ART SANTA FE 2016 Contemporary Art Projects USA GENERAL INFORMATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Tata Fernandez CURATORS | Silvia Medina, Chief Curator| Linda Mariano, Invited Curator SHOW DURATION | July 7 – 10, 2016 OPENING RECEPTION | INVITATION ONLY| Thursday, July 7, 5PM – 9PM SHOW HOURS | PUBLIC | Friday, July 8, 11:00AM – 6:00PM Saturday, July 9, 11:00AM – 6:00PM Sunday, July 10, 11:00AM - 6:00 PM CONTACT INFORMATION | 786-262-5886 ADDRESS | 13899 Biscayne Blvd. Suite #302 North Miami Beach, FL 33181 EMAIL | info@contemporaryartprojectsusa.com WEBSITE | www.contemporaryartprojectsusa.com EDITOR | Fatima Canovas Art Daily News International Magazine artdailynewsinternational@gmail.com 305-302-6803
Message from the Executive Director Contemporary Art Projects USA returns to Art Santa Fe for the second time with two art lab projects and an amazing roster of international contemporary artists. The exhibition will be curated by Silvia Medina, the gallery’s chief curator. “I am proud to have as a member of our staff such a renowned art expert with extensive experience from institutions and biennales. Silvia was the executive director of Sala Mendoza, Caracas, Venezuela as well as a founder member of the Havana Biennale and Wilfredo Lam, Cuba. My mission is focused on promoting art appreciation within the international community to inspire and assist with the process of art collection, and to generate resources that support artists‘creative endeavors through art awareness, artist promotion, and art procurement. We work with the best minds in the industry and share our experience and passion for marketing the arts, culture, and entertainment; from Biennales and gala auctions, to exhibitions and major international art fairs, we have the commitment, innovation, and creativity to engage audiences through inspired campaigns.
Tata Fernandez
SILVIA MEDINA, CHIEF CURATOR For the past years, Contemporary Art Projects USA has included the curator figure in all of its events and exhibitions; one of its major initiatives being the creation of a curatorial assessment and support program that encompasses the artist’s trajectory of a work from conception to completion. This mentorship is based on a one-to-one relationship between the artist and the curator where the artist expresses ideas, intentions, and reflections about the creative process that initiates a cooperation between them that develops into a project rather than an isolated piece without a totality. Each project is chosen according to the event where it will be exhibited, in that way, the curator figure in Contemporary Art Projects USA develops a comprehensive group of projects for each exhibition; as is the case with Art Santa Fe 2016, where collectors, art lovers, and visitors will be able to appreciate an expertly orchestrated collective and solo projects– all under one curatorial guidance, yet cognizant of and attentive to each artist’s unique creative process. It is our firm objective to continue to nurture and expand this curatorial program with our artists so that we can help them grow their artistic careers; especially where it pertains to emerging artists. E-Mail: silviamedina2012@yahoo.com Phone: +1-772-410-9126
MARIA TERESA D’ AZUCENA, DIRECTOR OF SALES Maria Teresa D’Azucena, Contemporary Art Projects USA’s new team player; whose primary function is to market and support our member artists by working directly with collectors and interior designers to promote our amazing creatives and help us surpass our art sales goals. Maria Teresa assisted us in the coordination of the Nepal Mural during Spectrum Miami 2015; where she proved herself to be an amazing organizer and a savvy salesperson. Maria Teresa previously assisted as part of the Sales Team at Art Palm Beach and Concept Fair. E-Mail: capusasales@gmail.com Phone: +1-305-205-9157
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS Kelly Fischer| Invited Artist Alfredo Martinez Ana Maria Nava Chris Delias Claudia Ramos Daniela Sierra Eliel Perez Ernie Barreto Gary Traczyk Grace Berge Henrik Welle Ileana Collazo Jan Dee Gordon Jorge Cavelier Kyoko Matsuyama Lorena Fernandez Michele A. Utley Voigt Miquel Salom Rajvi Dedhia Unadkat Robin Apple Rosaria AESTUS Vigorito William Stalhuth
ART THROUGH THE LENS OF A CHILD by Kelly Fischer | Curated by Silvia Medina SPONSORED by SANTA FE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM July 8 – 10 | 2PM LOCATION|MAIN COURTYARD
Artist and children’s book author Kelly Fischer will guide the children as they fashion a mural out of 16 vibrant paintings based on Fischer’s book, “The Most Beautiful Color of All”. The children will get to move small wooden replicas of her paintings around to make up their own stories, as well as create their own mini masterpieces with provided canvases, brushes, and paint.
HORIZONS: AMONG THE CLOUD FOREST by Jorge Cavelier| Curated by Silvia Medina LOCATION| MAIN LOBBY
Colombian artist Jorge Cavelier invites guests to walk into “Horizons: Among the Cloud Forest,� a large-scale, interactive installation that brings to life the illusory limit between sky and earth. Made up of silk drawings and paintings, the installation incorporates ethereal elements to evoke an otherworldly experience and mirror the limitlessness of human existence.
As we continue to follow Kelly's trajectory, she continues to shine as bright as a star in the night sky as she exhibits and sells her work in Europe and the United States; participating in fairs such as: Spectrum Miami and Spectrum Indian Wells where she showed, painted live, and successfully sold her color and pure energy infused pieces; followed by a solo exhibition: "Analysis in Black and White VS Color" - exquisitely curated by Silvia Medina, Contemporary Art Projects USA's Chief Curator - at the Stufenbau with Peripherie Kunst in Switzerland this spring. How do you feel about being featured as the invited artist in such an internationally important fair as is Art Santa Fe? When Contemporary Art Projects USA asked me to be their Invited Artist at Art Santa Fe, I was thrilled and intrigued; Santa Fe is such an internationally known Art Mecca. I am honored to be chosen among so many amazing artists; especially for a fair like Art Santa Fe that has the bar set high for outstanding artwork. Can you tell us how the vibrancy of the Santa Fe art scene is complementary to the vibrancy and vivacity found in your work? I can't deny that my work is vibrant in color, as well as in movement. Each artist is in pursuit of the ideal audience for their artwork; my hope and vision is that my artwork will be a good match for the Santa Fe art scene. I can't wait to be there and find out; and to explore Art Santa Fe and all it has to offer.
Kelly Fischer| Switzerland
Kelly Fischer | Switzerland INVITED ARTIST
Horizon Acrylic on Canvas. 60” x 40”
Venezuelan artist, Alfredo Martinez, defines himself as a collage artist: ‘I utilize appropriations of relevant fragmented images, and the sensation of movement found in animated drawings and in sports�. Within the creative process, he employs the de-composition of the figure in a playful manner based on the idea of constant repetition and distraction. What do you consider the best part of being an artist? The best part of being an artist is making your work fun, and a mechanism to communicate ideas that others can identify with. What is your creative process like? My creative process is linked to my childhood, where I take the idea of entertainment - with cartoons and craft materials such as fabrics with motifs from cartoons, yarns, and acrylic paint. What I do is play with the idea of drawing an undrawing. Yes, I start making a figure, but then I am distracted by the amazing act of undoing it. Which medium do you prefer to use? The medium I prefer is the technique of collage, which for me is a constructive medium that helps me to integrate my ideas, and the one that forces me to combine all the materials together. If you look inside my paintings, you can see how attached I am to manipulating the materials: by way of sewing, cutting, and juxtaposing. Collaging also helps me to be free and selective about my options when I construct the work; considering sometimes breaking the square formats of the paintings.
Alfredo Martinez | Venezuela
Alfredo Martinez | Venezuela
Blue Captain Acrylic Paint, Yarn, Fabrics. 60” x 40”
This amazing creative describes herself as an architect, an art lover, a traveler, and a family person; Artistically she can be described as a fantastic creative that mesmerizes viewers with her amazing glass art; whose background in architecture helps facilitate her ability to skillfully integrate her pieces and installations into just about any space. For this fantastic artist glass - beyond its qualities - has become a medium to experiment with to create very contemporary pieces. What most attracts you to work with glass? Glass is a material that has become part of my language; its qualities are fascinating to me, its translucency, its infinite colors, and the way light plays with it - all of this captivated me; it has become a way to express myself through shadows, forms, and movement. What in your life and the world around you inspires your work? Inspiration; I find it all around me all the time; I just have to look closely. Water - as I mentioned before - is part of it. Water and the memories I associate with it. Memories are another form of inspiration; they live inside us - nature, and everything that is contained in it. Color, rhythm, movement, patterns, lines, dots; I can go on and on......exploring all of this inspires me. A question that is always on my mind is: "What if..."
Ana MarĂa Nava | Venezuela
Ana María Nava | Venezuela
Galaxia Tejida I Woven Bullseye Fused Glass and Steel Wires. 51” x 31.4” x 0.28”
When people gather around him to watch Chris Delias paint live, the source of the liveliness, energy, and movement in his paintings becomes immediately evident. His totally relaxed, comfortable, and in-control demeanor transfer beautifully onto the canvas. He interacts with the brushes, paint, and canvases the same way that he does with his audience; with contagious enthusiasm, and a zest that draws people to him and to his work with powerful magnetism. How has working under Silvia Medina, Contemporary Art Projects USA’s curator, helped you grow and improve as an artist? Silvia has challenged my work, my style, and generally my way of creating art; but she always does so in a gentle way without influencing the "idea of the artist". All the discussions and advice I have received from her have helped me to find my own style and sharpen my artistic profile. How has working with Contemporary Art Projects USA helped to increase your career potential? Contemporary Art Projects USA has enabled me to show my art in several big art fairs, magazines, and art-blogs. In a market environment where many artists of different career and quality levels have - via internet and social media - more or less the same possibilities of exposure, you always have more of a challenge to get noticed by curators, collectors, magazines, etc. Contemporary Art Projects USA has helped me to develop my career, step-by-step, in the right direction.
Chris Delias | Austria
Chris Delias | Austria
Behind the Mask Mixed Media on Carpet. 40� x 20�
Claudia studied art, engraving, and lithography at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and New York Studio School. Claudia's work has been exhibited and sold in Mexico, The United States, Canada, and Europe. She has participated in over 100 group, and 60 solo exhibitions. Her wide spectrum of work includes book illustrations – one of her favorite being: “Cartas sin Sobres y Poemas al Olvido” (“Letters without Envelopes and Poems Written to Forgetfulness”) written by Andres Henestrosa; a renowned Mexican writer. She has also painted over 20 murals in Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and Puerto Escondido. Tell us about how you got started making art? I remember the first pencil drawing I did when I was 13 years old sitting next to my grandma - a self- portrait - when she saw it she told me: “You can be a good artist”; since then, I have not stopped expressing my feelings, my emotions, my silence with a brush stroke or a pencil line. What subjects and concepts inspire your work? What inspires me is the beauty of being alive; of being a human being with passion in all I do; the awakening of consciousness, the beauty of nature, the ocean, the rivers, the forest, the parallel dimensions, the amazing laws of the universe, fractal, and quantum - also poems of great writers, and my love for life. What are your favorite surfaces and mediums? Oil on canvas, lithographs and intaglio, and pencil on paper.
Claudia Ramos | Mexico
Claudia Ramos | Mexico
Totalidad I Oil on Canvas. 60” x 60”
"Life is all a matter of introspection; being able to express emotions by using art as a channel is a true blessing. Honoring my intimate emotions, creating out of nowhere, and seeing a piece of my soul in each of my artwork has become one of the greatest satisfactions that life could have given me. My art is all about challenges, and the personal growth that I achieve. By innovating on new techniques and combining materials I´m able to give shape to my ideas and express my feelings in a way that each art piece is able to produce an emotional response." What inspires your creativity? The search for happiness and the desire to improve myself - along with the need to express my feelings - is what inspires each of my pieces; which are characterized by having a backstory, and for inviting the viewers to involve themselves in them and attempt to decipher their meaning. How do you believe that participating in an international fair like Art Santa Fe 2016 can impact your artistic career? I am honored to have been invited by Tata Fernandez and Silvia Medina to participate in Art Santa Fe 2016, and that they consider my art original and distinct; on a personal note, I am interested in having my art be internationally recognized. I have previously exhibited in West Palm Beach, and recently in London; I was fascinated by the reaction foreigners had when presented with my work. I am convinced that with the quality of a fair like Art Santa Fe, and the influence of the diversity of its visitors, new horizons await me.
Daniela Sierra | Guatemala
Daniela Sierra | Guatemala
Rueda Mixed Media and Resin. 13.9” x 7.87” x 2.95”
"As an artist, I strive to express the world I see onto a canvas to motivate, inspire, and stimulate other human beings to see the world as I do. I enjoy utilizing different materials that allow the best expression of thoughts and messages to free my ideas and create without material restrictions in a freer, flowing manner. My expressions are portrayed to the observer through color, texture, dimensions, and materials to best obtain idea freedom. My work's inspiration is a combination of daily elements that are combined to form unrigged and flexible images to transport observers through their imagination and life experiences; provoking vast emotions." How does it feel to have had your work be so well received and sold at major art fairs in the past year? It’s an honor for people to accept my art and me as a new comer to the international art world; especially seeing how people admire and appreciate my art work, and me as an artist. How do you feel about participating in such an internationally acclaimed fair like Art Santa Fe? It is an honor to be invited to showcase my art next to the greatest artists of the current times; this confirms that the hard work is paying off. This is a very exciting time for me; seeing the positive effects of my efforts throughout this great adventure. How has Contemporary Art Projects USA been influential in helping your artistic career to grow and thrive since you joined them? All artists have dreams of being able to showcase their art works and be accepted internationally. That has been the case thanks to the gallery's unlimited support, who has been instrumental in - not only supporting me as an individual artist but also in allowing me to fully employ my artistic self-expression.
Eliel Perez | Puerto Rico
Eliel Perez | Puerto Rico
Marine Torment Acrylic on Paper. 28” x 22”
A self-taught emerging artist who experiments with acrylics and enamel, Ernie took extensive courses in ceramics and sculpture during his undergraduate studies. His current body of work reflects on the intricate weave of human relationships, and on the chance encounters that unfold throughout our lifetimes. The sense of urgency and unpredictability in his artistic process speak about the way in which we live and interact in contemporary society. Chaotic, erratic, and immediate - yet colorfully brilliant and full of hope - are the best way to describe his current series of paintings. What motivates you to create art? I believe that art for me is like a compulsion; I guess, guttural and reflexive. It is an urge that just comes, one that needs to be satiated at any cost. I do get inspired by photography and other artists; architecture and design also inspire me tremendously. How has your art evolved throughout your career? Ever since I started painting, about 15 years ago, I have experimented with figurative and abstract formats. Until now, I have never had a specific style; I now feel much more comfortable with the medium, and have narrowed down my style. My brush strokes have become freer and less constrained. Currently, when I work, I never have a plan. I compare it to life; during birth you see your first burst of light, and during death you see your last - with everything in between being a blur. It’s the same with my current process, I get an initial image in my head that starts the painting; the middle I do not remember much, because it’s quick and fleeting - essentially a blur of colors. Finally, after staring at it for a few minutes, I get a final burst of images/patterns that completes the painting.
Ernie Barreto| Cuba
Ernie Barreto | Cuba
Untitled Mixed Media on Paper. 30” x 22”
Gary explores the delicate balance and spiritual connections in the movement of his kinetic sculptures. His mirror-polished stainless steel pieces spiral in a mesmerizing dance of slow, fluid movement that lure viewers into a meditative state. This very talented artist has exhibited at Art Basel, Concept Miami, Spectrum Miami, Art Palm Beach, Art Coachella, ArtExpo New York, Art Hamptons, Art Santa Fe, the Beverly Hills Art Show, SOFA Chicago, and LA Quinta Arts Festival in Palm Springs. What makes your sculptures stand out and saleable? My sculptures are interactive; they captivate because of their movement, and the reflections caught by the metal. To what do you attribute your success when you last exhibited at Art Santa Fe? I didn’t personally attend Art Santa Fe, so my success is accredited to Contemporary Arts Project USA. Are you excited about returning again this year to Art Santa Fe 2016 with Contemporary Art Projects USA? I am very excited to have my work shown again during Art Santa Fe; I feel that my work is well represented and has a place in Santa Fe.
Gary Traczyk | USA
Gary Traczyk | USA
Orbit Stainless Steel on Granite. 20” x 10”
The images I create - in-camera, sans digital manipulation - simplify what the bare eye sees, turning them into what we perceive when we look with a softer gaze, observing the essence; rather than the specifics. There is the horizon, but what does that line demark? It is a kind of minimalism, a reduction into sheer line, color, and movement that represents something unclear; which nevertheless feels familiar and recognizable. How does it feel to be exhibiting in your hometown, being represented by Miami, Florida based Contemporary Art Projects USA; whose mission is centered on exhibiting and promoting artists internationally? I love exhibiting as a local in Santa Fe; living in New Mexico for the past 24 years, I have benefited by the incredible beauty of the sky and the land. Being represented by Contemporary Art Projects USA is a perfect fit for me, since the gallery has a strong commitment to exhibiting artists from, and in the international art world. Can you share your views about the importance of Art Santa Fe; from a local's experience? Art is one of the cornerstones of Santa Fe life; this area is a magnet for creative minds of all artistic persuasions. This fair brings in fresh energy, new work, and artists from around the globe; infusing the local scene with an exciting five days of top notch international artwork. Art Santa Fe gives artists support, an important audience, and great exposure.
Grace Berge | USA
GRACE BERGE | USA
Holiday Photography Printed on Metallic Paper Mounted on Plexiglas 24” x 36”
“My passion has always been for the water; it is the essence of all living creatures on earth. While diving, or just floating on the surface, one can feel the weightlessness – like drifting through space – I love capturing the reflections of the water created by sunlight breaking the surface. His passion for the ocean unabated, he showcases the underwater world through photography. His photographs have been exhibited in galleries, art fairs, and festivals in the United States; his work has also appeared in a variety of publications. How long have you been taking photographs/creating art? I taught myself underwater photography in 2008, and started with surreal photography in 2012. How do you foresee joining Contemporary Art Project USA will be instrumental in helping you to continue to progress and prosper in your artistic career? I have tried a few avenues to bring my art or images to people who might appreciate it; so far the response has been great, and I hope Contemporary Art Projects USA brings me to the next level of being recognized as an artist. How do you feel that participating in major art fairs is influential in your career development? I am very excited about being able to expose my work to such a concentrated audience of art lovers and collectors.
Henrik Welle | Germany
Henrik Welle | Germany
Time 18 Underwater Photography Printed on Metallic Paper Mounted on Plexiglas. 40� x 30�
“The horizon, the line where earth and sky appear to meet; an illusory point that seems a place that we can reach; we sit and watch as sun and moon quietly slide behind it as so many dreams and hopes we aim to reach accompany them. The horizon is seductive in its promise of a point that we can travel to and reach, while our hopes and dreams are goals we need to fight hard to achieve.” “I paint by smearing surfaces with the language that floats inside my brain, take photographs by cutting out the world - except for that little portion of it that I choose to capture in the frame, and create digital art by juxtaposing this, that, and the other thing like I would like to have the ability to do in my own life. I have exhibited my work at Concept Miami, Scope Miami, Spectrum Miami, and Spectrum Indian Wells art fairs; as well as in group and solo exhibitions in Miami, West Palm Beach, and New York.” Can you share your views on Contemporary Art Projects USA’s Curatorial Program? I produce quite a bit work; I love to create. The first time I met Silvia Medina, the gallery’s Chief Curator, we had a formal session where she assessed what I had done and asked me one question that catapulted my progress to the moon and back: Tell me, why are you taking photographs of and creating work based on the specific subjects you have chosen; can you explain to me the meaning you are attempting to share with your audience? Think about it and call me. I did, and my piles of work became bodies of work accompanied by short, concise statements that allow me to focus myself and share with my audience the story behind my creations. Silvia Medina held my hand and helped me to cross the bridge between being creative and becoming an artist.
Ileana Collazo | Cuba
Ileana Collazo | Cuba
Horizon 2 Manipulated Digital Photography. 30” x 40”
When we stand before an artist's work, we are sometimes mesmerized, others indifferent; sometimes fascinated, others repulsed. But when the artist opens the doors to the very roots of the creative emotions that propel her to choose her subject and render it in the way that she does, the work before the us takes on an incredibly powerful persona that captivates and mesmerizes; for, we are - for that brief moment - peering inside her soul. “The inner and outer beauty of a woman, her passions, and individuality are exemplified by the female body; flowers, branches, and other living things also represent those passions. Steel represents reality and society.� Jan joins Contemporary Art Projects USA for the first time to exhibit her incredible work at Art Santa Fe 2016. What motivates you to choose the subjects that you photograph? My themes throughout my artwork have been about how to let your individual feelings out; how to express them and live by them when you are faced with all different kinds of realities. I choose flowers and people that are always accompanied by steel. I use things that are living next to things that are nonliving; with the steel representing reality and society. What are your plans and projections for the coming year with the support and guidance of Contemporary Art Projects USA? I am very excited about the prospect of exhibiting in the fairs in which they participate, and taking full advantage of all the assistance and support they will provide for me.
Jan Dee Gordon | USA
Jan Dee Gordon | USA
Gina 7 Printed on Metallic Paper. 25” x 36”
“The horizon sets an illusory limit where the sky meets the surface of the earth (a line where dreams seem to inhabit). Apparently, there is no way to define it in the earth, as it keeps its non-locality at all times. Hope is beyond that line, and great leaders fix their vision in that limitless region where all possibilities may happen. My aim in this new series of paintings is to find the blur, and at the same time, the precision of the horizon within the series of landscapes. A high horizon will expose much of the earth’s surface observed as the place our bodies dwell on, but a low one creates open skies - meditative ethereal spaces where our soul nature wants to rest peacefully. The combination of both, high and low horizons, may expand our conception of a world where our existence expands every day.” This incredibly talented artist has exhibited in scores of solo and group exhibitions in the United States and abroad including: New York and South Hampton, NY; Miami and Palm Beach, FL; Chicago, IL; Santa Fe, NM; Milan, Florence and Rome, Italy, Paris, France, Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; Pretoria, South Africa; Bogotá and Santa Marta, Colombia; Panama City, Panama; Quito, Ecuador; Lima, Perú, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; Caracas, Venezuela. After a brief incursion in the field of architecture, he enrolled in painting courses at New York University for a year before traveling to Florence, Italy where he earned his BFA at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. Upon returning to Colombia, he founded “Trazo”, an open studio located in Bogotá, where he painted and taught art until 1987. Then he moved to his private studio; which he occupied until 1999. In 2000, Jorge migrated to the United States after being granted an “extraordinary ability” permanent residence visa, and settled in the island of Key Biscayne, Florida – close to Miami’s bustling artistic hubs, but at the same time shrouded by the beauty and the peace of the island where he has lived for the last 16 years. His studio lies in the heart of Coral Gables, surrounded by galleries in a continuously evolving cultural life.
Jorge Cavelier | Colombia
Jorge Cavelier | Colombia
Loving Depth Oil on Linen. 98.4” x 137”
My art works contain symbolic representations of thoughts to encourage mindfulness. A felt tube is a path of thoughts, and the works with those tubes expresses that people have many thoughts at the moment. Rings and lines of embroidery represent thoughts, and those embroidery paintings show the complex system of a mind with layers of fabric. The intention of my art is to be a mirror to reflect thoughts and to explore a way to be mindful. Can you tell us about the process you undergo to create your delicate embroidery paintings and your sculptures? The process and materials are important for me to create art. To create embroidery paintings, I use a sewing machine. The machine works in a constant rhythm, and that makes me concentrate on the stitches. While stitching, I think where the line should go on the painting and have to pay attention to the needle and thread at the same time. This process tells me that each moment we live creates our future, and it is important how we live at this moment. I feel the same way when I create felt sculptures. Through the experiences of felt-making I have learned each step and each motion of my hands influence the result of the piece, and such a process brings me mindfulness. Do you aim to impart the same message of mindfulness with your sculptures that you impart with your paintings? Yes, I do; mindfulness is an important theme for my art and life, even though the process, the materials are different, I have the same message.
Kyoko Matsuyama | Japan
Kyoko Matsuyama | Japan
Embroidery Drawing Series Cotton Threads and Linen. 14” x 14”
Lorena Fernandez is an Advertising Designer with an impressive Fine Arts career who has gained major recognition. The most demanding critics have found in her work magnificent brush strokes, impressive definition of shapes, and exquisite color palettes. Her work has been included in the Ibero-American Encyclopedia of Plastic Artists, Contemporary QCC Art Gallery, and exhibited in Colombia, the US, Spain, France, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, and Japan. She has also received countless honors and awards in several of the countries where she has exhibited, and has been included in dozens of publications. How do you perceive your participation in such an important international fair as is Art Santa Fe can influence your artistic career? Art Santa Fe is a great platform for exposing my work, especially under the representation of Contemporary Art Project USA that has an impeccable record of expertly curated exhibitions. In how many fairs have you participated under the representation of Contemporary Art Projects USA? I have had the privilege of being selected to participate in several fairs with them, including: Art Basel Miami, Art Expo New York, Help-Hope-Nepal Mural at Spectrum Miami, Spectrum Indian Wells, and Art Santa Fe.
Lorena Fernandez | Colombia
Lorena Fernandez | Colombia
Brisa Fresca de Verano Oíl on Canvas. 39” x 39”
There is juxtaposition between the classical anatomy of the figures and the fractured-plane geometry of the abstract backgrounds in Michele Voigt’s paintings. Like the actions performed by the figures, the settings are allegorical; and the space they define energetic, psychological, and emotional rather than architectural – favoring mineral and earth colors that render chilled, yet natural imagery; and scenes built upon light, space, and shadow. The artist explains: “When you define a space literally in a painting, you miss the energy and the physics of it.” She also shares: “Dad was an engineer; I like to say I draft rather than draw.” What is your creative process like? I create artwork inside my mind. I work on a piece in my head for months, to even years, before I produce it. I generally have several pieces “in development”, and I perfect them in my head before I physically draft them. How do you feel about participating in major art fairs like internationally famous Art Santa Fe? I have embraced the major art fairs, and participated in several last year. I am excited to show at Art Santa Fe - a bit like home to me - and a magical part of my early inspiration. I am now attending! I have a solid fan and friend base there.
Michele A. Utley Voigt | USA
Michele A. Utley Voigt | USA
Margin 0.5 Oil on Belgium Canvas. 72” x 48”
Carleton Watkins’ work, done in Yosemite (California) in 1862, inspired me to start the project “ICTUM OLIM II”. Following his philosophy, and after getting enough information about how those pioneers solved their work at the beginning of the 21st century, I built myself a detachable camera based on the tents used by travelling photographers from that time and added to this concept the one of camera; this way the tent is the camera and the lab altogether. At the same time, I had to design and build a plate holder with a special base appropriate for the mammoth size of the plates I decided to use. My photographic work involves the observation and study of natural shapes with its momentary combinations - which emphasize the importance of the intimate connection of these shapes and the intellectual comprehension of its inherent nature and of its underlying principles. In my process, I am conscious of my “process of conscious attention”; I always try to connect with my authentic self while using my resources. I have always thought that creativity is born from the distress of living. I have been able to experiment with that during a crisis, inventiveness always turns up, and we must make good use of it! Without crisis there are no challenges, without challenges life is a routine with its slow agony. We cannot pretend that things change if we always do the same.
Miquel Salom | Spain
Miquel Salom | Spain Wet Plate Collodion Photography
Poetic Mediterranean Series Ambrotype 16” x 16”
My work explores the interior world, expressing the emotional, and feeling the nature of it with color, form, line, and texture. Words can be a problem, but there is no misunderstanding the painting; t is honest and straight-forward, a one-off communication of the soul that defies judgment of feelings. What inspired you to become an artist? Coming from a rich cultural and historical background was one of the main reasons that helped me pursue my artistic career. My journey began in Mumbai, where the hustle and bustle of the lively city and robust architecture led me to one of the best art schools in the country, My interest and quest for studying fine art deepened, and I decided to move to London - another art hub - to pursue my master’s degree. Like the emergence of a butterfly through the process of metamorphosis, my work too has transformed, and I have seen myself emerge as an artist. What are your plans for the future where your artistic career is concerned? To continue creating great works of art, and exploring the possibilities of exhibiting them; it is a journey where at every stage I learn more and more from my own working process, and also deepen my knowledge as an artist.
Rajvi Dedhia Unadkat | India
Rajvi Dedhia Unadkat | India
Untitled Mixed Media on Canvas 36” x 36”
Robin has turned her keen observation and verbal communication skill-set into a creative adventure by becoming an accomplished photographer who has joined the field of Iphoneography. She uses her iPhone to capture black and white and color images that range from abstraction, to the human form, to street scapes. In art, as in life, she values balance and integration, experimentation, expression, humor, and movement. What motivated you to become an artist? I'm a clinical psychologist by training, so I often rely on words to convey messages to clients. I started to feel that the use of words alone was frustrating and limiting when it came to expressing the full range of my own experiences, feelings, and thoughts; I needed another mechanism, and capturing photographic images seemed to fit the bill. What do you consider to be the most important component for success for a visual artist? Joining a cooperative art gallery in Redwood City, CA helped me launch myself as a visual artist. Most of the artists in the group were more experienced than I was, and I was able to glean tips about getting one's work out there; e.g. such as participating in art marketing consultations and portfolio reviews, and submitting work to various exhibitions. Like so many aspects of one’s life, success involves not just the people you know, but the way you relate to them!
Robin Apple | USA
Robin Apple | USA Iphoneography
Blown Away I Iphoneography Printed on Metallic Paper and Mounted on Plexiglas 40” x 40”
“After a long hibernation, I rediscovered my childhood passion for art; and once re-awakened to my innate passion - which I refer to as my second coming out - I studied with various accomplished figurative artists in New York City, and went on to formalize my training by receiving my MFA from the Graduate School of Figurative Arts of the New York Academy of Art in 2003. Regardless of the medium I employ, I subscribe to the philosophy that art serves as a bridge from our primal essence to our higher selves, to the divine. As such, my “aestus,” or passionate fire, and underlying motivation, is to produce works intended to stimulate the senses, provoke emotional responses, elevate the spirit, and address issues that are dear to me.” How and when did you start creating art? I first wanted to be an artist when I was a child; then that desire was apparently stored away somewhere for many years as my path went totally elsewhere. My second coming out in my thirties – as I call it - started me down my path to myself. How do you feel about showing your work in a major art fair? I am honored for the opportunity Tata is giving me to promote my vision and works in major art fairs - which started with the Help-Hope Nepal Mural Show at Spectrum Miami 2016. I had not been actively showing or publicly promoting my work until about a year ago that I emerged from my slumber and started to exhibit locally; hence, I am very proud to be counted among Tata’s amazing group of artists.
Rosaria AESTUS Vigorito | Italy
Rosaria AESTUS Vigorito | Italy
Reflection Digital Art printed on Metallic Paper and Mounted on Plexiglas 14” x 10”
“Color exists where there is light, the presence of light generates shadows; and when you combine TEXTURES with color, light, and shadows your extraordinary creations are born.� While living in Venezuela, William pursued a degree in graphic design to channel his passion for creating art; while simultaneously serving the needs of his corporate clients. Now living in Miami with his wife and two children, he continues to flourish; feeding off the vibrant South Florida culture and the emotional responses and myriad of interpretations shared by others about his creations. What inspires you to create art? Art is a way to express feelings, and also provides a way to escape from reality. It's a window that lets you express what you see; yet people are able to see something else. To me, art is whatever you want it to be; it's incredible! What is your vision for your artistic career in 3 to 5 years? I envision myself in several art shows throughout the world. I would love to be in as many galleries or art shows as I can; or at least be seen by tons of people, and let them discover by themselves the incredible passion I feel when I create a single work of art.
William Stalhuth | Venezuela
William Stalhuth | Venezuela
Squarez Mixed Media on Canvas. 42” x 42”
CURATORIAL PROGRAM For the past year, Contemporary Art Projects USA has been including the curator in all of its events and exhibitions - one of its main initiatives being the creation of a program geared at providing curatorial assistance and assessment based on the origin of a work of each artist – with the assistance focused on the direct relationship between the artist and the curator; where the artist is allowed to freely express his/her ideas, intentions, and reflections about the creative process that will be initiated between them to create a project in its totality rather than an isolated work. Each project is chosen according to the particular event; in this way Contemporary Art Project USA’s curator creates a cohesive exhibition. This will be the case with Art Santa Fe 2016, where the viewer will be able to appreciate Jorge Cavelier’s installation - which has been in the process of being created for the past year; as well as Kelly Fischer’s interactive mural – a project in which the artist will fuse her pictorial work with her literary talent with the intention of stimulating children to create their own histories. Art Santa Fe’s booth will represent a collective project that honors and respects each artist’s essence. For each fair, the gallery selects an invited artist with whom the curator has been working for several months and, between the artist and the curator, a museography is created. This is a work that is thought-out, where each work has its purpose and place. We are not interested in filling walls, or in creating a boutique; we are committed to creating a coherent booth that depicts a minigallery exhibition. Our objective is aimed at continuing to work in this curatorial program with the artists, and to support them in their artistic career endeavors; especially our emerging artists.
Silvia Medina | Chief Curator
CURATORIAL PROGRAM ARTISTS Ana Maria Nava Chris Delias Claudia Ramos Eliel Perez Ernie Barreto Henrik Welle Ileana Collazo Jorge Cavelier Kelly Fischer Lorena Fernandez Ricardo Cardenas Robin Apple Rosaria AESTUS Vigorito
GALLERY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM Contemporary Art Projects USA has developed a specialized marketing program to promote gallery members by employing a variety of written and online publications; as well as a Sales and Marketing Department headed by Maria Teresa D’Azucena to undertake promotional and sales activities on the artists’ behalf by way of a clearly identifiable portfolio that is be consistently presented to collectors, development, institutions, etc. under a separate contractual agreement between the Sales Department and the artists. Artists will be recommended – at the curator’s discretion - to participate in gallery projects, exhibitions, and art fairs. Enrollment in the curatorial program can be started at any time during the gallery membership year. Please, contact the Executive Director or the Director of Sales for developing a personalized marketing program for you. We welcome national and international emerging, mid-career and established artists. The gallery offers exclusive and non-exclusive representation.
GALLERY MEMBERS Alfredo Martinez Alejandro de Narvaez Ana Maria Nava Anica Shpilberg Chris Delias Claudia Ramos Daniela Sierra Eliel Perez Ernie Barreto Gary Traczyk Grace Berge Henrik Welle Ileana Collazo Jan Dee Gordon Jorge Cavelier Kelly Fischer Lorena Fernandez Maria Fernanda Lairet Michele A. Utley Voigt Miquel Salom Rajiv Dedhia Unadkat Ricardo Cardenas Robin Apple Rosaria AESTUS Vigorito Samah El Hage William Stalhuth
A Special Thanks You to Our Sponsors
Edited by Art Daily News International Magazine www.artdailynewsinternational.com Fatima Canovas artdailynewsinternational@gmail.com 305-302-6803