In the dream world presented in “La Machina de los Sueños/The Machine of Dreams,” on view through July 31 at the Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross, differences are celebrated. The show is strong and unique. Recycled metal sculptures, colorful murals, thoughtful photographs, and interesting animation all support a vibrant message of self-expression and solidarity. The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) group, El Salón, includes artists who have historically not been represented in the art world.
Co-curator John Vo’s “Vestage of the Village Crossroad” echoes the interesting architecture of the host Prior Center for the Arts building. A hinged arched tryptic, centered with a tree surrounded by 3D illusions of blocks, brings the message of an inclusive village crossroad to the Holy Cross College campus. “Keep on Truckin,” his other mixed-media piece, shows a foot with a skeleton ankle bracelet above an intertwined weaving and a reminder of continuing on no matter what.
Through her work, Jennessa Burks notes that all the different pieces of life along the way make up who a person becomes, and including all of these pieces together makes up the whole person. She has taken dried paint from previous therapeutic art works to reintegrate them into a new piece. A palette of warm orange with cooler purples illuminates a beautiful face.
Sharinna Travieso’s use of monochrome color in her paintings enhances the ordinary. Her two paintings elevate the everyday tasks of laundry; the pink of the laundromat turns an ordinary chore into a happy place.
Hank Von Hellion, former director of Worcester’s Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC), now a resident of Las Vegas, has a mixed-media feathered figure on top of a green turtle shell on wheels. Indigenous motifs are reinvented for a modern twist.
Claudia Eshun’s “Existing in Worcester” photograph captures the connected and resolute expressions of a soccer team in Worcester. The girls, standing in front of a soccer net, all stare straight into the camera. They are ready for anything.
Liza French’s “Triple Decker Goddess: Protector of the Home” has a giant naked woman snuggled up next to the classic iconic triple decker that shows up in most New England cities, including Worcester. We could all join in with calling in more goddess energy. Numerous TV sets are employed in Angel Rojas’ piece on integrating his past and present. The use of multiple screens sitting on various crates multiples the messages.
There are two larger than life recycled metal sculptures by Jose Criollo. A gigantic seahorse is made up of metal gears and license plates and upon closer inspection “Return Home,” of an eagle in her nest, is revealed to be made up of spoons and forks and more. Such creative use of recycled parts astonishes.
Julian Cintron Pabon uses animation to bring the actual dream world into the show with a starry sky, a brick structure, and a line drawn figure nestled into the green hills in the background.
Art is about ideas and the exciting ideas shared by these important Worcester artists is not to be missed. This is the second summer show at the Cantor highlighting Worcester area artists and is curated by John Vo and Vanessa Calixto. Other artists with work in the show include Sharon Amuguni, George Annan, Calixto, Brittney Colome, Ivory Henry, Aiko Itadani, Kappokraft, Savonne Pickett, Ryan Smith, Gyani Pradhan Wong Ah Sul, and Bruja the Villain.
Exhibiting artists from the exhibition and community artists will be on hand for an artist peer review session this Friday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. Artists are invited to bring works from their portfolios for feedback from others in attendance.
(“La Machina de los Sueños/The Machine of Dreams” continues through July 31 at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at the Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross, One College St., Worcester, Massachusetts. The Cantor’s summer gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. To confirm the gallery will be open when you plan to visit, call (508) 793-3356 — and tell them Artscope sent you.)