elena, Guadalupe Maria -- everyone has a Maria in their family," he said, explaining that adding a second word or name helps to identify each. "India Maria is an affectionate name," he said. "In Mexico, India means Indian.
Herrera's other submission is a sculpture made of cardboard covered with colorful fabrics and is also about family. It is titled "Mis Tres Hermanas," or "My Three Sisters."
Lisa Kimble, a former television reporter and now a freelance writer, was one of the judges. A Bakersfield native, she has a Hispanic heritage -- on her mother's side -- and studied art at Mount Saint Mary's College in Los Angeles.
"I was impressed with the quality of the work, all across the board," Kimble said. "These are extraordinary pieces that you would usually find in a big city -- and to think that we have all this talent right in our own backyard."
Two pieces in the show especially caught her eye. One was a panel of silk-screen prints depicting United Farmworkers Union founder Cesar Chavez. The other was a portrait of a woman.
"There was this one painting of an older woman," Kimble said, adding, with a slight catch in her voice, "She reminded me of my grandmother Esperanza."
Overall, her strongest feeling about the exhibit is one of joy.
"It's a feel-good show," Kimble said. "Everyone will leave there with a smile on their face -- I know I did."
A "Best of Show" and several other awards will be announced during the reception. Mariachi and other types of live music will be played inside and outside the gallery. Appetizers provided by El Pueblo will be served. Dolores Huerta has been invited as a special guest. The exhibit will be up through Sept. 30.
