Tag Archives: 13th Havana Biennial

New “Columbus In Cuba” Documentary To Debut In Ohio Before Traveling To Film Festivals

December 20, 2019All Blogs, Fine Arts Blog, Life Of An Artist Blog13th Havana Biennial, art, Art Makes Columbus, artist, Artist Exchange, bienal de la habana, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus In Cuba, Columbus Museum of Art, Cuba, Cuba In Columbus, Daric Gill, Havana, lolo's art gallery, Nikki and Matt SwiftDaric Gill Studios

New “Columbus In Cuba” Documentary To Debut In Ohio Before Traveling To Film Festivals

by Daric Gill

It’s been my extreme privilege to have been included among a group of artists who traveled to Cuba on an artist exchange and again for an international exhibition. Last spring, we were invited to exhibit in the 13th Havana Biennial and ConnectArt in Havana and Matanzas. Among the group of artists were two Ohio filmmakers, Nikki and Matt Swift. Together they created a documentary film that will soon debut in Columbus before traveling to other film festivals.

Columbus in Cuba will make its debut with a free screening at Gateway Film Center on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 2 p.m., followed by a free screening at the Columbus Museum of Art, in conjunction with (my undergrad alma mater) Columbus College of Art & Design, on Thursday, Jan. 16. with a reception at 5:30 p.m., a showing at 6 p.m., and a Q&A to follow. You can book tickets online for film at the CMA (click on their name above to go to their website).

There are so many people that helped make this journey possible. I’m thankful for all of them. Please join us in this celebration of inclusion.

New Painting For “Columbus In Cuba | Cuba In Columbus” Exhibition

October 1, 2019All Blogs, Fine Arts Blog13th Havana Biennial, art, Art Makes Columbus, artist, Artist Exchange, bienal de la habana, Columbus In Cuba, contemporary art, Cuba, Cuba In Columbus, Daric Gill, Havana, Hilton Downtown Columbus, lolo's art gallery, paintingDaric Gill Studios

New Painting For “Columbus In Cuba | Cuba In Columbus” Exhibition

by Daric Gill

{Feature Video of Painting Process Above}

Absolute: Triumph is my newest (and largest) piece in this series. It was recently delivered to the Columbus in Cuba | Cuba in Columbus exhibition. This show represents an unprecedented, multi-event, multi-venue group of exhibitions showcasing the work of artists from central Ohio and Cuba. In April 2019, five Columbus artists were among the 200 international artists selected to show work in the renowned 13th Havana Biennial in Matanzas, Cuba. An additional 34 Columbus artists showed their work alongside art from Cuban artists as part of a collateral Biennial exhibition, ConnectArt, in Matanzas. From October 1 to November 15, 2019, artwork from the 39 central Ohio artists who exhibited in Cuba, work from additional Columbus artists, and Cuban artists work will be on display at art institutions, galleries, and public venues throughout Columbus as part of Cuba in Columbus.

ABOUT THIS PIECE

Shades of translucent dark green accentuate the patterns of grain in the wood, reminiscent of a topographical map. A painted white cloud looks like a paper cutout with 6 blue strings dangling down. Over that, a red/orange thread hangs and makes a sharp turn. It outlines a distinct pattern on its way to a large origami boat. This pattern is a familiar motif pulled from the rooflines and archways of many of the old buildings in Havana. A berried shrub seemingly grows from the bow of the origami boat.

This is the sister piece to Absolute: Frequency, a piece that was exhibited during the Havana Biennial earlier this year. Read about it here. Absolute: Frequency stayed in Cuba and is slated to part of the permanent collection in a Contemporary Arts Center in Matanzas, Cuba. As you can imagine, transporting the work from America to Cuba was not easy. The original piece was designed as a triptych in case there was a need to disassemble the painting for more compact travel purposes. The new work adapted a similar triptych form, which permitted me to transport the nearly 4 ft wide wood painting in a backpack between the workshop and my studio. I’m excited and honored to be part of such a multi-cultural partnership. Please check out my work and the works of so many other amazing American and Cuban artists.

More information about the participating artists & galleries can be found at the website ColumbusInCuba.com . A map of all the different exhibition locations here.

Exhibition Info:
October 1 – November 15, 2019
Locations: art institutions, galleries and public venues across Columbus
Opening reception: October 1, 2019, 5:00 – 8:00pm, with opening words at 6:00pm, Hilton Columbus Downtown

“Absolute: Triumph”: Oil paint on maple. 32 1/4” x 41 5/8”

“Absolute: Frequency”: Oil on maple panel. 21 1/4” x 30 1/2”. 12.11.18.

“Absolute: Frequency” (detail)

Lolo’s Gallery in Matanzas, Cuba

My piece in the gallery

Artwork at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana Cuba

“ConnectArt”: Preparing For 13th Havana Biennial In Mantanzas, Cuba

March 8, 2019All Blogs, Fine Arts Blog, Life Of An Artist Blog13th Havana Biennial, art, Art Makes Columbus, artist, Artist Exchange, bienal de la habana, contemporary art, Cuba, Daric Gill, Detrás del Muro, Havana, lolo's art gallery, Malecón, paintingDaric Gill Studios

“ConnectArt”: Preparing For 13th Havana Biennial In Mantanzas, Cuba

by Daric Gill

In December I announced that my latest painting and I will be traveling to Cuba this spring. I happily dropped off my painting to be shipped a couple days ago. In a few short weeks, a group of extremely talented American artists and I will head back to Cuba for another spectacular artist exchange. This time, we will be part of something bigger! My artwork is currently slated to go to Lolo Art Gallery in Mantanzas, Cuba. It will be a part of “ConnectArt “, a juried international exhibition that is part of the 13th Havana Biennial (B ienal de la Habana 2019). If you’re not familiar with the Havana Biennial, it is a world-renowned celebration of contemporary and community art. For the first time, the Biennial and other satellite art exhibitions will spread to neighboring cities, like Matanzas.

As with many international ventures, the final details have incubated and flexing for months. I am extremely proud to announce that there are two types of exhibitions happening in Havana and Matanzas: the Havana Biennial which is being held in multiple city locations in Cuba and two special exhibitions for Ohio artist (one in Havana and one in Matanzas). My work is included as part of the special exhibitions.

Rachel Valdés, “Reality Project. Blue Cube,” presented in the 2015 edition of Detrás del Muro during the 12th Havana Biennial Courtesy Artpulse Magazine

This April, I will be heading back to my Cuban friends during one of the most exciting times to be there! Not only are the people and culture phenomenal, so too are the artists. All included Biennial cities will become thoroughly alive with artwork, spilling from the walls of galleries and museums, into the streets of each community artwork. I’m particularly excited to see the open-air art exhibition, Detrás del Muro (Behind the Wall), a collection of street installations by 71 artists. This year it extends to the Malecón, a beautiful broadway and seawall which stretches for 5 miles along the coast in Havana. You can read more about Detrás del Muro here.