{"id":1364,"date":"2022-01-20T17:39:12","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T17:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.sju.edu\/gallery\/?p=1364"},"modified":"2022-03-14T18:03:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T18:03:10","slug":"i%c2%b7den%c2%b7ti%c2%b7ty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.sju.edu\/gallery\/2022\/01\/20\/i%c2%b7den%c2%b7ti%c2%b7ty\/","title":{"rendered":"i\u00b7den\u00b7ti\u00b7ty"},"content":{"rendered":"

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January 17 – February 25, 2022<\/h3>\n

Online exhibition catalog<\/a><\/h3>\n

A recording of the Feb 10 artists’ panel discussion can be found here<\/a><\/h3>\n

Identity is a word known by everyone in the world, but is it truly understood? Of course, every human being on earth has an identity consisting of qualities, beliefs, personality, expressions that make a person who they are and special. Indeed, identity is unique and differs by country, culture, and traditions. Today, our \u201cIdentity\u201d exhibition explores a special side of uniqueness. The current exhibit highlights Philadelphia area artists of Central American, South American, and Puerto Rican heritage, with the common theme of identity and a particular focus on culture and family origin. Henry Bermudez, Rodr\u00edguez \u201cRoca\u201d Calero, Jos\u00e9 Ortiz-Pag\u00e1n, Doris Nogueira Rogers, and Marta S\u00e1nchez are the artists that chose to share with us a glimpse of their experiences, stories, and feelings that belong to their identity. Today, while they live on the east coast of the United States and have adopted this country as a part of their identity, their cultures remain a significant component of their incredible art. Using fascinating and revolutionary varieties of mediums, these artists present us with fantastic artworks inspired by childhood memories, exciting travels, family traditions, personal feelings and perceptions, and current social issues both in their country and in the United States. We hope that this exhibition will allow people to reflect on their own identity while learning a better visual and emotional understanding of these artists\u2019 cultures. So today, as you stand in front of these artworks, remember the uniqueness that makes <\/span>you<\/span><\/i>, the <\/span>person next to you<\/span><\/i>, and the <\/span>artists. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

~ Rebecca Elbaze
\nGallery Exhibition Research Assistant<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Henry Bermudez<\/h3>\n

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Philadelphian Girl, <\/em><\/strong>Acrylic and Glitter on Canvas, 2021
\n<\/strong>Henry Bermudez\u2019s Philadelphia Girl <\/em>is directly inspired by the artist\u2019s identity that has traveled and significantly evolved with time. After graduating from art school in his home country of Venezuela, Henry Bermudez became an art teacher in the small town of Borubes. Created as a plantation to cultivate sugarcane, Borubes saw the coming of many African slaves. As a result, and after much time and effort, Borubes became rooted in African traditions, music, dance, mythology, and culture. That became a part of the artist\u2019s identity and influenced his art. The complex background filled with prominent flowers reflects the artist\u2019s idea of landscape, as he remembers from his many visits to the Amazon\u2019s bountiful forest. Further, the mesmerizing glitters and colors are influenced by the artist\u2019s experience living in Mexico and Peru. Philadelphia Girl <\/em>represents the artist\u2019s identity, traveling and picking up pieces of different cultures. Today, after 19 years of living in Philadelphia, Henry Bermudez proudly says that he also feels like he belongs to the city\u2019s culture without forgetting his past experiences, which are all feelings reflected in this artwork.<\/p>\n

~ Rebecca Elbaze, Gallery Exhibition Research Assistant<\/p>\n

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Rodriguez Calero<\/h3>\n

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Rodr\u00edguez Calero, The AmeRi\u0301can Tragedy<\/i>, 2019, Fotacrole\u0301 mm on canvas <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The AmeRi\u0301can Tragedy <\/span><\/i>is a poignant artwork that embodies deep meanings and sentiments. Two handcuffed individuals stand in front of a small Puerto Rican flag layered upon the prominent American flag. Roca says that this imagery is inspired by Puerto Rican Poet Tato Laviera and his work in which he is yearning for the Utopian Society, which in reality does not exist. The artist\u2019s message behind the creation of this piece is both emotional and political. Indeed, the artist notes that <\/span>\u201cPuerto Ricans continue to be subjects of the United States without a right to vote for the president, without voting representation in Congress and equal treatment compared with citizens born or naturalized in the United States.\u201d <\/span><\/i>The paper towel acting as handcuffs symbolizes what critics said about Trump\u2019s inability to sympathize with others and his self-absorbed leadership in a time of crisis. <\/span>The AmeRi\u0301can Tragedy <\/span><\/i>uses Fotacrole\u0301 mixed media, which evolved from Roca\u2019s visual fields of expression, such as photography, acrollage painting, and collage. This form grew from a physical, emotional, and developmental need to revitalize the artist\u2019s creative processes. <\/span><\/p>\n

~ Rebecca Elbaze
\nGallery Exhibition Research Assistant<\/span><\/p>\n