Show of Carolina Guimarey paintings opens Sat., Sept. 7, at New Haven Public Library

New Haven Free Public Library Art Gallery
133 Elm St., New Haven
Carolina Guimarey: Forgotten Roses
Aug. 29—Oct. 3, 2013.
Artist's reception: Sat., Sept. 7, 2—4 p.m.

Press release from Azoth Gallery

Essay by Mercedes Arensberg, Art Historian:

Carolina Guimarey, a CT professional visual artist will have a One-Woman Art Exhibition at the New Haven Public Library with opening reception Saturday, September 7, from 2-4pm, at Ives Main Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven CT 06510. The exhibit will run from August 29, to October 3, 2013 and is curated by Johnes Ruta of Azoth Gallery.

Guimarey's work is included in collections across the United States, Argentina, Italy and Spain. From an early age, she received art training directly from master artists in her native Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as at University of Connecticut where she studied drawing, sculpture, painting and photography.

Her work captures the viewer’s attention immediately with a sense of quiet dignity filled with tamed yet intense passion. To walk through her studio and gallery exhibitions, one gets the sense of being conveyed, through deeply intellectual perspectives, and strong emotional and philosophical components, to an encounter which captures the facets of human experience. These components reveal an underlying social commentary.

Carolina Guimarey: "Beyond the Restraints"

In "Hidden Realities II" we see several boxes filled with what appear to be rolled up little papers, scrolls. The repetition of the small scrolls as well as that of the boxes where they are contained speak of individual identities, which have been packaged and limited by externally imposed limitations and structures. These trapped and restricted “individual parts” are easily associated with in the viewer's mind, but also in the context of an art historical discourse. In the explanation of her work, she relates these visual perspectives with the state of contemporary society and culture, where communication has become limited by the computer screen, the IPhone touchpad, the frame of the text message, the profile on the social media, the space allotted to the tweet, and the confines of the small apartment in the booming urban city. One is made conscious of the state of affairs where, even though there are more inhabitants on earth than ever before, it is prevalent for communication and interaction among them and with the world, to take place in confined and limited virtual or factual spheres and spaces. Thus the global consciousness is characterized by a sense of isolation and confinement.

Guimarey’s work presents itself, softly, stoically and with great dignity, it is reminiscent of Jorge Luis Borges writings and of Eva Hesse’s unforgettable sculptures. Yet, in spite of its systematic construction, its soft, pleasant, texture, and the humility and quiet which exudes from the pieces—within every one there is visually described an act of courage, a statement of rebellion, a call to awareness.

For instance, in "Behind the Restraints," even though the vibrant blood red hue is hidden behind the stitches of restraint, societal norm, and indoctrination—towards the bottom of the picture plane we can see these stitches seem to be coming undone, and a larger triangular area of red coming through, symbolizing the inevitable escape of the individual consciousness from the Status Quo.

An exhibition not to be missed, one of the most inspiring and surprising artist of our times.