Rosa Vera began experiments with adding fabric collage to her paintings at a workshop at El Cielo -- thus I claim a small measure of pride for her continued work in this mixed media format. I can testify to Vera's thoughtful, studied and skillful use of her media since I've seen her at work. The new pieces for the FIber Arts Invitational Exhibit in Kerrville were created especially for the event, and I have no doubt that they will be among the pieces that get attention and remarks.
Here's what Rosa writes in her artist statement:
Coming from a Latino background, my painting is tied to the journey of my family to the United States. I express this through designs, symbols and the human figure, an idea that in my mind’s eye is often tied to the past: memories of my family struggle, and idiosyncrasies of the Latino and American cultures.
I am primarily a figure painter. Human interaction appeals to me. However, I also attach anthropomorphic attributes to birds, especially crows. The inspiration for the crow series is the medieval Spanish saying, Cria cuervos y te quitarán los ojos. As the pieces evolved, the crows began to develop their own personalities and their relationship with each other. I use collage, fabric, gold leaf, acrylic and watercolor to provide more flexibility as well as add to the texture and design of the piece.
Rosa's work is featured in the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center invitational exhibit that I helped curate. The artist reception is Saturday, June 15, 1-3 p.m. in Kerrville.
