Kicking off University Gallery’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2015 is Come Home; Selections from the Collection of Hector Puig, featuring selections from the art collection of Hector Puig. A native of Puerto Rico, Puig is a Gainesville resident who has acquired an outstanding collection of Puerto Rican santos along with artwork ranging from regional to international, and including influential University of Florida (UF) art faculty members, students and alumni, as well as renowned artists from the U.S., Mexico and South America. The exhibition will be on display in UF’s University Gallery September 2-November 7, 2014. The exhibition is free and open to the public and includes a public reception Thursday, September 25 from 7-9 p.m.
The reception will feature DJ music by John Polefko, dancing in the University Gallery courtyard, carving demonstrations by guest artists (santeros) and a special film screening at 8 p.m. of “La Churona” by the Latino Film Festival in the Fine Arts B theatre, which will be attended by the film’s director, Maria Cristina Carrillo. Additionally, Come Home; The Santos of Pedro Pablo Rinaldi, Jose Luis Pena Burgos, Orlando Luque and Eric Saunders will be on display in Grinter Gallery September 8-October 31, 2014.
“Come Home combines 250 santos, representing 250 years of this 500-year-old traditional carving medium history in Puerto Rico, with approximately 200 pieces of other contemporary work,” said Amy Vigilante, director of Univeristy Galleries. “An inclusive catalog features two essays by UF Professor Efrain Barradas, images as well as commentary by artists in the show about each other. In conjunction with Come Home is Por Amor al Arte, a celebration of Latino culture created through a community collaboration.”
Here is a look at the other Por Amor al Arte events happening throughout Gainesville September 25-27:
Friday, September 26:
- 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Selections from the Puig Collection will be on display and there will be a santeros carving demonstrations at the Oak Hall Cofrin Gallery; free and open to the public
- 6-10 p.m.: Artwalk Gainesville will feature Selections from the Puig Collection in 4Most Gallery, 534 SW 4th Avenue; free and open to the public
- 8-10 p.m.:A Night in el Barrio in Downtown Gainesville will feature Latin Fusion music by Tropix and guest santeros carving demonstrations; free and open to the public
Saturday, September 27:
- 6-9 p.m.: A reception for The Heart of a Culture: The Santos of XavierColón Marrero will be held at the Thomas Center in Gainesville. The exhibit, on display September 27, 2014 through January 3, 2015, features 25 santos carved by the 23-year-old artist who was recently honored with the prestigious Fomento Medal as Young Artisan of the Year by PRIDCO.
This exhibition is made possible with support from: Café Preito, Puerto Rico; ConnectionFestival.com; Keith R. Dungan; Jack & Cherie Fine; Josh Feldstein; Guavate, Puerto Rico; Mike Hastings; Dr. Edward & Inge Jaffe; Chuck and Pam Kinard; Lechonera Los Amigos; Leonardo’s 706; Rad Adventures and Swamp Restaurant; Joy Rohan; Satchel’s; and Michael Singer and the Dharma Foundation. Grants were provided by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; PRIDCO (Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company); UF International Center; and the UF Center for Latin American Studies. COME HOME is exhibited in conjunction with the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department; Cofrin Art Gallery at Oak Hall School; Gainesville Latino Film Festival; and the University of Florida.
About University Galleries
University Galleries is comprised of three art galleries at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Fla., and is an integral part of the programs and curricula of the School of Art + Art History.
University Gallery, located at the intersection of SW 13th Street and SW 4th Avenue, provides high-quality, thought-provoking exhibitions changing every two to 12 weeks that engage the university and wider community in stimulating dialogue facilitated by contemporary visual language and culture. For the past 12 years the University Gallery has collaborated with myriad UF colleges, community and regional entities in creating a trans-disciplinary venue for the visual arts. Exhibitions feature internationally-recognized artists, an annual faculty exhibition, a juried student art show and two MFA graduating thesis project shows. The 3,000 square foot space is a lively, exciting venue that is utilized for many events throughout the academic year. University Gallery is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursdays: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; and Saturdays: 12 p.m.–4 p.m. The gallery is closed Mondays, Sundays and holidays.
Focus Gallery is an 850-square-foot space that presents monthly exhibitions of student-curated exhibitions featuring student and alumni artworks. Focus Gallery is located adjacent to the lobby of the School of Art + Art History’s Fine Art Building C. Focus Gallery is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and is closed weekends and holidays.
Grinter Gallery is located in the lobby area of Grinter Hall. Established by an endowment from Linton and Constance Grinter, its primary mission is to present international and multicultural artwork through student curated exhibitions. Grinter Gallery is open Monday through Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and is closed weekends and holidays.
Parking Information
Daytime parking is available in reserved spaces between Fine Arts Building C (FAC) and Inner Road. From SW 13th Street, enter campus on Museum Drive. Turn right on Newell Drive, then right on Inner Road. Turn left into the parking lot behind FAC. The first three spaces on the left are reserved for gallery use. Parking permits are issued to gallery visitors in the University Gallery.
For more information, please contact the University Gallery at (352) 273-3000 or visit our website at www.arts.ufl.edu/galleries.
# # #
