Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum showcases new exhibitions
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Several exhibitions open Friday evening at Mesa Arts Center.
They range from art created by veterans to self-taught Chicano muralists and even science enthusiasts.
The focus of the early evening launch is veteran-inspired art created by former service members who are bolstering their wellness following their military career.
Tiffany Fairall, chief curator for Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum located at the Center, said, “It’s basically helping with the mind-body connection and it’s just such a wonderful program we offer through our studios. Veterans can come and get an outlet through the arts, get some creativity and maybe help get them through some difficult times they’re going through.”
Later in the evening, other exhibits will open. They feature works inspired by Mexican folk art, diversity of biological organisms, the patterns of sacred spaces, and even an examination of food and gender by Tucson artist Laura Tanner who is originally from Georgia.
“Of course, growing up in the South, food is such an important conversation and she uses food to have commentaries about gender issues: how we use food to highlight certain genders like ‘breadwinner,’” said Fairall.
According to a separate release, “exhibitions include Monica Aissa Martinez’s ‘Nothing In Stasis,' as well as a retrospective exhibition of Lalo Cota’s Chicano low-rider culture and Mexican folk art-inspired work from the last 20 years, called ‘Laloland.’ In ‘Choice Cuts,’ Tanner reexamines how advertisers have historically reinforced hierarchical power structures that exiled women to domestic spaces and men to industry. ‘Sanctuary,’ Eliza Au’s exhibition, investigates the role patterns play in sacred spaces, and how these spaces facilitate and fulfill the human quest for meaning and understanding of the unknown. 'Somos Southwest,' the private collection of Chicano art from the Judson C. Ball and Nancy Sue Ball collection, is also featured.”
The evening is free and begins at 5:30 p.m. with light refreshments and musical entertainment.
