City of Glendale, CA
06/05/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/05/2023 17:35
“It's Clever, But Is It Art?” by ERRE (Marcos Ramírez)
Media Contact:
Maryl Fleisher, Marketing Manager
Glendale Library, Arts & Culture
222 East Harvard Street, Glendale CA 91205
(818) 937-7806 / [email protected]
"It's Clever, But Is It Art?" by ERRE (Marcos Ramírez)
June 3 - July 23, 2023
GLENDALE, CA - Glendale Library, Arts & Culture, and ReflectSpace Gallery are proud to present "It's Clever, But Is It Art?" a solo exhibition that showcases several pieces by well-known Mexican artist ERRE (Marcos Ramírez), whose work reflects the sociopolitical issues surrounding the Mexico-US border in various forms, including text-based art. Through works that resemble crossword puzzles and the Snellen Optometry chart, the exhibition explores the impact of written language within the context of a public library. The exhibition includes public art in four large-scale eye-chart-like banners featuring quotes from notable writers displayed on the library building's facade. A floor installation referencing the Tower of Babel completes the exhibition, offering insight into the biblical story of a multilingual world. "It's Clever, But Is It Art?", titled after a quotation by Rudyard Kipling, is curated by Alma Ruiz, former senior curator at MOCA, Los Angeles.
In Central Library's Passageway Gallery, two accompanying projects will be on display: a series of community portraits entitled 'If You Had A Magic Wand' is a socially engaged art project by Johnny Pérez, in collaboration with Edison Elementary, and Glendale Central Library. The portraits act to further validate the students and their wishes for the community. "Letters to Parents," a postcard project by Kevin Ly invites the public to a writing prompt asking, "what do you wish your parents had told you?", it is intended to start a conversation and have people interact with not just the exhibit but with each other. All exhibitions will be available from June 3 through July 23, 2023, at Glendale Central Library 222 East Harvard, Glendale, CA. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 24, from 6 - 8 pm. ReflectSpace and PassageWay Galleries are curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan.
About the Artist
Born in Tijuana in 1961, Marcos Ramírez Pimienta (ERRE) moved to the US in 1983. He has been featured in major exhibitions, including inSITE94, inSITE97, Havana Biennials, the 2000 Whitney Biennial, the second Moscow Biennial, the San Juan Poly/Graphic Triennial, the 2007 Sao Paolo/Valencia Biennial, the California Biennial 2008, MASS MoCA in Massachusetts and others. ERRE has taught courses at the University of California San Diego's art school and at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California. From 2003 to 2010 he was the director/founder of Estación Tijuana.
About the Curator
Alma Ruiz is an independent curator and Senior Fellow at the Center for Business and Management of the Arts at Claremont Graduate University. She is a former senior curator at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and co-editor and contributor to "A History for the Future: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1979-2000," published in 2022.
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About ReflectSpace
ReflectSpace is curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan and is an inclusive exhibition gallery designed to explore and reflect on social justice issues, human rights violations and genocides through the arts. Immersive in conception, ReflectSpace is a hybrid space that is both experiential and informative, employing art, technology, and interactive media to reflect on the past and present of Glendale's communal fabric and interrogate current-day global human rights issues. ReflectSpace is housed in Glendale Central Library and online at ReflectSpace.org.
About Glendale
Known as the "Jewel City," Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of more than 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks, and easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking.
About Library, Arts & Culture
Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT). For more information visit GlendaleLAC.org, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at 818-548-2021 or via email at [email protected].