Pilar Acevedo - Pilar Acevedo Blog

Traveling!

1/10/2016

"I See Red", which is now part of the National Museum of Mexican Art's permanent collection, will be traveling to the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico! It is a privilege to be in the exhibit, The House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community, along with so many talented artists from the U.S. and Mexico.

The House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community
April 30 – September 28
Traveling to the NHCC from the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, this exhibition is inspired by the novel The House on Mango Street by the accomplished Mexican-American author Sandra Cisneros. The contemporary works of art on display in the exhibition highlight many of the issues facing adolescents growing up in urban areas. The intended result is for individuals from diverse neighborhoods, cities, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to identify commonalities in their coming of age experiences.

The House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community

5/1/2015

I See Red, 36 x 56 inches, Mixed Media, August 2013

The National Museum of Mexican Art presents a new exhibition inspired by the novel The House on Mango Street by the accomplished Mexican-American author Sandra Cisneros. The contemporary works of art on display are based on some of the central topics brought to light in this consciousness-raising novel.

Narrated in a series of vignettes, the book tells the story of a young girl growing up in a Latino neighborhood of Chicago.
The House on Mango Street, published in 1984, continues to resonate with readers from all walks of life and is read in classrooms everywhere – from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country. The exhibition, like the novel, highlights many of the issues facing adolescents growing up in urban areas. The visual artists in the exhibition explore experiences prevalent in working class neighborhoods across the U.S. The intended result is for individuals from diverse neighborhoods, cities, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to identify commonalities in their coming of age experiences.
The works of art feature some of the major themes of the book, including hope, personal dreams, hardship, disillusionment, family, community, home, identity, relationships, independence, coming of age, and storytelling. The NMMA is honored to have the participation of such a notable presence as Sandra Cisneros in this exhibition.

I am so proud to be part of this exhibit with such an incredibly talented group of artists from the U.S. and Mexico. The National Museum of Mexican Art kicks the event off on April 16, 2015 at 6:00 pm with musical vignettes and a performance of Reginald Robinson's musical compositions, which were inspired by Ms. Cisneros' novel, The House on Mango Street. Even more fabulous, since she is one of my favorite writers, is that Sandra Cisneros will read selections from this novel. For more information, please visit the National Museum of Mexican Art's website.

The exhibit opens to the public on April 17, 2015 and runs through August 23, 2015. The piece I will have on display is called I See Red and is shown below. It became part of the museum's permanent collection in July of 2014.

Photos below courtesy of Evonne Acevedo Johnson.

First Friday Trolley Hop

12/4/2014

I have four works on paper in En el espíritu de Frida, a group exhibit of five very talented artists. If you missed the opening reception on the 21st of November, First Friday Trolley Hop presents a fun opportunity to visit our exhibit at Swanson Contemporary on Friday, December 5, 2014—the First Friday Trolley Hop pf December!

Here is some information about the Trolley Hop as described by the Louisville Downtown Management District:

The Republic Bank First Friday Trolley Hop is an art show, tourist attraction, street party and celebration of downtown Louisville that brings new visitors and new life to the Main and Market corridor. The Trolley Hop takes place on the first Friday of each month from 5-11pm, rain or shine. Most of the galleries close around 9 pm but the restaurants, clubs, and shops stay open later. The trolleys run until 11pm.

The Republic Bank First Friday Trolley Hop is free and open to the public and can be boarded at any trolley stop along the route.

FREE parking is available at Slugger Field, Main Street at Jackson, and the 4th St. Live! garage after 6 pm. Free parking is also available on the street after 6 pm. Click here to view a map of the trolley route and parking options.

Critic's Pick | Visual Arts — The Courier-Journal

11/23/2014

This is what Elizabeth Kramer of the Courier-Journal, Critic's Pick write r had to say about our exhibit:

KAHLO INSPIRED

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the death of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who died at 47, leaving a legacy of being an outspoken artist and champion of marginalized people. Her work on both counts had inspired many, including Louisville artist Joe McGee who organized "En el Espiritu de Frida," that includes his work as well as pieces by four other artists, including fellow Louisvillian Jacque Parsley. Another is Kentucky-based artist Diane Kahlo (a distant cousin) who has painted nearly 100 portraits for "Wall of Memories: Las Desaparecidas de Ciudad Juarez" ("The Missing Women of Juarez"), which pays tribute to women killed or kidnapped in the Mexican border area with Texas. Also included are works by Mari Mujica who has produced photographs directly related to Kahlo's transgender impersonators in Mexico City and has new 3D work for the show, and by Pilar Acevedo, a Mexico City native and accomplished artist living near Chicago. McGee called her work reminiscent of Kahlo's. All written materials in English and Spanish courtesy of the University of Louisville Modern Languages Department.

WHEN: Friday through Jan. 3

WHERE: Swanson Contemporary, 638 E. Market St.

COST: Free admission

INFORMATION: (502) 589-5466, www.swansoncontemporary.com

Alas pa' volar

11/14/2014

"Alas pa' volar No. 1", Mixed Media Drawing, 24" x 18", 2014

"Alas pa' volar" is a series of mixed media drawings inspired by an entry Frida Kahlo wrote in her diary in 1953: “Pies para qué los quiero si tengo alas pa’ volar” , which means: Feet, why do I want them, if I have wings to fly? Frida wrote this after her right leg had been amputated as a result of gangrene. I interpret her entry to mean that if you give wings to your imagination, you are not bound by earthly constraints such as a broken body, a severed relationship, self-imposed limitations, or man-made borders.

In this series, I illustrate what I believe to be Frida's sentiment. In each drawing, a central figure is accompanied by a winged creature—birds, butterflies, and dragonflies.

The first piece that I completed began as a drawing of Frida as she looked in a photograph taken on July 2, 1954, when she took part in a demonstration against North-American intervention in Guatemala. Frida died shortly afterwards on July 13, 1954. In that photograph, she was wearing a scarf on her head and as I analyzed her face and her expression, it was apparent to me that she was close to death. It was at this point that I abandoned capturing an accurate portrayal of Frida, and decided to depict her as a "calavera" (skull). As I began drawing this piece, I was reminded of McCartney's lyrics: “Blackbird singing in the dead of night/take these broken wings and learn to fly/All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise”. And so, the background unfolded—I added a blackbird in flight and used a saffron-colored sky to represent the color of "cempasuchil" (marigold flowers) used during the Day of the Dead to guide the spirits of the dead back to their earthly homes.

The second piece is about my family's journey from Mexico City to Illinois. The image was inspired by a small collage I created using images from our family passport—a photo of myself and the Mexican seal. I chose monarch butterflies because we immigrated to the U.S. in March, when they begin their migration north. At the time of our departure from Mexico City, on March 13, 1959, we were five. The four butterflies represent my father, mother, and two brothers. My countenance is one of detachment as I did not comprehend what the journey meant, therefore did not know what to feel.

The third drawing was inspired by a photograph of Frida Kahlo and her monkey, perhaps Fulang Chang. My first impression of the photograph was that it was whimsical because of the monkey and its upward gaze. Then I noticed that the monkey appeared to be looking quite attentively at nothing. To accentuate the lightheartedness, I incorporated dragonflies and a yellow background.

One of Frida's drawings from her diary influenced the creation of the fourth piece. In fact, it was the same drawing under which she wrote, “Pies para qué los quiero si tengo alas pa’ volar.” In this drawing, a crane and female legs and feet are metamorphosed into one, and the creature prepares to take flight.

These mixed media drawings will be at Swanson Contemporary from November 21, 2014 to January 3, 2015. The gallery is owned by Chuck Swanson and is located at 638 Market in Louisville, Kentucky. We hope that you will join us for this wonderful exhibit. The opening reception is on November 21 from 6PM to 8PM.

"Alas pa' volar 2", Mixed Media Drawing, 24" x 18", 2014

"Alas pa' volar 3", Mixed Media Drawing, 24" x 18", 2014

"Alas pa' volar 4", Mixed Media Drawing, 24" x 18", 2014

En el espíritu de Frida opening night reception at Swanson Contemporary on November 21, 2014.

An Upcoming Exhibit in Louisville

11/6/2014

Coming Soon

9/26/2014

I am so very pleased to be exhibiting with the incredibly talented, Javier Chavira! I can unequivocally state that I absoutely LOVE his work. Not only does his skill leave me in awe, but his art speaks to me. So, please check out his work for yourself, and you will see exactly what I mean: http://javierchavira.wix.com/artist#!clair-de-lune/zoom/c199t/image1rww

Now, getting back to the exhibit—it will be from October 3–October 18 at Feed Arts & Cultural Center in Kankakee, Illinois—a mere 60 miles south of Chicago. There will be a closing reception on Saturday, October 18th, 7:00 – 10:00 pm. Hope you can make it!

Here is what Feed's site says about Javier Chavira:

Javier Chavira is an artist who has no misgivings about creating images that straddle the line between realism and abstraction. He is equally at home with the technical rigor of academic tradition and the liberating nature of formalism. A prolific artist, Javier has exhibited nationally and internationally and his work is in numerous public and private collections. Aside from being an active artist, Javier is also an educator. He is an Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing at Governors State University, a position he’s held since 2003. Javier is represented by 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago and currently resides in Crown Point, Indiana with his wife Sarah and their daughter Paloma.

http://feedarts.com/2014/08/03/javier-chavira-pilar-acevedo/

My Solo Exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art

9/7/2014

Here are more photos of my solo exhibit, Fragmentos: Pilar Acevedo, which was curated by the incredibly talented, Dolores Mercado, Associate Curator of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, Illinois. The exhibit ran from January 16, 2014 through July 13, 2014. I am extremely honored to have exhibited at this fabulous museum because:

Today, the National Museum of Mexican Art stands out as one of the most prominent first-voice institutions for Mexican art and culture in the United States. We are home to one of the country’s largest Mexican art collections, including more than 7,000 seminal pieces from ancient Mexico to the present.

As the only Latino museum accredited by American Alliance of Museums, we recognize our unique responsibility to present exhibitions of artistic and cultural value and to deliver high-quality education that demonstrates the breadth and depth of Mexican art, culture and history.

Twenty of our exhibitions have traveled across the United States and six have traveled to Mexico. Landmark exhibitions that have traveled include The Art of the Other Mexico (1992), Maria Izquierdo (1996), The African Presence in Mexico (2006), and Frida's Contemporaries: Women Artists of Modern Mexico (2007).

Fragmentos: Pilar Acevedo

9/6/2014

Thanks to Staci Rybacek, I have some marvelous shots of my solo exhibit, Fragmentos: Pilar A cevedo at the National Museum of Mexican Art. The exhibit, which was curated by the very talented Dolores Mercado ran from January 16, 2014 through July 13, 2014.

Frida . . .

9/6/2014

An excellent video about one of my favorite artists — Frida Kahlo.