El Amor Ahora (Love Now) Exhibit at Nordstrom to Showcase Work of Hispanic Artists During Hispanic Heritage Month
Exhibit to Feature Works Inspired by Artists' Interpretation of Love
SEATTLE, Sept. 14 /PR Newswire-First Call/ -- In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) will present El Amor Ahora (Love Now), a bold and inspiring exhibit of artwork from a group of talented Hispanic artists. For the fourth year in a row, artists from around the world reflect their unique and personal ideas of love in a series of paintings and illustrations. The exhibit is on display in 15 select Nordstrom stores from September 15 - October 15, 2006.
The first "Love Now" exhibits debuted in 2003, celebrating Black History Month with a collection of photographs from African-American photographers, and Hispanic Heritage Month with artwork by Hispanic painters and illustrators. Both exhibits celebrate diversity and artistic expression.
"We hope that customers will join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with this unique collection of artwork focusing on the theme of love," said Delena Sunday, executive vice president, Human Resources and Diversity Affairs.
"At Nordstrom, our goal is to continually find creative ways to celebrate diversity. Through this exhibit, we hope to showcase the visions and work of this exceptionally talented group of Hispanic artists."
The exhibit will feature 23 artists:
Cristina Acosta, Bend, Ore.
Juan Alonso, Seattle, Wash.
Lamberto Alvarez, South Lake, Texas
Lee Calderon, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Ricardo Campagnoli, Kent, Wash.
Laura Lopez Canp, Seabrook, Texas
Irene Carranza, La Jolla, Calif.
Luis DeLatoree, Chicago, Ill.
Tatiana Escobar, Signal Hill, Calif.
Oscar Gimenez, Barcelona, Spain
Edward Gonzales, Corrales, N.M.
Yolanda Gonzalez, Alhambra, Calif.
Jose Rogriguez Guerra, Seattle, Wash.
Jonathan Luciano, New York, N.Y.
Carlos Marrero, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Ed Martinez, Kent, Conn.
Eric Montoya, Seattle, Wash.
Claudia Olivos, Arlington, Va.
Timothy Fernandes-Parsons, Bend, Ore.
Atilio Pernisco, San Gabriel, Calif.
Joe Ray, Phoenix, Ariz.
Mariana Sola, Bainbridge Island, Wash.
Luisa Vera, Barcelona, Spain
Exhibit Locations
The exhibit will be on display at the following Nordstrom stores: Downtown Seattle; Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, Wash.; Horton Plaza, San Diego; Fashion Square, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Salem, Ore.; Park Meadows, Littleton, Colo.; Main Place, Santa Ana, Calif.; Valley Fair, San Jose, Calif.; Dallas Galleria, Dallas; The Galleria, Houston; Barton Creek Square, Austin, Texas; Village of Merrick Park, Coral Gables, Fla.; Garden State Plaza, Paramus, N.J.; Michigan Avenue, Chicago; and Pentagon City, Arlington, Va.
An e-gallery of the
exhibit, with images and information about the artists, can be
found online at www.nordstrom.com from September 15 - October
15, 2006.
About Cristina's Madonnas
This prestigious exhibit showcases exceptional art. For two
years (Oct. 2005 and Oct. 2006) Cristina's retablos of Madonnas have been
chosen for this exhibit.
Cristina's retablos
are inspired by the ancestral traditions of her grandmother,
Catalina Maria Ortiz Acosta. These ancestors migrated into what
is now New Mexico in the 1600's. Over the centuries they
maintained a tradition of sacred art called a retablo, santos or ex-voto.
Retablos are painted
images that celebrate the spiritual sanctity of the soul. There
are two types, the Santos and the Ex-Voto. The Santos is a saint or holy figure
with traditional symbols. An Ex-Voto is an image created in
gratitude for a blessing.
Cristina mostly creates in the Ex-voto tradition, imbuing the
images of the Madonnas with ancient symbols that recall
the indigenous spiritual traditions of the lands and peoples of
the lands over which they watch.
The retablo above is Our Lady
of the Winter Snows. Painted on thin sheets of sterling
silver to symbolize the ice and sonw of the Mountains, the
Madonna's face blends with the landscape as if seen through a
storm cloud. She cradles her heart in her hand and the arteries
end in evergreen leaves, symbolizing the regeneration of nature
and the rejuvenation of the human heart and spirit. Sterling
silver and wax with oil on vintage pine panel.
Our Lady of the Winter Snows, 24" x 36", Sterling silver and wax with oil and antique sterling glazed ceramic mosaic on vintage pine panel.
La Conquistadora The Corn Maiden, is a very large 42" x 60" retablo celebrating the oldest Madonna in the United States, La Conquistadora -- Our Lady of Conquering love. She represents the peaceful accord the Spanish settlers eventually reached with Native American tribes in the area after decades of warfare. Childhood memories of the Madonna surrounded by corn inspired Acosta to paint this retablo in honor of her ancestor a and as a blessing for peace between all peoples of the world.
La Conquistadora/The Corn Maiden/Navajo Spider Woman, 42" x 60", Oil, 22kt gold, copper and sterling metal sheets and antique 24kt gold glazed ceramic mosaic on vintage pine panel.
See more of Cristina's retablos.
