Over the last 14 years Bob and I have seen how art explains not just a country's culture but also its level of development. The temples of Cambodia's Angkor Wat showed the greatness of a sophisticated ancient civilization. But when you see Siem Reap and poor Cambodian villages now, you wonder how such strength and beauty could fall so far. But then, this is Syria where once great civilizations flourished and now all is ruin.
Angkor Wat
We were stunned by the intracies of Mayan ruins in Honduras and Guatemala. But people in those countries now are struggling to feed their families and stay alive. On my first night in San Sula Pedro, Honduras, I stayed in a gated community whose entrance had four armed security personnel, four growling guard dogs, two sets of metal gates allowing cars to enter and leave and metal contraptions on the ground that stopped you from backing up. I was shaken there. I don't remember seeing art in Honduras.
An example of Guatemalan art. The style of most Guatemalan art is indigenous or Christian.
Brazil is still struggling financially and politically. But it has a well developed art scene. As we were leaving Cassia Aresta's house a few days ago, I asked if she could send me some of her work. Because I couldn't describe the meaning of her geometic work, Cassia sent an explanation and her CV showing the vibrancy of her work and an active Brazilian art scene over the last few decades. She has had a successful life long passion that evolved as her children grew up.
The Cassia's Perspective on the Artistic Development of Geometric Work (with edits by me).
Geometric structures develop temporal and spacial relationships. When outlines, lines, colors and surfaces interact and intersect, a spatial electricity happens. For Cassia, it is at this point that time is determined and noted by the movement of the lines.
Colour is an autonomous language acting as a protagonist. White and black, light, shadow and spaces lead to the work's concept.
Cassia believes that the poetry of her work, perceived by the viewer, is created with mathematical formulations inviting the viewer to participate in the art work's construction as an introspective journey of self.
Acrylic on Canvas
Paper Collage on Paper
Cassia's CV shows her active artistic involvement.
Curriculum Document
Cassia Aresta
November 13, 1956 Florianopolis SC
STUDIES
1980 FEBASP São Paulo SP inconclusive course
1994/95 Art Workshop with artists Tuneu, Dudi Maia Rosa, Paulo Pasta, SP
1996/99 own ceramic Study and Workshop, SP
1996/97 Study and development of the work with the artist Ana Maria Tavares, SP
2002 Specific training in Contemporary Art, USP,with art educator Ana Mae Barbosa, SP
2003 Evaluation and guidance work,artist Georgia Kyriakakis, São Paulo, SP
2004/5/6 / Philosophy in the Contemporary Arts with Dr.Prof and philosopher Nazareno Eduardo de Almeida, Florianópolis, SC
2006 Seminar on The Concepts of Truth and Falsehood in Philosophy and Its Relation with the Construction and Operation of Arts and Fine Arts, philosopher Nazareno Eduardo de Almeida, Florianopolis, SC
2012 Artist invited to accompany students in philosophy of art CEART, Florianópolis, SC.
2013 Creative Process Workshop with Charles Watson
2013 1st International Dialogue on images, CEART, SC
2014 Theory and art criticism in Brazil dialogues and situations
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1996 Triangular Exhibition, FUNARTE, São Paulo, SP.
1997 Exhibition Collage and Painting, Alliance Française Gallery, São Paulo, SP.
2000 Exhibition Circles, CCSP Room Mario Pedrosa, São Paulo, SP.
2001 Correspondence Exhibition, Goëthe Institute, São Paulo, SP.
2001 Correspondence Exhibition at Bayer in Brazil, São Paulo, SP.
2002 Correspondence Exhibition, Monica Filgueiras Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP,
Correspondence Exhibition, Goëthe Institut, Frankfurt, Germany.
Correspondence Exhibition, Goëthe Institut, Bordeaux, France.
2003 Exhibition Circles, MASC, Museum of Art of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC.
2003 Exhibition Circles, MAJ, Cultural Citadel Antarctica, Joinville, SC.
2008 Indelible marks, MuNA, National Museum of Arts, Uberlândia, MG.
2012 Exhibitions Code Look, Rogério Cardoso Culture House, Mococa, SP.
2014 Exhibition Code Look, SESC-SC São Bento do Sul, SC.
2014 Exhibition Code Look, SESC-SC Chapecó,SC.
2014 Exhibition Code Look, SESC Jaragua do Sul,SC.
2015 Exhibition Code Look, municipal Gallery Paulo Vecchietti, Franklin Cascaes Foundation, Florianópolis, SC.
EXHIBITIONS
1987 Nine potters, Gallery Freedom Garo, São Paulo, SP.
1998 Gallery and Office Art LR, São Paulo, SP.
1999 Exhibition Planete ouverte, Hall of Ganties Prefecture, France.
Exhibition Planete ouverte, Hall of the Municipality Saint Gaudens, France.
II Prize Maimeri Brazil, Arts and Crafts College, São Paulo, SP.
2000 Exhibition Cassiopeia, Museum Pierre Bayle Carla Bayle, France.
2003 Palmo Square Exhibition, Alumni Institute, São Paulo, SP.
2004 Palmo Square Exhibition, MOLAA Museum of Latin American Art, California
2004 Project Equal contrast, MAJ, Joinville Art Museum, SC.
2004 Project Equal contrast, MASC, Museum of the State of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC.
2004 Project Equal contrast, Memorial of Curitiba , Curitiba, PR>
2004 Project Equal contrast, MAC, Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto Alegre, RS
2005 Collective Palmo Square Conneccticut College, New London, Connecticut.
2005 Collective Palmo Square University Art Gallery, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
2006 Paint the Future, MASC, Museum of the State of Santa Catarina, Fpolis, SC.
Paint the Future , Museum of the Brazilian House, São Paulo, SP.
2006 16 in Forte, Forte Santa Barbara, Franklin Cascaes Foundation, Fpolis, SC.
2006 Draw-Drawing 2 LONDON Biennale, London
2007 Paint the Future, MASC Museum of Art of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC.
2007 Invention of Memory, MAJ, Art Museum of Joinville, Joinville, SC.
2007 Lestada and Deconstruction, BADESC Cultural Foundation, Florianopolis, SC
2007 Lestada and Deconstruction, Art Gallery Multiple, São Paulo, SP.
2009 Project 365 MAC, Museum of Contemporary Art, Curitiba, PR.
2009 Project 365 Cultural Citadel Antarctica, MAJ, Joinville, SC.
2009 6 REASON Casa das Rosas, São Paulo, SP.
2009 Project 365 in the 2nd Biennial of Brazilian Visual Arts of Brussels, Belgium.
2009 Project 365 MHSC Historical Museum of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC.
2010 Project 365 SESC Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP.
2010 Project 365 UFMG Cultural Center, Belo Horizonte, MG.
2010 Project 365 at the Contemporary Art Museum, CAM, Casoria, Italy.
2010 Project 365 at the Cultural Center Sergio Porto, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
2011 Troy Art Mube, Brazilian Museum of Sculpture, São Paulo
2012 6X6X2012Rochecester Contemporary Art Center, Rochecester, NY
2013 Memoriando Arts Space of the Integrated Cultural Center (CIC), Fpolis (guest artist)
2013 Affections and Knowledge, Martha Pagy Arts Office, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Narratives, Martha Pagy Arts Office, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
2014 I Am a womam CAM Contemporary Art Museum, Casoria, Italy.
2014 Imago Mundi Luciano Benetton Collection, Benetton Foundation, Italy.
2014 Tessitura Urban, International Institute Juarez Machado, Joinville, SC
2015 Memoriando Arts Space of the Integrated Cultural Center(CIC), Fpolis, SC(guest artist)
HALLS OF ART
1988 4th Ceramic-Art Open Show, Palace of Arts, England.
1988 1st Sculpture Hall at the All Range, invited artist, São Paulo
1989 5th Shows Open Ceramic-Art, FAAP, São Paulo.
1993 Exhibition of Contemporary Art Mococa, Mococa, SP.
1994 Art Hall 1 Contemporary Art, Elke Hering, Blumenau, SC.
23 Bunkio Art Hall of the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture,
(Award Bronze Medal), São Paulo, SP.
1995 24 Bunkio Art Hall of the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture,
(Premio Magic Ink), São Paulo, SP.
1995 Art Hall 8 Mokiti Okada, São Paulo, SP.
1996 25 Bunkio Art Hall of the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture, São Paulo.
2012 40th Art Hall Exhibition of Contemporary Art Luiz Sacilotto, St. André, SP.
PROJECTS
1997 Triangular Project in CARGILL of Brazil company
1997 Triangular Project on SHARP OF BRAZIL company
2001 collage workshop in BAYER'S BRAZIL company
2013 Experiences Itinerant People, the Cultural Foundation of Santa Catarina.
WORKSHOP
1999 Crossing the Waters, SESC, São Paulo
2001 Picture of Yourself, SESC, São Paulo.
ART RESIDENCY
2000 Planete ouverte, Ganties, France.
PUBLIC ART
Thinking about Volpi, City of San Jose, SC.
Acquis works
MASC- Art Museum of Santa Catarina,
MOLAA-Latinamerican Museum of Art, California, USA,
MAJ- Art Museum Joinville,
Museum Pierre Bayle in Carla Bayle, France.
CAM-Casoria Contemporary Art Museum, Italy.
Issues: The book of Arts Brazil-geometries.
Award: Elisabete Anderle 2009- Government of the State of Santa Catarina
ART ASSOCIATIONS
APLASC, ACAP, APLAJ and APAP
Art in Florida
If you get a chance to go to St. Petersburg, The Salvador Dali Museum is incredible on so many levels. The building itself is a work of art and practically bomb proof, built with three foot thick walls to withstand tsunamis and hurricanes. Dali's work is on the third floor for protection against floods.
Bob and I saw his work two years ago and were astounded at the complexity of his symbols and the depth of the man. Bob and I had thought he was a kook way back in the 70s. How wrong we were.
The Salvador Dali Museum
Next week we're going back to the museum to see "Escher at the Dali." I'm drawn to his work like so many others.
"“Escher at the Dali” features prints, drawings, a sculpture, wood blocks, a lithograph stone and posters drawn by the artist to explain his printing techniques. The exhibit will delve into his exploration of infinity through tessellation, in which shapes fit together perfectly without overlapping, including an enormous woodcut “Metamorphosis” (1939-40) which spans 13-1/2 feet."
How odd last week to have seen this fellow all decked out in his thick red suit in a Florianopolis store not far from the beach.
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