Glendale Library, Arts & Culture, and ReflectSpace Gallery are proud to present “It’s Clever, But Is It Art?” — a solo exhibition that showcases several pieces by well-known Mexican artist ERRE (Marcos Ramírez), whose work reflects the sociopolitical issues surrounding the Mexico-U.S. border in various forms, including text-based art.
ERRE’s art has been featured in major exhibitions, including inSITE94, inSITE97, Havana Biennials, the 2000 Whitney Biennial, the second Moscow Biennial, the San Juan Poly/Graphic Triennial, the 2007 Sao Paolo/Valencia Biennial, the California Biennial 2008, MASS MoCA in Massachusetts and others.
Through works that resemble crossword puzzles and the Snellen Optometry chart, “It’s Clever, But Is It Art?” explores the impact of written language within the context of a public library. The exhibition includes public art in four large scale, eye chart-like banners, featuring quotes from notable writers displayed on the library building’s facade.
A floor installation referencing the Tower of Babel completes the exhibition, offering insight into the biblical story of a multilingual world. “It’s Clever, But Is It Art?” is titled after a quotation by Rudyard Kipling and is curated by Alma Ruiz, former senior curator at MOCA, Los Angeles. Ruiz is also a senior fellow at the Center for Business and Management of the Arts at Claremont Graduate University.
In Central Library’s Passageway Gallery, two accompanying projects will be on display: a series of community portraits. One is titled “If You Had a Magic Wand,” a socially engaged art project by Johnny Pérez, in collaboration with Edison Elementary and Glendale Central Library. The portraits act to further validate the students and their wishes for the community. The second is titled “Letters to Parents,” a postcard project by Kevin Ly that invites the public to a writing prompt asking: “What do you wish your parents had told you?” The question is intended to start a conversation and have people interact with not just the exhibit, but with each other.
All exhibitions will be available from June 3 through July 23 at Glendale Central Library, located at 222 E. Harvard St. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 24, from 6-8 p.m. ReflectSpace and PassageWay Galleries are curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan.
First published in the June 10 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
