Albuquerque, NM – The National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) is proud to announce the opening of Meso-Americhanics (Maneuvering Mestizaje) de la Torre Brothers and Border Baroque on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 6 pm with a free public reception in the Center’s Art Museum. The NHCC is located at 1701 4th Street SW on the corner of 4th Street and Avenida César Chávez.
Einar and Jamex de la Torre are a two-man bi-national renaissance. While the brothers travel back and forth between National City, California and Ensenada, Mexico on a weekly basis, they have been called Mexican, American, Californian, Chicano, and Latino. Yet, their “parallel appreciation of both cultures” and personal experiences lead them to create art free of labels and feeds their desire to preserve the “survival of the possibility of doing something new.” They translate their creative passion and critical thinking into intensely collaborative, opulent and monumental blown glass “mix” media works. And, even though their art constantly addresses and questions complex issues, they love a joke, a visual pun, hidden symbols, and wordplay. For the de la Torre Brothers nothing – and everything – is sacred including politics, religion, tradition, and geographical location. Visually and socially timely, Einar and Jamex de la Torre have their fingers on the pulse of popular culture and excel in peeling off layers of the twenty-first century transnational world. Their edgy creations, fusions of glass, cast resin, popular arts, video, and dollar store treasures unmistakably defy designation and veer into a new place that might be known as Border Baroque. NHCC Visual Arts Director, Dr. Tey Marianna Nunn states, “All I can say, is just wait until you see this incredible work – the de la Torre brothers are funny and courageous. They mix up everything about their bi-national experience and influences and spit it out!”
Einar and Jamex de la Torre were born three years apart in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to Orange County, California when they were in elementary school. Nationally and internationally recognized masters of the specialized technique of glass blowing, both brothers studied at California State University, Long Beach and taught at the preeminent Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington. Additionally they have held multiple residencies in Japan, Germany and the United States. Their work has been exhibited in numerous venues in the U.S. and Mexico including the Arizona State Museum, Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art in Tacoma, Washington; National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, Los Angeles County Museum of Art; San Diego Museum of Art; Walker Art Center in Minneapolis; Cultural Institute of Mexico in Washington, DC; Centro Cultural Tijuana in Tijuana; Mexico, and the Museum de Arte Moderno in Mexico City. Recipients of numerous awards, they recently were honored with both 2007 Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award and the 2007 Joan Mitchell Foundation Award. Meso-Americhanics is organized by the NHCC Visual Arts program and museum.
On September 20 at 1:30 Einar and Jamex de la Torre will lead a tour of their exhibition. This artist-led tour is free. For a complete listing of NHCC programs and activities call (505) 246-2261 or visit www.nhccnm.org. Art Museum hours are Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is $3 adults, $2 seniors and free for children 16 & under. The NHCC is located at 1701 4th Street SW (Corner of 4th Street and Bridge Blvd.) The NHCC is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Hispanic arts and culture at the state, national and international levels and is a Division of the
Einar and Jamex de la Torre are a two-man bi-national renaissance. While the brothers travel back and forth between National City, California and Ensenada, Mexico on a weekly basis, they have been called Mexican, American, Californian, Chicano, and Latino. Yet, their “parallel appreciation of both cultures” and personal experiences lead them to create art free of labels and feeds their desire to preserve the “survival of the possibility of doing something new.” They translate their creative passion and critical thinking into intensely collaborative, opulent and monumental blown glass “mix” media works. And, even though their art constantly addresses and questions complex issues, they love a joke, a visual pun, hidden symbols, and wordplay. For the de la Torre Brothers nothing – and everything – is sacred including politics, religion, tradition, and geographical location. Visually and socially timely, Einar and Jamex de la Torre have their fingers on the pulse of popular culture and excel in peeling off layers of the twenty-first century transnational world. Their edgy creations, fusions of glass, cast resin, popular arts, video, and dollar store treasures unmistakably defy designation and veer into a new place that might be known as Border Baroque. NHCC Visual Arts Director, Dr. Tey Marianna Nunn states, “All I can say, is just wait until you see this incredible work – the de la Torre brothers are funny and courageous. They mix up everything about their bi-national experience and influences and spit it out!”
Einar and Jamex de la Torre were born three years apart in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to Orange County, California when they were in elementary school. Nationally and internationally recognized masters of the specialized technique of glass blowing, both brothers studied at California State University, Long Beach and taught at the preeminent Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington. Additionally they have held multiple residencies in Japan, Germany and the United States. Their work has been exhibited in numerous venues in the U.S. and Mexico including the Arizona State Museum, Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art in Tacoma, Washington; National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, Los Angeles County Museum of Art; San Diego Museum of Art; Walker Art Center in Minneapolis; Cultural Institute of Mexico in Washington, DC; Centro Cultural Tijuana in Tijuana; Mexico, and the Museum de Arte Moderno in Mexico City. Recipients of numerous awards, they recently were honored with both 2007 Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award and the 2007 Joan Mitchell Foundation Award. Meso-Americhanics is organized by the NHCC Visual Arts program and museum.
On September 20 at 1:30 Einar and Jamex de la Torre will lead a tour of their exhibition. This artist-led tour is free. For a complete listing of NHCC programs and activities call (505) 246-2261 or visit www.nhccnm.org. Art Museum hours are Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is $3 adults, $2 seniors and free for children 16 & under. The NHCC is located at 1701 4th Street SW (Corner of 4th Street and Bridge Blvd.) The NHCC is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Hispanic arts and culture at the state, national and international levels and is a Division of the