building bridges, crossing cultures
MORAGA -- Drawing upon their respective cultural, racial and ethnic experiences, Seyed Alavi, Caryl Henry, Valerie Soe, Flo Oy Wong and Victor Mario Zaballa are dramatically transforming the Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary's College into separate but related spaces filled with images, sound, light, and music. Their site-specific work, reflecting the exhibition title, Building Bridges/Crossing Cultures, will be on view from Saturday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 3, 1996.
Acknowledging the traditional wisdom and beliefs of the West African Yoruba spirit world, Henry explores notions of time in our technologically-abundant, time-impoverished society. Working in collaboration with audio producer Chupoo Alafonte and writer Opal Palmer Adisa, Henry has created "Take Your Time," a powerful environment incorporating painting, sculpture, video, and traditional West African materials. Henry's work has been exhibited in Cuba, France, Nigeria, as well as in museums and college galleries throughout the United States.
The popular saying, "There's No Place Like Home," compels Alavi to question the definitions of home, homeland and homelessness in today's rapidly shifting physical and political landscape. He asks the viewer to reflect on the paradoxical relationship many immigrant Americans have with these words. Alavi's solo interactive media exhibitions have included Capp Street Project, San Francisco; and the New Museum of Contemporary Art and Franklin Furnace, both in New York City.
Body image distortion, consumption and addiction inspire Soe to create "Binge," based on a short story by Amy Moon, and presented from the perspective of an unnamed Asian woman. Soe's videos have been shown at the Yerba Buena Gardens; the Headlands Center for the Arts; the Armory Center, Pasadena; the Museum of Modem Art, New York City; and the Brooklyn Museum.
The Smithsonian's National African American Museum in Washington, D.C. recently displayed "The Baby Jack Rice Story," a powerful work-in-progress installation by Wong. The poignant and bittersweet narrative tells the story of Wong's immigrant husband, Edward K. Wong and his African-American friends growing up together in the South of the 1940s and 50s. A new, expanded version of the Smithsonian piece appears in the Hearst exhibition, displaying rice sacks that have been photosilkscreened and delicately hand-stitched with family stories and pictures.
The canoe is a spiritual symbol of transformation representing the journey through life into the afterlife in Mexico. In Zaballa's multi-media installation, "Acalli, House of Water," an altar combines feathers, cut paper banners, wood carving and sand to depict the celebration of life, death and existence between the two worlds. His works have been presented at the Exploratorium; the Academy of Sciences; and the Mexican Museum in San Francisco; the Tucson Museum of Art; and New City Theater in New York City.
Special Events
- Opening reception, Friday, Sept. 20, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., free.
- Artists' panel, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Slide presentations, audience discussion, Soda Center, $5 general, $3 members.
- Public tour with curator Marvin Schenck, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 12:15 p.m., free.
- Community Day/Family Festival, Sunday, Oct. 27, 12 noon - 4 p.m. Art projects, music, storytelling, videos, exhibition tours, free.
- Performance by Obsidian Songs, Sunday, Oct. 27, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Songs, storytelling, and dance with traditional Mexican instruments, electronically synthesized. Victor Mario Zaballa, vocals, flute, percussion; Ed Tywoniak, keyboard, percussion; Paul Brown, bass, percussion; Jason MacConnell, percussion; Francisco Herrera, guitar, vocals, percussion, Soda Center, $5, $3 members.
