Pressure and Compression

A selection of Prints from El Nopal Press

Curated by Francesco X Siqueiros

Exhibition Dates: February 19, 2005 – March 20, 2005

Artists’ Reception, Saturday, February 19, 2005

“Pressure and compression - technique and content; the medium and the message that drives the momentum forward.”

The Avenue 50 Studio is pleased to announce an exhibition of fine art prints from El Nopal Press, an independent fine art press. El Nopal founder Francesco Siqueiros is an artist in his own right, and a master printer. The works he produces focus on artists who explore the idea of the “border” as a real or symbolic entity. The “border” is also synonymous with the postmodern condition in which the representation of culture and national identity become tools for the artist to construct or to deconstruct a myth of their choice.

The first publishing projects concentrated on artists from Los Angeles and Mexico City. The intention was to internationalize the Chicano cultural diaspora by generating a discussion between these two sister cities and to open the possibilities of revisionist interpretations of shared cultural and historical paradigms. Recently, a portfolio of Parisian artist was published and introduced as part of the discussion of a much wider border.

“Pressure and Compression: A selection of Prints from El Nopal Press" presents new publications of prints by artists Mariana Botey, John Baldessari, and Dr. Lakra, along with other selected multiples by Bernard Piffaretti, Vicente Razo, Shirley Jaffe, Dominique Liquois, Diane Gamboa, and Harry Gamboa.

What: “Pressure and Compression: A selection of Prints from El Nopal Press" art reception

Where: Avenue 50 Studio, 131 No. Avenue 50, L.A., CA 90042

(323) 258-1435

When: Saturday, February 19, 2005, 7-10 p.m.