Exhibits
Hijos del Maíz
Hijos del Maíz
Luis Coss
August 5, 2024
- December 31, 2024
Central Library - 710 W. César Chávez St.
Living Room (6th Floor)
About the Exhibit
ARTIST PRESENTATION: September 22, 2024, Central Library's Signature Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month Celebration, 2:00pm-3:00pm, 6th Floor Living Room Gallery
The exhibition represents the essence of Mexico seen through the eyes of the artist, Luis Coss. Through each piece, one can learn about the pre-Hispanic mythology, the beliefs of our ancestors and how it is still part of today's religion, traditions, and gastronomy.
ARTIST STATEMENT
This exhibition is inspired in the Mexican culture. As the Mayan holy book, Popol Vuj recounts, the Creators and Shapers used white and yellow corn to make the arms and legs of the first four men, then the cob was grounded to create a drink that gave the men strength. Today corn represents all that it's holy, agriculture, mythology and the origin of life, a golden seed that continues giving. The collection has artwork that tells the story of the creation of men, mythology, culture and its evolution. In my artwork I try to teach about the Mexican culture and its mythology. I know I could never portray everything Mexico in my artwork, but I can plant the seed of curiosity and invite everyone to learn about my culture.
Sobre la Exhibición
Presentación del artista: 22 de septiembre de 2024, Celebración Principal del Mes de la Herencia Hispana y Latina en la Biblioteca Central, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Galería de la Sala de Estar, 6.º Piso
La exhibición representa la esencia de México vista a través de los ojos del artista, Luis Coss. A través de cada pieza, se puede aprender sobre la mitología prehispánica, las creencias de nuestros antepasados y cómo siguen siendo parte de la religión, las tradiciones y la gastronomía de hoy en día.
Introducción
Esta exhibición está inspirada en la cultura mexicana. Como relata el libro sagrado maya, Popol Vuj, los Creadores y Formadores utilizaron maíz blanco y amarillo para hacer los brazos y las piernas de los primeros cuatro hombres, luego molieron la mazorca para crear una bebida que dio fuerza a los hombres. Hoy en día, el maíz representa todo lo sagrado, la agricultura, la mitología y el origen de la vida, una semilla dorada que sigue dando. La colección tiene obras de arte que cuentan la historia de la creación del hombre, la mitología, la cultura y su evolución. En mi arte, trato de enseñar sobre la cultura mexicana y su mitología. Sé que nunca podría retratar todo México en mi obra, pero puedo plantar la semilla de la curiosidad e invitar a todos a aprender sobre mi cultura.
Luis Coss
About the Artist
Luis Coss, 38, was born in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, MX. During his youth, Luis discovered during art classes in high school, that he had a knack for drawing, and was encouraged to continue developing his skills. Luis participated in different local events, contests, and collaborations in the two Laredos, becoming an active member of the local art community. Luis began to develop his own style, learned more about the Mexican culture, traveling to different areas of Mexico, visiting museums and archaeological sites, listening to myths and legends. Luis artwork portrays the beauties of Mexico trough the artist eyes. Luis has been able to present his collection in Laredo and Austin and continues to participate in the artistic community. It's his goal to continue to shine light on the beauty of Mexico and inspire audiences to learn about Mexico's magical history and culture through his artwork.
Sobre el artista
Luis Coss, de 38 años, nació en la ciudad fronteriza de Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, MX. Durante su juventud, Luis descubrió en las clases de arte en la preparatoria que tenía un talento para el dibujo, y fue alentado a seguir desarrollando sus habilidades. Luis participó en diferentes eventos locales, concursos y colaboraciones en los dos Laredos, convirtiéndose en un miembro activo de la comunidad artística local. Luis comenzó a desarrollar su propio estilo, aprendió más sobre la cultura mexicana, viajando a diferentes áreas de México, visitando museos y sitios arqueológicos, escuchando mitos y leyendas. La obra de Luis retrata las bellezas de México a través de los ojos del artista. Luis ha podido presentar su colección en Laredo y Austin y continúa participando en la comunidad artística. Su objetivo es seguir iluminando la belleza de México e inspirar al público a aprender sobre la historia y la cultura mágica de México a través de su arte.
Image credit
Plantcestors
Plantcestors
Suzy González
October 17, 2024
- January 12, 2025
Central Library - 710 W. César Chávez St.
Gallery (2nd Floor)
About the Exhibit
Reception for the Artist: Thursday, October 17, 2024, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Plants sustained our ancestors and they continue to sustain us—through food, medicine, clothing, housing, to providing the very oxygen we breathe. Every plant is sacred and we could not survive without them. Plantcestors depicts the portraits of artists, activists, and culture workers based in Yanaguana / San Antonio, TX that bring inspiration to the community through their art, leadership, and social justice work.
Within each painted portrait are natural plant materials that the person is connected to. The plants hold meaning based on ancestral connections, childhood memories, cultural roots, or the lessons that they bring. Some enjoy the plants in their gardens, herbal practices, spirituality, as food, or for their beauty alone. As we connect with our relative that is the land, we remember, we appreciate, and we reciprocate the gifts that she gives us.
The process of creating these works includes photography, discussion, gardening, foraging, pressing, dehydrating, gluing, resining layers, and painting. The figures sit on the surface, in the present. Their Plantcestors are behind them but remain a part of them.
About the Artist
ARTIST STATEMENT:
My work analyzes what it means to decolonize consumption and art creation. This is intertwined with remembering the lessons that the earth has to teach us. I work with natural plant materials like in conjunction with manipulated art supplies to consider identity, mixedness, and resistance. This material use works to dismantle folk and fine art hierarchies. I call these “mestizx media” works, reclaiming the “mestizo” colonial caste label. I define mestizx media as when materials originate from the region(s) of the artist’s ancestors. Accepting mixedness is also about embracing queerness and the fluid nature of identities that reject constructed binaries. My public artwork has included themes of celebrating contemporary artists and activists, histories of the land, native plants and animals, and concepts of love and solidarity. My work serves to work through my own intersections and to strive for intercultural conversations in my community. This, I hope, will open doors to compassion and healing in this world of destruction.
ARTIST BIO:
Suzy González is an artist, educator, writer, self-publisher, curator, and organizer based in Yanaguana, colonially named San Antonio, TX. She has had solo exhibits at Galería E.V.A., Spellerberg Projects, Presa House Gallery, Hello Studio, Palo Alto College, and two-person exhibits at Museo Eduardo Carrillo, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, and the University of Connecticut. She has completed murals with Texas A&M-San Antonio, the City of Logan, UT, the City of Pasadena, TX, San Antonio Museum of Art, Centro San Antonio, and the San Antonio Street Art Initiative. González is currently in residence with Austin Art in Public Places and is working on a new public art project for the Austin History Center. She has also attended residencies at Vermont Studio Center (VT), the Trelex Residency (Peru), The Wassaic Residency (NY), Starry Night Residency (NM), the Studios at MASS MoCA (MA), and Hello Studio (TX). She publishes Xicana Vegan zine, co-organizes the San Anto Zine Fest, and is a part of Dos Xicanx, Breathe Collective, and the Water Writers Collective. González is an alum of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures Leadership Institute, the Intercultural Leadership Institute, and served as a mentor for the NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. She teaches in the Visual and New Media Arts Department at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX. She holds an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BFA from Texas State University.