This project, SEREMOS.ONE, asks 3 artists/designers to respond to the question of space, of place. A collaboration began with the emphasis on history, culture, neighborhood and a soon to be demolished church, St. Joseph the Worker, 333 Rumsey SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan. This church was a sanctuary for immigrants who came to the Grandville corridor starting in 1889. Now, the church remains only in memory; fragments of materials; artifacts of a building that existed for many in the recent decades as a gathering place for a Spanish speaking community.
These young artists and designers, all affiliated with Kendall College of Art and Design, have worked with Professor Vega, to create three provocative spaces within the Cultura Collective Venue of ArtPrize. Cultura Collective in curated by Steffanie Rosalez. Micro-Aggression, a commentary on the impact of cultural slurs, is the basis for Venezuelan Artist, Gustavo Enrique Bastidas Medina. Bastidas, a third year Graphic Design major at Kendall College of Art and Design, works an interesting play on inappropriate dialog that asks questions of the audience and divides us between the person delivering the comment or receiving it. Micro-Aggression, comments on Bastidas recent relocation to the United States, from a country where freedom of speech was difficult, to endure indirect, subtle, often unintentional, discrimination.
White Washing, asks us to consider balance and imbalance, and to interact in the future of cultural stereotyping. This piece is created by Fernando Ramirez, a Chicago born Mexican American artist, responding to “the conversation about appropriating identity and whitewashing that identity until it is comfortable for the viewer.
Armonia, Harmony, created by Enrique Andrade, a Mexican American from South Haven, Michigan, informs the viewer about the history of people from diverse backgrounds who come together to form one community through music.
It has been my privilege to work with these artists.
Margaret Vega Curator, Collaborator, SEREMOS.ONE
Special Thanks to Kendall College of Art and Design, Cook Art Center and Steffanie Rosalez for their support with all phases of this project.