AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

“Intensidad” featuring artists Barbara Carrasco • J. Michael Walker • Elizabeth Perez • John Valadez, with poetic responses from: Gloria Enedina Alvarez •Abel Salas • Peter J. Harris • Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara

Opening Night Reception: Saturday, February 14, 2009 from 7-10 pm

The Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present “Intensidad,” an exhibit featuring works of art by 4 Los Angeles artists, Barbara Carrasco, J. Michael Walker, Elizabeth Perez, and John Valadez with a visual poetic response from Gloria Enedina Alvarez, Abel Salas, Peter J. Harris, and Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara. In our first exhibition of the new year, the Avenue 50 paired our visual artists with poets whose poem speaks to a particular painting in our exhibition, creating a visual “call and response”. “Intensidad,” speaks of artists whose sharply defined work reveals a personality that is passionate in its power of concentration. These artists reach into their souls where inner strength is the source of their intensity. Our artists cannot help but be extremely focused and intense.

Barbara Carrasco creates small concentrated bites of intensely drawn, yet delicate, paintings. Strong feminism can be seen in the content of her work as women, many of them self-portraits, populate her work. Barbara created numerous works which have been exhibited throughout the US, Europe, and Latin America: The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Armand Hammer Museum, Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, Museo del Chopo, Mexico, and the Mexican Museum.

J. Michael Walker fresh from his one-man exhibition at the Autry National Center, J. Michael makes a 360˚ turn from his Saints series, exhibiting large colored pencil nudes of unusual beauty. An exhibiting artist since 1984, J. Michael has participated in more than 100 exhibitions; received a dozen grants, fellowships and residencies; and enjoyed solo shows at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard; el Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares, Mexico City; the National Museum of Catholic Art and History, East Harlem, New York City; and the Arkansas Arts Center; among others.

Elizabeth Perez Her portraits of tattooed people look defiantly at the viewer. Interesting in that these people hold no political or economic power, but their intense gaze holds our attention, we are almost afraid to look away. We each own a little power in the space we possess.

John Valadez, a realist painter and muralist who takes as his subject the urban landscape and people of Los Angeles, was born, raised, and continues to live in L.A. His style might be compared to that of photorealists, such as Richard Estes, who gained prominence in the 1970s. However, his work is not a purely documentary reflection of mainstream society.

Gloria Enedina Alvarez is a Chicana poet, literary translator, mentor to generations of Latina artists, and creative writing teacher in Los Angeles. Her published works include books of poetry Emerging En Un Mar De Olanes and La Excusa/The Excuse. Her work is included in various anthologies. She has published, performed, and received awards in United States, Latin America, and Europe. Her collaborations with Peter Sellars, Esa Pekka Salonen, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and John Adams include plays and librettos produced in Los Angeles, New York, and Europe including Los biombos, Cuento De Un Soldado, and El Nino.

Abel Salas, Poet and journalist Abel Salas has written on arts, life, music and culture for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Chronicle, New Angeles Monthly, The Austin American Statesman, The Brownsville Herald and many others. He is editor and publisher of Brooklyn & Boyle. His poetry has been presented in Mexico City, Cuba and select cities in Southern California and Texas.

Peter J. Harris is the founder and Artistic Director of Inspiration House, who has since the 1970s published his poetry, essays, and fiction in a wide range of national publications; worked as a publisher, journalist, editor and broadcaster; and been an educator, and workshop leader for adults and adolescents.

Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara is a veteran rocker/poet a/k/a the Aztec god of funk. Much of his poetry and his personal reflections and comments speak to the treatment of women, how age has made him think about his past, and how wisdom taught him the special role ladies have in one's life.

Join us for an intense “Intensidad” exhibition. Please visit www.avenue50studio.com

Duration: February 14, 2009 through March 9, 2009