For Rent: Consuelo Castañeda (Havana, Cuba, 1958) is the first of a series of three annual exhibitions from 2011– 2013. The concept of For Rent transfers the use and symbolic value of the Americas Society gallery to the artist. Opening: Tuesday, May 17, 7:00 PM.
For Rent: Consuelo Castañeda transforms the gallery through an expansive installation based on the artist’s experience as a Cuban émigré and Americas Society’s history in relation to the Cold War. Anchored by an interactive lounge, Castaneda creates three spaces: a multi-screened projection room; a re-creation of Gego’s Reticularea—an iconic work created for the Americas Society Gallery in 1969; and a retrospective display highlighting the artist’s use of appropriation of historical elements and concepts.
Additionally, Castañeda’s lounge opens the gallery to a series of interventions, which include the screening of Guantanamera (Ross Birrell and David Harding); a discussion between the artist, the exhibition curator, Carmen Peláez and Ross Birrell; and a literary reading by Jose Manuel Prieto.
Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 PM
Lounge Event- Film Screening and Discussion: Guantanamera
Speakers: Consuelo Castañeda, Artist; Yasmeen Siddiqui, Exhibition Curator; Carmen Pelaéz, playwright; Ross Birrell, filmmaker; Moderated by Gabriela Rangel, Director of Visual Arts and co-Curator.
The first of a weekly screening of Guantanamera by filmmakers David Harding and Ross Birrell, which will be shown every Tuesday from May 18-July 25. The groundbreaking two-channel video projection features two singers, one in Cuba and the other in Miami, as they perform Guantanamera, regarded as Cuba’s unofficial national anthem. Following the screening speakers will engage in a discussion on the interrelating themes explored in Guantanamera and Castañeda’s exhibition.
Thursday, June 2, 7:00 PM
Performance and discussion in collaboration with the Watermill Center, N.Y
SS: What’s he Building in There?
Guest performers: Manuela Infante, Camila Marambio, Juan Esteban Varela, and Renato Bernasconi
Chilean collective SS will discuss their work in addition to their current project as artists in residence at the Watermill Center. The program will feature an excerpt performance from What’s he Building in There?, which explores the production of magic techniques and their implications on human perception.
Thursday, June 8
Vis-à-Vis: Carlos Cruz-Diez and Gabriela Rangel
Book Signing by the artist: 6:30 PM
Conversation: 7:00 PM
A legendary pioneer of color, Carlos Cruz-Diez engages in conversation with Gabriela Rangel. The program is preceded by a book signing of limited copies of Carlos Cruz-Diez: (In)formed by Color and Carlos Cruz-Diez in Conversation with Ariel Jimenez.
Thursday, June 16, 7:00 PM
Lounge Event- Reading with Writer, José Manuel Prieto
Cuban born New York-based laureate author José Manuel Prieto reads from his novel Voz humana. Prieto is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship award and has served as a fellow at The New York Public Library Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers.
For Rent: Consuelo Castañeda and related public programs are made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts—a State agency, and by a grant from The Christopher Reynolds Foundation, Inc.
Americas Society’s Visual Arts program is also supported by Sharon Schultz Simpson and in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. In-kind support graciously provided by The Glasgow School of Art. Americas Society is part of ¡Sí Cuba! Festival, a New York celebration of Cuban arts and culture. Please visit SiCuba.org
Curated by Yasmeen Siddiqui in collaboration with Gabriela Rangel
Americas Society
680 Park Avenue at 68th Street, N.Y
www.as-coa.org/VisualArts