Art Show - José Buenaventura González

José Buenaventura González and Paulina Velázquez SolísA dialogue between traditional and contemporary textile art Un diálogo entre obras de arte textil tradicional y contemporáneo Free and open to the publicAs part of the celebrations of Latinx Heritage Month, Cultura/Latino Civic Association is hosting an exhibit at the CSMA exploring the diversity and richness of Latinx artistic expression right here in Ithaca. Showcasing two very different textile works, stemming from the deep, complex roots of Latin American culture, Hilando Fino / Finespun engages us in a conversation that explores the human relationship with nature and history, and the interplay of permanence and change in the lived experience the artists as individuals and as members of the larger indigenous and mestizo, Mexican and Central American, Latin American and American, globalized communities of which they are part.Master weaver and organic dyer José Buenaventura González, an indigenous Zapotec artist from Oaxaca, Mexico, currently living in Dryden, learned weaving from his father at age ten. He cards and spins by hand all of his yarn before dyeing it, exclusively using natural dyes from indigo and cochineal (both of which he learned to grow himself), he obtains colors from pomegranate, nuts, marigold and coconut shells and, his own innovation to the Mesoamerican tradition, goldenrod. Each one of the rugs he then weaves on his traditional Mexican loom is a unique work of art. Some include traditional Zapotec patterns and symbols, which are important to José as a way of keeping ancient knowledge alive. Others are inspired by ancient rock art from around the world, and still other designs are José’s original creations.Approaching nature from a completely different angle, the work of Mexican-Costa Rican artist Paulina Velázquez Solís explores her general interest in the strange. Her latest work is interested in the oddities hidden within nature and the body, particularly the ones that escape the discourse on normality. She does so through the lens of personal experiences such as pregnancy and postpartum, separating these experiences from the archetype created by the male gaze. Other works draw on the biological and how the relationships in nature operate and are influenced by our cultural notions.On ViewOctober 4, 2019 – October 25, 2019.Community School of Arts and Music (CSMA), 330 E State St, Ithaca, NY 14850