Mindset: Selected Work by Dawson Visual Arts Graduates
Curated by:
Rhonda L. Meier
Catalina Hernandez Camacho, Zion Axell Fabro, Leen Jaafar, Jona Loomis, Ximena Ribeiro Tamiez, and Alessandro Ruvo present works which evoke a mindset in diverse and playful ways.
These graduates of Dawson鈥檚 respected Visual Arts program are distinguished by having began their studies in a global pandemic. Most started their Dawson coursework under partial, or 鈥榟ybrid鈥� presence in smaller groups courses such as printmaking and sculpture; the rest were carried out in confinement at home, with online lectures and meetings
This was reflected in the work presented in this year鈥檚 graduation鈥攁 turning of the mind inward, to issues surrounding the self and occasionally family, which leads to the title of this presentation, mindset. The pandemic incurred such a global change in beliefs, values, ways of living and being that individual鈥檚 established mindset was challenged, and often changed.
Alessandro Ruvo鈥檚 Greetings from Paradise presents the irony underlying in North American鈥檚 obsession with tropical vacations. His deft use of the tropical colour palette鈥攂lue sky and bleached sand, introduces a counternarrative which implies that the reality may well be different.
Jona Loomis鈥� representational TENTACLEEYEEGG, deftly portrays objects which, in combination, create a surrealist, playful montage of indeterminate meaning. The impression is that we are peering into someone鈥檚 brain, but unable to read the mindset here.
Ximena Ribeiro Tamez also seems to depict the inside of two being鈥檚 minds, but they open to reveal cities filled with tall buildings, or computer parts fitting together. Connections is a beautiful piece which depicts the richness of our minds and the experiences that fill and shape them, but pointing also to their potential to bring, or even meld us together.
In the display case facing the cafeteria, Zion Axell Fabro鈥檚 painting also has a spiritual theme. Her abstract acrylic on canvas, Bodies Transcending again refers to a mindset where spirit overcomes, or departs from matter. This very open, complex piece speaks to the artist鈥檚 confidence and maturity, ideationally as well as compositionally.
Fabro鈥檚 piece could also evince a feminist reading鈥攂odies transcending, social conventions and constrictions, being one of the goals of many feminisms. This is why it is beside one of the most feminist works of the graduating class, They never shut their damn mouths, by Catalina Hernandez Camacho. Here Camacho does not need the body鈥攁 very constructed corset dress, in taupe satin implies a feminine presence. With a similar, yet striking economy of means, the mouths are literally mouths鈥攚ith yellowed teeth, surrounded by ugly lips, whiskers, and dripping, pus-covered tongues, Camacho鈥檚 mouths encapsulate the ugly, judgemental, and voracious, vociferous males, whose mindset is grossly out of sync with that of third wave feminism, and in contrast to the shining, perfectly serene vision in taupe in front of them.
Ximena Ribeiro Tamez‘ acrylic diptych Body Hair, Don鈥檛 care displays the ambivalent feelings many women possess toward their bodies鈥攚anting to move freely in the world without having to self-evaluate or consider one鈥檚 bodily appearance, versus wanting to conform to often impossible societal expectations or dictatures of appearance, in order to please or placate the male gaze.
Linking the two cases is the space in the gallery, which features Mid Swim by Leen Jaafar. In many ways, I see this work as contradicting my own purported curatorial theme. This semi-representational sculpture seems to encapsulate freedom and joy鈥攊n some ways pure feelings which transcend or exist outside of a social context, a pandemic, or any mindset.
