Ink on the Veins

Expressions Graphics is pleased on presenting:

*Image: "Stop" Linocut by César Barberena. 2011.

"INK ON THE VEINS" by three Nicaraguan Printmakers:Robert Barberena, César Barberena and Carlos Barberena*For the first time the three brothers are exhibiting their Prints together in the US.

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.

- 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

In 2009 I was invited to participate on the Collaborative Limited Edition Printmaking Portfolio and I created for this project the linocut "Ofrenda" (after Gauguin). Last year the portfolio was realised and was presented at the Art House Gallery in McAllen, Texas, and now it wil be exhibiting at Expressions Graphics Gallery in Oak Park, IL.



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.



"Ofrenda". Print by Carlos Barberena
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.

Opening Reception: April 15, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Expressions Graphics Gallery. 29 Harrison St. Oak Park, IL 60304

Master Prints at Expressions Graphics

I will be having a Solo Exhibition at Expressions Graphics Gallery in Oak Park, IL.

 

 

.“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.

Prints by Carlos Barberena

Carlos Barberena is a Nicaraguan visual artist based in Chicago. 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.

www.carlosbarberena.com
 

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

SURFACE TREATMENT: Expressions Graphics of Oak Park Exhibit

Nancy Moyer
The Monitor

The Art House is currently showcasing a group of thirteen printmakers from the United States and beyond. Expressions Graphics is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago and houses printmakers from Canada, Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, and the U.S. It was founded about twenty-five years ago, with artist Nicolas de Jesus, as a fundraising organization.

Although many of the prints have an illustrative edge to them, some of the artists are using their art to expose injustice and as vehicles for cultural enlightenment.

"Aguas Blancas" Print by Nicolás de Jesús.

De Jesus is originally from Nahua Ameyaltepec and shows his work worldwide. His artistic intent is to inform other cultures about Mexico's heritage. He particularly focuses on the plight of Mexico's indigenous peoples. His print on papel amate, Aguas Blancas shows Calavera spirits catching the tears of weeping native people. An unbalanced scale of justice floats in space; a small sign in the background reminds us that tears do not forget.

"Silencio" Print by Carlos Barberena.

Printmaker Carlos Barberena from Nicaragua is also concerned with man's inhumanity to his fellow man in his series of achromatic linocuts depicting recipients of oppression. "With my work," Barberena said, "I seek to be a vector of change, collecting images that pertain to our collective memory and that, in certain form, make reference to painful events in the history of my country and of the world." His print, Silencio, characterizes his experiences with censorship.

On the lighter side, Beverly Keys' colorful Intaglio and chine collé prints greet the viewer at the entrance to the gallery. Keys' abstract works are solely about color as revealed by titles such as Lime ll.

Keys is from Chicago, as is Jill Kramer. Kramer's linocuts demonstrate a classic blockprint style. Bold shapes are balanced carefully within the perimeters of the space. Kramer's hand colored polychromatic prints depict landscape scenery observed from her travels. Hand coloring allows her the effect of multiple plates. Dry River Bed depicts an undulating dry gulley that now hosts flowers and grassy vegetation. The lack of water does scar the beauty of the site; green grass and blue sky abound. Clouds drift by.

The artists in this exhibit are working with printmaking techniques and subject matter that allow editions of usually fifty prints. There is very little straying from traditional techniques such as intaglio, linocuts, and screen prints. The exceptions would be a few monoprints. The imagery in this exhibition is usually very direct, in order to elicit a quick and clear response, but the stylistic tendencies among the group vary greatly.

"It's a print shop and gallery where all the printmakers who participate have access to the equipment, explained Rey Santiago, Curator for the Art House. "They never use the word, co-op, but it works like one."

Santiago and Ben Varela are members of this group and have intaglios on display. This is a good opportunity for print collectors.

What: "Expressions Graphics of Oak Park Exhibit"
Where: Art House Gallery, 1009 Laurel
When: through March 28: Mon - Sat: 12:30 to 4:30pm or by appointment.
Contact: (956) 688-6461

Nancy Moyer, PhD, is the art critic for Festiva. She is an independent artist living in McAllen.

Carlos Barberena en ArtStudio Magazine

Carlos Barberena: Años de Miedo

Entrevista Publicada en ArtStudio Magazine por MOka

Tres años han pasado desde que entrevistamos a este artista nicaragüense, un cambio de domicilio, muchas obras nuevas y la exploración de nuevas técnicas son parte de las novedades en la vida de Carlos Barberena de la Rocha.

La tecnología nos da la oportunidad de conocer un poco del proceso de adaptación a tierras yankees, aunque no andaba tan perdido desde su última colaboración a esta revista con el artículo: Leoncio Sáenz “El Tigre de Paxila” el "opening" de “Años de Miedo” es el pretexto para ponernos al día.

Ahora reside en Chicago, Estados Unidos. Un cargamento de Lecheburras, los discos de Perro Zompopo y algunos platos de Gallo Pinto le han hecho más que compañía durante estos meses. En sus manos está el talento y en sus bolsillos las vivencias de su paso por varios países, aunque confiesa que lo que más extraña es a la familia de amigos que dejó por acá, se ha acoplado cada día más a su nueva vida.

Ayer

En el año 2006 el trabajo de Carlos empezó a proyectarse a un nivel internacional. Viajó a México a hacer una residencia artística al Taller de Formación y Producción Gráfica y a exhibir su obra gráfica en el Centro Cultural Antiguo Colegio Jesuita en Pátzcuaro. Posteriormente fue invitado a Venezuela a representar: Nicaragua en el III Encuentro Mundial de Arte Corporal, en ese país hizo varias intervenciones en espacios públicos. Además participó en talleres de performances y charlas sobre el acontecer artístico contemporáneo.

Para Barberena este tipo de experiencias fuera del área centroamericana le hicieron querer ampliar sus horizontes: “Necesitaba salir, respirar, dejar que mi arte se oxigenara y se nutriera de otras fuentes y perspectivas, visitar museos de “verdad” y bueno lamentablemente todo esto Centroamérica no me los estaba proporcionando, me sentía asfixiado”.

Hoy

Embarcarse en una aventura de este tipo es arriesgado, no tan arriesgada como la travesía que envuelve su llegada a Costa Rica años atrás.

¿Qué tan abierto ha sido el círculo de artistas de Chicago?

Pues he tenido buenas experiencias y excelentes relaciones con los artistas que he conocido en los 5 meses que llevo viviendo en Chicago, para suerte mía al mes de estar por acá encontré Expressions Graphics, que funciona como taller y galería, manejado por un colectivo de artistas gráficos y es un espacio sin fines de lucro, el cual promueve las técnicas del grabado tradicional y que tiene como principal objetivo desarrollar proyectos sociales utilizando esta técnica artística como medio principal. Leer más...

Años de Miedo / Time of Fear

I will be opening my next Solo Print Show Años de Miedo (Time of Fear) on February 20, at Expressions Graphics Gallery in Oak Park IL, USA. This Print Portfolio is a homage to the victims of war, is based on my memories and the collective historical memory of my country (Nicaragua) in the decades of the 70's and 80's, but this does not mean that it is limited geographically, because it is the reality in many countries at present.

This Portfolio is presented as a manner of reflection about war and its effects.
Años de Miedo is my first Print Portfolio Project and consists of 22 linocut prints printed on Rives paper of 180grms. In an edition of 25 prints, made and printed by Carlos Barberena.
The Show is open to public from Feb. 13 thru Mar. 8.
Opening Day: Friday February 20 7:00PM.

El proximo 20 de Febrero estare presentando el Portafolio Años de Miedo en Expression Graphics Gallery en Oak Park IL, USA. Este Portafolio de Grabados es un homenaje a las victimas de la guerra, esta basado en mis memorias y la memoria histórica colectiva de mi país (Nicaragua) , en las décadas de los 70’s y 80’s, pero esto no significa que este limitado geográficamente, pues es la realidad de muchos países en la actualidad.
Este Portafolio lo realice a manera de reflexión acerca de la guerra y sus secuelas.
Años de Miedo es mi primer Portafolio de Grabados que realizo y consiste en 22 estampas realizadas en Linografía e impresas sobre papel Rives de 180 grms. Este portafolio fue realizado e impreso por Carlos Barberena.
La Expo esta abierta del 13 de Febrero al 8 de Marzo. 

Inauguración: 20 de Febrero 7:00PM

Visit carlosbarberena.com

United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago and Expressions Graphics Present:

An exciting exhibit of Monotype Prints created at an arts workshop at United Cerebral Palsy on Harrison Street in Oak Park, IL.

Watercolor Monotype Prints

Oak Park Village Hall

Nov. 8 - Dec. 28, 2008

                                                          Photo by Peter Warner.

Reception Friday December 12, 4 - 6 PM

                                                         Photo by Peter Wagner.

We would like to extend special thanks to : The Buzz Café for donation of food for the reception, The Frame Warehouse for donating items for exhibiting, Expressions Graphics for art supplies, The Oak Park Areas Arts Council for helping us exhibit at the Village Hall gallery, Peter Wagner for providing photos, Dave Coulter for helping us matt everything and the write up, Carol Friedle, Ruth Patzloff, Carlos Barberena, Janet Schill and Nathan Wagner for putting together the monotype print workshop.

                                                        Photo by Peter Wagner.

                                                                                         

 Expressions Graphics is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt printmaking group which is funded in part by grants for the Illinois Arts Council and the Oak Park Area Arts Council.