Resonating social order and natural selection, the installation transcends child’s play as it worms its way through the space, touching on the uncanny parallels between this harmless pastime and the complexities of hierarchy in society, where “survival of the fittest”, delineated by Darwin’s theory of evolution, reigns supreme at the heart of all competition. Guerra de la Paz began working with garments as a material and saw themselves as vehicles guided by the essence and silent histories of the discarded clothing. The installation aims to depict both a harmonious pecking order and the ramifications of decline.
 This exhibition is in conjunction with Innovations in Textiles 2011, a city wide collaborative event.
Who is Guerra de la Paz?
Our Grand Center gallery is preparing for our next exhibition, Follow the Leader, the newest work by Guerra de la Paz, opening September 16. Guerra de la Paz is the composite name that presents the creative team efforts of Cuban born artists, Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz, who live and work in Miami, Florida, and have been collaborating together since 1996. Alain Guerra attended the Chicago Art Institute and the Center for Expressive Arts in Miami, Florida and Neraldo de la Paz received his BFA from Northern Illinois University, De Kalb, IL. Their studio is located in a neighborhood called “Little Haiti” to the local Miamians. “Little Haiti” has long been a headquarters for warehouses that shipped discarded clothing to Haiti (and around the world). Guerra de la Paz developed a relationship with the warehouse owner, who gave them permission to go through the piles of clothes and take the pieces that interested them. They respond very strongly to color and would organize the clothes based on color vs. pattern. Alain and Neraldo began using clothes as their media for communicating their ideas. Some of their sculptures are chromatic abstract pieces that respond to the material and form. However lately, Guerra de la Paz work involves the human form and tend to communicate to their response to current events. Follow the Leader is a commentary of how the artists see politics today both locally and worldly; perhaps they feel some are blindly following along. Guerra de la Paz invites the St. Louis community to participate in their installation by donating clothes to their work. They hope to incorporate as much as they can into the piece and the contributions will become a part of Follow the Leader. Guerra de la Paz will begin installing on September 3rd. We invite you to come and take look at the work’s evolution in the space and meet Alain and Neraldo.
Events
Poetry Open Mic Event:
Follow the Leader
January 22, 2-4pm in the Kranzberg Arts Center
In Collaboration with the Saint Louis Poetry Center
Read some of the poetry presented at the Poetry Open Mic Event:
Marcel Toussaint, Three Inspirations
Amy K. Genova, Follow the Leader: Little, Haiti, Miami
Eamonn Wall, Guerra de la Paz: Follow the Leader
Mary Ann deGrandpre Kelly, What She's Wearing Now
LECTURE:
From The Bottom of the Heap: recycled Clothing as a Form of Expression
Free and open to the public
Thursday, September 15, 6:30pm
At the Kemper Art Museum in conjunction with Sam Fox School
of Art & Design
This lecture is part of Craft Alliance’s Fashion Lab
Innovations 2011 Gallery Talk
Free and open to the public
Saturday, September 17, 12pm
Workshops
One of a Kind Jewelry from Found Objects with Michael Parrett
Sunday, October 23, 12-5pm
Coiling with Re-purpose with Samara Rosen
Sunday, November 13, 1-5pm
Guerra De La Paz
News and Coverage
Following the Leaders in St. Louis, SDA NewsBlog, March 8, 2012
In the Galleries: Follow the Leader at Craft Alliance, November 24, 2011
Review: Colorful Lessons at Craft Alliance, St. Louis Beacon, November 28, 2011
St. Louis Art Capsules, Follow the Leader, Jessica Baran, Riverfront Times, October 27, 2011
Listen to a podcast of the Guerra de la Paz interview by Nancy Kranzberg
Blog: Nicki's Central West End Guide, Guerra de la Paz, September 23, 2011
Check out the Blog for Guerra de la Paz, September 2011
Video: Follow the Leader, The Saint Louisan, September 14, 2011
Video: Undress for Art at Craft Alliance, Fox 2 News KTVI, September 13, 2011
Craft Alliance Artists Transform Old Clothes, Debra Bass, STL Today, September 6, 2011
Re-Fabricating Fashion, August 2011
Art Installation is a Clothes Call, St. Louis Beacon, August 14, 2011
PRESS RELEASE (PDF) |
