art

Exhibit Offers ‘Window’ Into a Pandemic-Stricken World

Exhibit Offers ‘Window’ Into a Pandemic-Stricken World

FIRST, THANK YOU for clicking the link and reading this first sentence. Now look up from your smartphone or shift your gaze away from laptop screen. Is there a window in the space where you are seated? Take a moment to look at, and then through, the window. What do you see? Is there potential for respite from the confines of your room, or the portent of something dangerous that is best viewed from behind the glass?

In the months leading up to the pandemic, Mexico City-born, Houston-based artist Veronica Ibargüengoitia found herself fascinated by the composition and poetry of windows, and the ways she might reimagine their utilitarian construction. As it became clear none of us were going to be getting out anytime soon, Ibargüengoitia asked friends and fellow artists around the world to send her photos of a window in their home, office or other environment. "It was a way of connecting me to them and to their space," says Ibargüengoitia, who ended up with nearly 600 photos.

"Window #31" by Veronica Ibarguengoitia

"Portal" by Veronica Ibarguengoitia

Her new show, Fractured Light, on view Feb. 13 through March 27 at Anya Tish Gallery, is a collection of paintings inspired by those photographs, each work a transformation of what was a simple window into something mysterious, yet strangely familiar. Drawing on her background in industrial design, Ibargüengoitia's windows — especially the three-dimensional realizations, in which the canvas is wrapped around shaped birchwood — compel the viewer to move around and engage each painting or object from multiple perspectives, and perhaps imagine themselves stepping into the painting and another world. The show is also a timely reminder of how reaching out to a trusted network of friends can inspire a whole new body of work.

"What keeps me motivated is interacting with a community," says Ibargüengoitia when asked about burn-out in the age of social distancing. "Painting can be very lonely. I would say keep in touch with the people you love. Keep in touch with your art community, they are the ones that will support you. I think I have been more in touch with friends that are overseas than ever before, and I love it."

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Art + Entertainment
promoted

Chlorophyll Water, Special Spa Treatments, More: Tips for Mom Bods Emerging from Long Winter’s Nap

Chlorophyll Water, Special Spa Treatments, More: Tips for Mom Bods Emerging from Long Winter’s Nap

The author suggests Pilates as part of her plan for ‘mom bods’ to renew for spring.

AS WE SWAP out our warm comfy PJs for swimsuits, the thought of showing off our bodies can stir up all kinds of emotions, especially for us moms. Here are a few strategic steps to stride into the spring and summer months with confidence and feeling your best.

Keep Reading Show less
music

With New Concept Album, Jacob Hilton Processes Mental-Health Struggles

Dakota Garrett

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less