New Paintings by Adriana Garcia @ Bihl Hous Arts

"Entre la Carpa/Inside the Tent"
New Paintings by Adriana Garcia
July 25th-Aug. 30th
at Bihl Haus Arts
Opening Reception: Fri., July 25th, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
La Carpa Mini-Symposium: Sat., Aug. 9th, 2-4 p.m.

In Entre la Carpa/Inside the Tent, Adriana Garcia explores self-identity in a new series of brilliant large-scale paintings inspired by her family’s history with La Carpa Garcia. This famous traveling tent circus, founded in 1914 by Manuel Garcia, Adriana’s great-grandfather, performed throughout the U.S Southwest until 1947.

La Carpa Garcia was best known for a comedic routine by Rodolfo who played Don Fito, and a tightrope performance by Pilar Garcia. Adriana’s grandfather was born to Teresa Garcia soon after her evening dance performance ended (the subject of the painting in the attached jpeg). Esperanza Garcia, one of the members of the family troupe, died at an early age after falling from a tightrope. Through these family personalities and their circus occupations and acts, Adriana delves into universal themes of life and death, joy and loss. But whatever cost, the show must go on!

The exhibit opens with a reception, which is free and open to the public, on Friday, July 25th, 5:30-8:30 pm. At the opening, La Música de la Carpa will be performed by the Mexican Folkloric Trio from the International Academy of Music and the Arts, under the direction of Dr. Rachel Yvonne Cruz. Esteban Garcia will perform a special saxophone dedication set to fragments of interviews by grandfather Rodolfo Garcia, a member of the Garcia circus.

In conjunction with this exhibit, Bihl Haus Arts presents La Carpa: A Mini-Symposium, on Saturday, August 9th, 2:00-4:00 pm, featuring Adriana Garcia on her artwork and the Carpa Garcia, with a lecture on the history of La Carpa by Dr. Michaele Haynes, Curator of the Witte Museum, and a special appearance by Virginia Garcia, a performer with the Garcia troupe. (For background on La Carpa Garcia, please go to http://users.marshall.edu/~brooks/La-Carpa-Garcia.htm)

Entre La Carpa/Inside the Tent continues though August 30, 2008. Gallery hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 1-4 pm. Bihl Haus Arts (www.bihlhausarts.org) is a not-for-profit contemporary art gallery located at 2803 Fredericksburg Rd., on the premises of Primrose at Monticello Park Senior Apartments, an affordable housing community.

The gallery is made possible with the generous support of The Potashnik Family Foundation and Primrose. This exhibit is an official CAM event. For more information, (210) 383-9723, or kellenkee@swbell.net