Media Relations Contact:
Elizabeth Burke-Dain, 312.369.8695 or eburkedain@colum.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2009
Layer Cake: Tales from a Quinceañera
September 8 – October 28, 2009
Image: Andriana Lopez Sanfeliu, Life on the Block, 2009
For young Latino girls, the Quinceañera is one of the most important moments in their youth. Like the Debutante Ball, the Cotillion and the "coming out" rituals that many young girls around the world participate in, the Quinceañera is uniquely Latino. Opening at Columbia College Chicago's C33 Gallery on September 8, Layer Cake: Tales from a Quinceañera is an exploration of the tension, delight, embarrassment, desire, joy, pride, confusion and beauty inherent in the Quinceañera. The exhibition features five to seven compelling stories – real or imagined – that speak to some facet of the greater Quinceañera narrative.
If asked what the Quinceañera means, a celebrant will likely answer: “I’m going from being a girl to being a woman,” but in today’s America of mixed moral, spiritual and cultural messages, coming-of-age is as complicated as ever. And so it comes down to the birthday girl, left to reconcile her own expectations and promises of womanhood with those of her family and community at large - rejoicing and lamenting in her newfound status.
Layer Cake: Tales from a Quinceañera seeks to gather artists who can capture this fantastic confusion through personal engagement - artists who can make transparent the layers of the poufy dress, the many-tiered cake, and the pomp and circumstance to reveal the truths beneath. Quinceañera is not only an Hispanic tradition but a human one.
The exhibition will coincide with Columbia College’s National Latino Heritage Month (FOCO) and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations.
Interactive Exhibit Wall – Photo Collage
Throughout the course of the exhibit, students, the rest of the Columbia College community and the public will be invited to submit personal photos from Quinceañeras they have attended, participated in, had, crashed, etc. Eventually, the wall will be entirely collaged in photos.
The purpose is to make the exhibit feel like a party everyone is invited to...a place where their experience counts and is important to the celebration of Latina womanhood.
WHEN: September 8 – October 28, 2009
Opening Reception: Tuesday, September 15, 4-8pm (features a real Quince cake and Mexican food)
PANEL DISCUSSION: Thursday, October 22, 3pm at Hokin Annex, 623 S. Wabash
Steve Caballero (Community Christian Church in Pilsen), Priscilla Mills (author of Quinceanera Connections) and Yolanda Nieves (Artistic Director of Vida Bella Ensemble).
Artwalk Reception: Thursday, September 10, 5-8pm
WHERE: Columbia College Chicago’s C33 Gallery
33 East Congress Parkway @ Wabash
Gallery Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 am–7 pm, Friday, 9 am–5 pm
COST: Free and Open to the Public
MORE
INFO: Curator: Camille Morgan, 312.369.7663 or cmorgan@colum.edu
Press Inquiries, 312.369.8695 or eburkedain@colum.edu
Also see blog for more images and media: http://artseenchicago.blogspot.com/2009/06/layer-cake-tales-from-quinceanera.html