This summer I have the opportunity to visit Béjar, the medieval village in the mountainous region of Castille y Leon in Spain where my Sephardic Jewish ancestors lived 500 years ago before being expelled during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492.
During a 6 week residency, I will be living in Béjar, painting and preparing for my first International solo exhibition 'Re/Inquisition: Return to the Fortress' produced with the support of the Museo Judio David Melul at El Casino Obrero Ateneo Cultural.
The work that I make during my residency will explore themes related to land and the meaning of home following a history of displacement and diaspora, as well as themes related to cultural borders, contemplative practice, healing and reconciliation through re-connection to land.
Following it's presentation in Spain, Re/Inquisition: Return to the Fortress will be presented as a 3-month solo exhibition at Museum of Jewish Montreal in January 2020 as part of their contemporary arts programming series Inside/Out(Dedans/Dehors)
During my residency I will engage with the environment and walk along the same ancient fortress walls and roads as my ancestors. I will be creating a series of paintings as well as gathering research and samples of rocks and minerals to create my own pigments. and producing a short film documenting my experience of re-inquisition into my ancestral homeland.
I have created a Gofundme page!
By supporting this project you will be assisting me with some of the high costs associated with exhibiting Internationally including shipping fees, travel costs, insurance and purchasing art materials. All funds will also go towards the development of this very meaningful body of work for exhibition in Spain at the Museum of Jewish Montreal.
My residency and exhibition in Spain will take place over the months of May and June 2019. I have applied for funding from the Canada Arts Council, however the grant results will not be delivered until July. For this reason, I am extremely grateful for any and all support of this project that I receive leading up to my departure in May.
To follow along on my journey, I will share stories, videos and photos about my residency, history about the town and exhibition info on this blog.
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