Title of Event: Carlos Barberena Artist Talk (Making Art in Dangerous Times)
Date and time of event: Wednesday, October 2nd, 3:00 pm
Location of Event: Hislop Family Auditorium, Holmes Hall
Type of Event: Guest Artist Lecture
1.) Provide a brief detail-oriented technical description or summary of the event you attended. (This section should remain journalistic and should not be reflective of your opinion.)
Carlo Barberena gave around an hour-long lecture with an additional twenty minutes of questions afterward. During the lecture, he spoke about how art has always been a big part of his life. He showed works from 2008 to his work in progress, which he is completing through the Ekard Artists in Residence Program in Bucknell’s art barn. In addition, Carlos showed a short, few-minute video of his printmaking process and all the steps he takes to complete one of his relief prints.
2.) Use the section below to write a well-structured paragraph focusing on your personal critical insight/response to the event. How did you interpret or react to what was presented to you?
It was evident that Carlos is very skilled and passionate about his craft of printmaking. Carlos seemed to struggle with articulating his comments, thoughts, and ideas about his own work. However, I really enjoyed the video he included that showcased his process, as I have never seen this in any of the artist’s talks I have attended in the past. A highlight of his lecture was his own journey with art and the struggles he faced regarding being exiled from his home country. In addition, his work elicited powerful emotions due to the style and colors he utilized. The pieces that stood out the most to me were within the NRDC x Just SEEDS Expo, as these pieces addressed climate change, fossil fuel use, clean water, biodiversity, and environmental justice. What I found most interesting and inspiring is that he wants to work more with the community in regard to his art, and I haven’t heard many artists express this hope.
3.) What information, ideas, images, etc. most impressed you and why?
I was most impressed by how his own personal story about being dispersed from Nicaragua really influenced his art. In addition, I was very impressed that all his works have a distinct style. All the pieces he showed within his presentation are monotoned prints utilizing a hatching technique to shade.
4.) Overall, how would you rate this event (10 being the most worthwhile)?
(10 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 )
Seven
5.) Justify your rating in the question above:
Carlos’s pieces carry great emotion and tackle issues of social, political, and environmental justice. In addition, his personal story is very raw and real, making his work that much more meaningful. However, it seemed he wasn’t prepared for his talk and struggled to articulate his thoughts and ideas.