Exhibition Press Releases

Thus far there have been two press releases for Las Momias de Guanajuato. There is some overlap in the two, but for the most part they offer different information.

June 1, 2001

April 2, 2001

MG -- LAS MOMIAS DE GUANAJUATO
Friday June 8 - Sunday July 1, 2001
Opening Reception, June 8 at 8:30 pm

The Mummies of Guanajuato are paired with living "counterparts" in an exhibition of oil paintings by American artist, MG, opening at 8:30pm on Friday June 8 at the Galería Arte Moderno de Guadalajara.

The exhibition entitled Las Momias de Guanajuato includes Las Momias; a series of six portraits of The Mummies of Guanajuato paired with portraits of their living "counterparts," and four related Mexican landscapes.

MG began painting the mummies' portraits following a deeply moving visit to Mexico's beloved Museo de Las Momias in December 1999. While painting, she contemplated who they might have been and what their lives were like. The more she painted the more she noticed similarities between her friends and acquaintances and the mummies.

MG explains, "Even knowing the 'facts' of these mummies' lives; where they lived, where they worked, their family history, how they died...their essence is still far from reach. The living visages are a reflection of that; the impossibility of knowing a soul during life, and the deepening ambiguities after death."

The mummies' portraits are painted in a compelling style that combines expressionism and realism. The most abstract of the mummies is paired with the most realistic of the living portraits - in a painting that exudes warmth. A mummy appearing frozen in his moment of death is paired with a chilling rendition of how MG imagines his last gasp for air. One of the counterparts is a self-portrait of the artist being hung by a noose.

"My self-portrait was the last painting of the pairs to be completed. I had always seen the mummy as laughing at death before her time; and laughing with death at us after her demise. I planned to paint myself laughing, but something was missing, both from the painting and the series. The series needed a representation of a human's capacity to commit suicide or homicide." -MG

The exhibition's contemplation of life, death, and existence is furthered by the inclusion of four striking Mexican landscapes. Door speaks about choices; within each decision there are myriad smaller options, and one is not able to see exactly where those choices will lead. The untitled seascape is a representation of nature's endurance and continuity through the passing of time. In the most abstract of the landscapes, MG says "Lightning is a reminder to myself that as much as I will my own destiny, chance is always there to have a say." Lastly, Tzintzuntzán is about the monuments we make for ourselves while we are here as reflections of our culture and the message they leave to future civilizations, even after we have passed.

Las Momias de Guanajuato marks the impressive beginning to the self-taught artist's career, who only first touched brush to canvas in 1998. In 1999 MG moved to Mexico from the United States. She continues to live and paint in Melaque, Jalisco. Las Momias de Guanajuato will be on exhibit until July 1, 2001.

Contact Information:

Galería Arte Moderno de Guadalajara
Mtro. Gustavo Alfredo Duarte Viveros
Phone: (country code 52) 36 16 32 66
Mariano Otero No. 375
Col, Moderna
Guadalajara, Jalisco 44150 Mexico

Artist's representative Jesse Lambdin:
Home phone in Mexico: (country code 52) 33 55 67 97 (This number will be active until October 2001, after that use e-mail.)
e-mail: jesse@gallerymg.com
http://www.gallerymg.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Of interest to: Arts/Entertainment Editors

BOUND TOGETHER FOREVER – MUMMIES AND THEIR LIVING COUNTERPARTS, A SERIES OF PAINTINGS TO BE EXHIBITED BY AMERICAN ARTIST, MG.

Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico – April 2, 2001 – Mesmerizing, these mummies linger in the viewer's consciousness.

Each mummy has its own haunting expression. One appears to be crying, the next laughing, another sleeping serenely, and some are petrified in their agonizing moment of death. Spending time with them staring back at you with their skin, hair, eyes, and patches of clothes intact is both eerie and thought provoking. The "Accidental Mummies," as they were referred to by the Discovery Channel, were the inspiration for the American painter MG's Las Momias de Guanajuato exhibition--The Mummies of Guanajuato--opening June 7 at the Galería Arte Moderno de Guadalajara, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

MG began painting the mummies following a deeply moving visit to the Museo de Las Momias in December 1999.

"As I painted each mummy, I thought on the possibilities of their lives...who had they been? After days and days of studying each mummy's bone structure, I began to see similarities to a few of my friends. The matches of the mummies to living humans are not intended to be exact; they are solely 'what ifs'. Even knowing the 'facts' of these mummies lives; where they lived, where they worked, their family history, how they died...their essence is still far from reach. The living visages are a reflection of that; the impossibility of knowing a soul during life, and the deepening ambiguities after death." - MG

The mummies are paired with portraits of living people in a series of 12 paintings, each approximately 27" x 39" (70cm x 100cm). Additional paintings will also be on display. This will be the self-taught artist's first solo exhibition. Mg's representative, Jesse Lambdin says, "Reactions to Mg's work have been overwhelmingly positive. This show is an amazing start to what promises to be a brilliant career. Considering Las Momias Mexican theme and the fact that all work was completed in Mexico, I am extremely pleased that the series will have its first exhibition in Guadalajara. A strong possibility exists that the exhibition will travel to other parts of Mexico and then to the US."

MG was born in Providence, Rhode Island (USA), in 1975. At present, MG lives and paints in a small town on the Pacific coast of Mexico. A sample of the artist's work is available for viewing at www.galleryMG.com Jesse Lambdin, Mg's representative, may be contacted by e-mail at Jesse@galleryMG.com

Las Momias de Guanajuato opens June 8 and closes June 30 at the Galería Arte Moderno de Guadalajara.

About the Galería Arte Moderno – "Modern Art Gallery":
Galería Arte Moderno opened its doors in 1971. It is one of Guadalajara's oldest and most respected galleries. The building's facade is composed of murals by contemporary artists from Guadalajara such as: Hector Navarro, Irma Cerna, Toni Guerra, Pepin Hernandez Laos, Aldapa, Paco de la Peña, Iñaqui Peorlegui, Luis Rutilio Medina y Miguel Aldana Mijares. The interior has two large exhibition rooms, and holds a permanent collection of more than two hundred paintings from artists like Roger Von Gunter, Brian Nissen, Kasuka Sakai, Ricardo Rocha, Gerardo Cantú, Luis Filser, Leonora Carrington, Rufino Tamayo, Enrique Rimer and others.

Photography of the paintings is available upon request.

Contact:
Artist's representative Jesse Lambdin
Phone in Mexico (country code 52) 335-56797 (This number will be active until October 2001, after that use e-mail.)
Jesse@gallerymg.com
http://www.gallerymg.com

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Direct all inquiries to Jesse Lambdin at Jesse@gallerymg.com.

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