Bestiario: The Release from the Constraints of Reason

Join the Gordon Parks Gallery for a multimedia art exhibition: Bestario: The Release from the Constraints of Reason, featuring the works of Gustavo Boada, Cadex Herrera, Dougie Padilla, Maria Cristina Tavera, and Xavier Tavera.

Bestiarios are a product of fantasy. They are wonderous and magical creatures that may stem from mythical origins or the imagination of artists and lay-people alike. They exist in a symbolic universe where a collection of beliefs, language, and assumptions assist in creating and maintaining a shared sense of reality.

The five exhibiting artists are well-established and beloved members of the Twin Cities Latino community. Participants include puppeteer Gustavo Boada, Minneapolis; multi-disciplinary artist Cadex Herrera, White Bear Lake; painter and poet Dougie Padilla, Northfield, MN; multi-disciplinary artist Maria Cristina Tavera, Minneapolis; and photographer Xavier Tavera, Minneapolis.

Gallery Director Erica Rasmussen says, “The Latino psyche has long been fascinated by bestarios. Take, for example, the Mexican alebrijes which grew out of Pedro Linare’s 1936 fever-induced dream in which he witnessed vividly colored, unfamiliar creatures in a wooded environment who called out to him. The 1951 collection of short stories entitled “Bestiario” by the Argentinean writer, Julio Cortazar, has further activated the collective Latino imagination. Similarly, there are countless folktales throughout Latin American countries that embody fantastic and magical creatures who weave cautionary tales, provide historical context and transmit cultural values. Some of the works in this exhibition are light-hearted and playful, while others are somberly provocative. In any case, these multi-media artists create visually stimulating artworks that deliver sincere sentiments informed by their Latino roots and their personal experiences.”

The exhibit opens with a reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 11, and features a poetry reading by contributing artist Dougie Padilla. The show will continue through October 23. Gallery hours are 1 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is located on the first floor of the Library and Learning Center, 645 East Seventh Street, at the university’s Saint Paul Campus.