Dreams of Freedom

Expressions Graphics presents:

Nicolas de Jesus : New Works 

“Dreams of Freedom”

Reception :  April 13, 2012 6-9PM

Location: Expressions Graphics, 29 Harrison St.,

Oak Park, IL 60304

Etching Workshop:  Saturday April 14, 2012,

Noon -4:30pm .  Fee: $60.  

Contact Expressions Graphics to register:

(708) 447-9262

Artist Statement:

“Dreams of Freedom” is a series of engravings, (etchings and aquatints), that runs like a visual dream or nightmare. It focuses on presenting the story of Indigenous People’s struggle with the law to retain control over their culture and autonomy.

The struggle to achieve a fair living community is opposed by the government’s very powerful political and economic interests. These interests are backed by a policy of World globalization making the struggle even more complex and risky. We are dealing with ruthless powers that only care about economic gain, and the political power to control. A widespread discontent is felt throughout the indigenous peoples. We fight for justice that can give us a decent life, and also out of a respect for the environment around us, which suffers from the corruption and greed of the powerful few.

Art is a way to express and spread awareness of this problem which affects every human being. Our interest is in seeking better lives for all of us living on the Earth, Our Mother.

- Nicolas De Jesus.

Ink on the Veins

Expressions Graphics is pleased on presenting:

"INK ON THE VEINS" by three Nicaraguan Printmakers:
Robert Barberena De La Rocha, César Barberena and Carlos Barberena

Please join us for the opening reception with the artists:
Thursday, August 18th, from 6:00PM to 9:00PM.

Exhibition runs from August 18th through September 11th, 2011.
Expressions Graphics 29 Harrison Street, Oak Park, IL 60304
www.expressionsgraphics.or​g

"INK ON THE VEINS"
Three Nicaraguan Printmakers.
*Image: "Stop" Linocut by César Barberena. 2011.

- Robert Barberena De La Rocha.
Robert is a visual artist based in his hometown Granada, Nicaragua. He Attended the school of fine Arts in Granada and the National school of Arts, Managua, Nicaragua.

He has had solo exhibitions in Costa Rica, Germany and Nicaragua. His work has been exhibiting in group exhibitions in Galleries, Art Biennials, Museums and Art Festivals in various places including Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Nicaragua, Mexico, USA and Venezuela.

He has received various awards, most notably the 1st place in the National Printmaking Contest at La Casa de los Tres Mundos in Granada, Nicaragua in 1997 and the 1st place in the National Festival of the Arts in San José, Costa Rica in 1992.
www.robertbarberena.com

- César Barberena.
He is a visual artist from Granada, Nicaragua based in Maryland. He Attended the school of fine Arts, Granada, Nicaragua, the National school of Arts, Managua, Nicaragua. He has exhibited in the Washington metropolitan area since 1990. His paintings are include in many private and public collections.

"César Barberena's subjects embody collective archetypes, symbols of the soul perpetually present, even – and particularly – in the murky confines of our most stultified urges and desires. His language is cryptic, inasmuch as it speaks to us in profound metaphors, incongruent and disturbing to the undiscerning ear. Therefore, to distill meaning from such imagery, we must first abandon life's common course and enter the dark gates of the subconscious."
(Gabriel Traversari. Fragment of "Embracing the Dream")
www.yessy.com/cesarbarbere​na

- Carlos Barberena.
He is a Nicaraguan self-taught visual artist based in Oak Park, IL.
He has had solo shows in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain and the USA.
His work has been shown in group exhibitions in various Art Fairs, Art Biennials, Museums, Galleries, Cultural Centers and Universities in many places including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Spain, The USA, and Venezuela.

His work was selected to represent Nicaragua in the XIII Art Salon: Identity Imprint: A Glance at Ibero-American Printmaking at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC. The V Biennial of Caribbean with the Umbrellas Project, Dominican Republic. The III World Body Art Conference in Venezuela, The 7th, 8th, 9th Lessedra World Art Pint Annual, Sofia, Bulgaria and the 8th Triennial - Mondial de L’Estampe et de la Gravure Originale, Chamalieres, France. He also has created many installations in public spaces in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
www.carlosbarberena.com

*Their works are include in many private and public collections.

Expressions Graphics.

29 Harrison St. Oak Park, IL 60304

(708)386-3552

www.expressionsgraphics.org

Gallery Hours:

Friday – Saturday 1-4 PM or by appointment

Our gallery is run by Volunteers: Please call ahead to insure we’re open. 708-386-3552

Expressions Graphics is a not for profit printmaking group partially funded by the OPAAC, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest, and the IAC, a state agency, also its members and Northern Trust Bank.

Thresholds to Conservation

Expressions Graphics Invites you to the presentation of the Print Portfolio:
"Thresholds to Conservation"
Opening Reception: April 15th, 6:00PM to 9:00PM
April 15th - May 13th, 2011.

Thresholds to Conservation is the first Rio Grande Valley Collaborative printmaking portfolio produced in response to a call for artist, printmakers, and educators by Reynaldo Santiago, curator at the Art House Gallery in McAllen, Texas. Invited to participate in the portfolio are a unique group of international and local artists who have interpreted images, each with a specific message, based on the title via a variety of printmaking techniques. All prints are original, hand pulled, and signed by the artist.

Participating artists include:
René Arceo, Carlos Barberena, Linda Lewis, Benjamín Martínez, Will Martin, Reynaldo Santiago, Janet Schill, Paul Valadez, María Elena Macías, Isaac Santiago, Ramiro Paz, Xavier Garza.

Expressions Graphics 29 Harrison St. Oak Park, IL 60304. / (708) 386-3552

www.expressionsgraphics.org

Expressions Graphics is a not for profit printmaking group partially funded by the OPAAC, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest, and the IAC, a state agency, also its members and Northern Trust Bank.

Upcoming Events

March:
"Manipulating the Light"Husband and Wife Collaboration
Monoprints by Benjamin and Anna Marie Varela.Opening: March 18, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
March 5 - 31, 2011.

April:

"Thresholds of Conservation"Opening: April 15, 6:00PM - 9:00PMApril 8 - 30, 2011

May: What's Blooming on Harrison Street
Silent Auction and $20 Prints SaleMay 6 - 31, 2011

June:
"Oil Drawings, Landscapes and Explosives"
by Laura Myntti.
Opening: TBA
June 3 - 30, 2011.

July:"Touching Base"
Recent Works by Visiting Artist Reynaldo Santiago.Opening: July 15th, 7:30 - 9:30PM
Litho Demo, Screen Printing Workshop and more.July 1 - 31, 2011.

August:
"Ink on the Veins"Three Nicaraguan Printmakers.Opening: TBAAugust 5 - 31, 2011.

September:
Opening: TBASeptember, 2011.

October:
"UN-NATURAL DISASTERS"A Suite of Social Justice Themed Prints.Opening: October 21, 2011October 1 - 30, 2011.

November:
"LA CALACA PRESS International Print Exchange"Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos.Opening: TBANovember 1 - 30, 2011.
Gallery Hours:
Friday – Saturday 1-4 PM or by appointment

Our gallery is run by Volunteers: Please call ahead to insure we’re open. 708-386-3552

Expressions Graphics
29 Harrison St. Oak Park, IL 60304
www.expressionsgraphics.org

Expressions Graphics is a not for profit printmaking group partially funded by the OPAAC, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest, and the IAC, a state agency, also its members and Northern Trust Bank.

"Master Prints" relief prints by nicaraguan artist Carlos Barberena

Expressions Graphics Gallery Presents:
"Master Prints" Relief Prints by Carlos Barberena.
Opening Reception: July 16th, 6:00PM - 9:00PM.
July 1 - July 31, 2010.

"La McMona" Print by Carlos Barberena.

“Master-Prints”
In this series I employ the process of appropriating and varying “Master Pieces of Art,” using at times both their titles and compositional strategies but inserting contemporary imagery to create new works.

These pieces reflect contemporary issues such as environmental pollution, exploitation of natural resources, human rights issues, violence, labor rights, wars, and the use and abuse of power.

My selection of master pieces was not entirely random: with most, I chose pieces which reflected contemporary issues during the period in which they were produced. I researched the ideas behind each artist’s piece, the ways in which each artist dealt with the contradictions and hypocrisy of these issues.

Then in some, I inserted contemporary issues into them that fit with the complex imagery of each. In others, where the message of the work was particularly clear and widely understood, I introduced new, contradictory ideas.

Carlos Barberena is a Nicaraguan visual artist based in Oak Park IL. He has had solo shows in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua and The United States of America, and his work has been shown in important Art Fairs, Art Biennials, Museums and Galleries in many places including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

He has created many installations in public spaces in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Venezuela and his work was selected to represent Nicaragua in the XIII Art Salon: Identity Imprint: A Glance at Ibero-American Printmaking at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC. And in the III World Body Art Conference in Venezuela.

His artistic work has been published in almanacs and Christmas cards benefiting Costa Rican children. He has also participated in art auctions benefiting Nicaraguan children and Nicaraguan Printmaking in Bonn, Germany, He also illustrated a book for children published in Vienna, Austria.

He has received various awards, most notably the award- poster for the Ecology and Human Rights in Banana Plantations in Costa Rica, given by GEBANA in Berlin, Germany.

His work is included in private and public collections, among them The International Exlibriscentrum, Stedelijke Museum in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, the Lia Bermudez Museum in Venezuela, The Printmaking Workshop (Taller de Formación y Producción Gráfica), in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, the National Gallery (Galeria Nacional) of Costa Rica, the Cultural Museum of the Caribbean (Museo Cultural del Caribe) in Venezuela, the Praxis Gallery in Nicaragua.

Gallery Hours only for this Event:

Wed - Thu - Fri -Saturday 1-5 PM or by appointment. *3rd Friday 1-9PM*

Our gallery is run by Volunteers: Please call ahead to insure we’re open. 708-386-3552

Expressions Graphics
29 Harrison St. Oak Park, IL 60304

www.expressionsgraphics.org

Expressions Graphics is a not for profit printmaking group partially funded by the OPAAC, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest, and the IAC, a state agency, also its members and Northern Trust Bank.