Of Objects and Shadows / De Objetos y Sombras
September 17 – December 31, 2022
CPW
Kingston, NY — Celebrating the beginning of Latinx Heritage Month in the United States, The Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) is pleased to present Of Objects and Shadows/ De Objetos y Sombras, a group exhibition of Latinx artists living and working upstate, including recent and former participants of the CPW artist-in-residence program. Curated by Qiana Mestrich, the exhibition will be on view at CPW, 474 Broadway, Kingston, from September 17th through December 31, 2022.
The artists featured in this exhibition are Genesis Baez (Puerto Rico/USA), Nydia Blas (Panama/USA), William Camargo (Mexico/USA), Steven Molina Contreras (El Salvador), Zoraida Lopez-Diago (Panama/USA) and Qiana Mestrich (Panama/USA).
Of Objects and Shadows/De Objetos y Sombras highlights an important group of emerging Latinx artists, and considers the political, spiritual, and cultural allusions in their photographic depictions of objects and (their) shadows. Pushing beyond stylistic experimentations with light and shadow, these artists use symbolic personal belongings and disobedient objects to elucidate aspects of Latinx culture and the lived experiences of their families, their ancestors, and themselves.
The photographs in this exhibition engage narratives of migration, matrilineal inheritance, indigenous land recognition, African diaspora deities, and Latinx labor his/her-stories within American soil and territories. While some may be inclined to label such visual representations as “nostalgic,” for those displaced by the ripples of colonial and imperial legacies this work provides a way to realize an existence in their new, often hostile home.
Latinx Heritage Month is a celebration of the many cultural contributions of Latinx communities globally, including numerous nations and their diaspora. In 2020, the Latinx population in the United States reached 62 million and in 2019, 67 percent were born in the U.S. This means that the greatest contribution to the group’s population growth in this country came from births to Latinx parents versus the arrival of new immigrants. This is a trend that began in 2010. Since 2000, Latinx residents have been the largest growing population within the mid-Hudson Valley region. In fulfillment of this year’s theme “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation,” observing Latinx Heritage Month provides an opportunity to represent and recognize the diversity of this community and their continued contributions to the United States.
ABOUT CPW
The Center for Photography at Woodstock is a vital hub for dialogue and discovery in photography and related media, bringing together a diverse array of artists and a vibrant community with a strong artistic tradition. Through its programs, CPW fosters opportunities to create and explore photography, and celebrate its role in contemporary culture. A non-profit organization located in the heart of Hudson Valley, CPW has provided direct support to artists for over 40 years. Programs include exhibitions, residencies, workshops, digital and darkroom workspace, and more.
CPW receives support from the New York Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Art, the Joy of Giving Something, the Philip and Edith Leonian Foundation, Arts Mid-Hudson, our members and other supporters. The interactive gallery walk-through was made possible through NYSCA Electronic Media/Film in Partnership with Wave Farm: Media Arts Assistance Fund, with the support of New York Governor’s office and the New York State Legislature.
EXHIBITION SCHEDULE AND LOCATION
The exhibition Of Objects and Shadows/De Objetos y Sombras will be on view at CPW’s facilities at 474 Broadway in Kingston, NY from September 17 through December 31, 2022. The gallery will be open from Friday to Sunday from 12:00 – 4:00 pm as well as by appointment throughout the week. CPW galleries are free & open to the public.
Photo: A Colonist Is a Colonist Is a Colonist, 2022 by William Camargo
Virtual Walkthrough
CPW’s exhibitions are free and open to the public due to the continued support from the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Art, Joy of Giving Something, the Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation, our members, and other supporters.
This exhibition will also be viewable as a virtual walkthrough via Matterport, made possible with funds from the NYSCA Electronic Media/Film in Partnership with Wave Farm: Media Arts Assistance Fund, with the support of the New York State Legislature.