Art Without Borders

Comments (0) By Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik Thursday, Oct 5 2006

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When a region gains a certain creative cachet, the work produced there tends to get categorized. A perfect example is “Latin American art,” a term that generalizes work from a vast and vital part of the world. Laymen who are expecting to encounter walls covered with bright paintings will be surprised at “10 Defining Experiments,” the inaugural Grants Program exhibition by the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (cifo). “We don’t use the term ‘Latin American art.’ It can be extrapolated in a universal way. It’s relevant to everybody,” says director and chief curator Cecilia Fajardo-Hill.

Unique projects were created specifically for the exhibition and selected by an advisory committee. “It’s truly a contemporary discourse. The basic idea is to shatter the notion of uniformity in Latin American art,” explains assistant curator Laura Lavernia. Pieces like Alessandro Balteo Yazbeck’s UNstable-Mobile, an installation of petroleum-related documents; and Regina José Galindo’s politically provocative video performance, Plomo (Clases Para Aprender a Manejar Armas), achieve the foundation’s goals and then some. Experience challenging contemporary art tonight at 7:00 at the cifo Art Space. The exhibit will be on view through November 12. Call 305-455-3380, or visit www.cifo.org.
Oct. 5-Nov. 12