Language can determine power, inclusion, difference and marginalization. Language reveals the trajectories of people's histories. Language and place changes over time and artists capture its mutation.

Claudia Bernal
Oscar de las Flores
Rosario Galvez
Taira Liceaga
Arlan Londoño
Julieta Maria
Elysa Martinez
Ximena Moreno
Daniela Pulido
Z'otz Collective

Tamara Toledo - Curator
Patricio Davila - Assistant Curator


  
Opening Reception:
Thursday, September 1st 7-10 pm
at Lennox Contemporary,
12 Ossington Avenue (at Queen),Toronto
T.416.597.9466




Gallery hours:
Thursday to Sunday 12 - 5 pm
Artist Talk at the Gallery:
Saturday, September 3rd 5-7 pm
Curator and participating artists will discuss issues of language, memory, history, and identity politics in their work.


 
Does the SAAFP promote Latin American or Chilean art?

We are primarily interested in the promotion of Latin American art and encourage all marginalized artists to participate. Because of our name, many Chileans will feel identified with the subject and date, yet we welcome and appreciate the involvement of those who value our efforts and share similar socio-political beliefs.

What are the objectives you wish to accomplish with the art exhibition?

My main goal is to open avenues that will allow marginalized talented artists to have access to the economic resources and infrastructure necessary for the advancement of their professional careers. The challenges Latin American visual artists face in order to achieve proficiency and maturity include gender, cultural, political, economic, and historical struggles. These forces of exclusion need to be addressed in order to create strategies of resistance. To achieve this, I believe it is crucial to have structures of organization in order to overcome our issues of insufficient representation. In times defined by globalization - a term which has replaced imperialism- our cultural and political identity has been easily dismissed by powers, which have historically devalued our existence as a continent, as a culture and as a people. Therefore, I strongly believe that marginalized artists must defy eurocentric elitist beliefs, refuse the pressures of commodification that globalization imposes, deform a culture of appropriation, and participate in the debate of who and what constitutes our “truth”, challenging notions of “universality” and “authenticity”.

How has the exhibition been organized?

As the Visual Arts Coordinator of the festival I have been busy organizing everything that relates to the art exhibition from selecting a jury to contacting a gallery. There are other visual artists who have been helping in the process. In brief, what I did was a call for submissions (you can download it from our website), which includes a letter, exhibition theme and guidelines in order to apply. I asked three colleagues (in sculpture, in photography and in printmaking) to jury and help select artists to participate in the exhibition at DeLeon White Gallery on Queen St. W. The jury and the artists selected will submit work that relates to the theme “Identity”.


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What has the response been so far?

Well, in comparison to last year's festival, which only consisted of the concert, we have improved and grown a lot. I received an incredible response last year, and I realized that there is the need to open opportunities for visual artists. We mounted an exhibition for the day, receiving an audience of more than 500 people! As the organizer and participating visual artist, I realized the tremendous effort involved for just a one-day event. I felt we deserved something better this year. The motivation to improve led to the pursuit of showing the work at a gallery for two weeks, and we are extremely excited!

How are artists selected to exhibit?

A call for submissions to artists working in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and installation art has been announced this year. The deadline is June 14th and the application can be downloaded from the festivalís website (application form). Once we receive all applications, a jury comprised of artists will select those that will participate this year. Based on the guidelines and prerequisites outlined in the application form, artists will be selected accordingly.

Is there a conflict of interest in that the people participating in the jury are also exhibiting their work?

I believe I have good intentions, yet they can be read in devious ways. It may appear to many that the jury selecting the work, and for that matter I, shouldn't participate in the exhibition for conflict of interest. It is a touchy subject. Yet I feel confident with my decisions, both selecting a jury and asking them to participate as well. Because the festival is dedicated to “promote, encourage, appreciate and celebrate art and culture”, we believe that the participation in the exhibition of the artists that implement organization and execution of the project, deserve the same opportunities as those who apply. The voluntary work involved is done for the success and achievement of our community and ourselves.