Animal Studies by Maria P Villa
Closing: Thursday, March 6, 5:30-8pm
As part of our 90th anniversary celebrations, Casita Maria presents the solo exhibition
Animal Studies by Chilean Multidisciplinary Artist and Casita Maria Teaching Artist Maria P. Vila. The exhibition features a series of watercolor, soft pastel and oil paintings combining animal imagery with poetry and collage as a form of healing. Animal Studies is dedicated to Maria Luisa’s beloved dog Rufían, an abandoned animal she intended to bring home for just one night and which turned into a 15 year friendship. Following his death in Chile in 2022, she started creating the artworks in this exhibition as part of her mourning process. By drawing and painting animals over the course of three years she began to heal and discovered interspecies memory. Her artwork became a metaphor and visual exploration of what it means to be human in all of its many forms: the herd, resilience, migration, and motherhood. There is a clear historical connection to ancient cave paintings such as those found in Lascaux, France, but her greatest artistic influence is her great grandfather, the renowned Chilean painter Waldo Vila Silva. The artwork is for sale with 75% of proceeds going to the artist and 25% to animal foundation La Manadakan (@la_manadakan)
Funding for Animal Studies is provided by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs through the Cultural Development Fund and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
With music by Uptown Vinyl Supreme. Empanadas from Empanadas RD and refreshments provided. This event is free!