A colorful antidote for our pandemic woes is “COLLECTIVE,” a show by artists Juan Cruz and Fred Villanueva, currently on view at Southern Methodist University’s Pollock Gallery.
Featuring paintings set against vibrantly colored paper backdrops, the show re-creates the spirit of Ash Studios, an arts center near Fair Park, where both artists have studios. Co-founded by Villanueva, Ash Studios fosters community building through the creation of dialogues between artists and residents, focusing on the interconnectivity of race, socioeconomics and civic engagement.
Mining urban topography as an imaginative space, the paintings shift between frenetic and contemplative. Cruz’s works embody the jittery energy of constant movement and change, while Villanueva’s capture the weighty histories of disenfranchised peoples.
Also included are two small sculptural studies by Villanueva — prototypes for possible public art projects — and a ream of bright yellow paper and buckets of drawing utensils for visitors to use for their own artistic desires.
While the rest of the world seems caught in stasis, these two artists are on the move, urging people to act, engage and create, collectively.
Details
“COLLECTIVE,” a show by artists Juan Cruz and Fred Villanueva, runs through Oct. 10 at SMU’s Pollock Gallery, 6116 N. Central Expressway, in Dallas. For details, call 214-768-4439 or visit smu.edu/meadows/areasofstudy/art/pollockgallery. By appointment only; email abastidas@smu.edu.
