Liana Collective (Juan Pablo Caicedo, Giselly Mejía, and Angélica Cuevas), Gina Goico, and Misla: BOTANICÁRTE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BotanicÁrte Exhibition to open at Taller Boricua featuring the work of Liana Collective (Juan Pablo Caicedo, Giselly Mejía, and Angélica Cuevas), Gina Goico, and Misla on March 8, 2024.

Curated by: Andrea Sofía Matos
Exhibition Dates: March 8 – May 11, 2024
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12-6 pm; Monday-Sunday Closed
Exhibition Walkthrough with Artists & Curator: Friday, March 8, 6-8 pm
BotanicÁrte Parté: Saturday, April 20, 8-10 pm

New York, NY – February 21, 2024 – Taller Boricua is pleased to announce the opening of the BotanicÁrte exhibition on March 8, 2024. Celebrating the profound connection between art and healing, BotanicÁrte explores the role of artists as healers, showcasing their unique contributions to integrative wellness and activism. The exhibition features three artists: Liana Curatorial Research Collective (Juan Pablo Caicedo, Giselly Mejía, and Angélica Cuevas), Gina Goico, and Misla. Each artist will be doing a site-specific installation, presenting their work in a holistic approach to healing through the arts, some are taking direct inspiration from indigenous traditions, and others are referencing their context, histories, and practice.

One of the featured artists is Liana. A curatorial research collective that explores healing through the arts as a process that bridges human, plant, and spiritual realms. Through their project, “Coca Worlds”, they address the traditional healing properties of the coca plant for indigenous communities in Latin America, as well as its historical misuse and destructive effects of colonial appropriation and manipulation. Liana will bring to the space the work of Colombian artists Édinson Quiñones (1982), Anyi Ballesteros (1988), and the Colombian-French collective NOMASMETAFORAS formed by Julian Dupont (1985) and Clara Melniczuk (1991). In dialogue with the plant, the artists propose three ways to heal and reimagine the present and the future of our relationship with coca.

Artist Gina Goico shares her journey of discovering solace and transformative healing through art, underscoring its profound influence in navigating life’s complexities mainly through interactive soft sculptures called “LovingSUITS” inviting reflection on the complexity of self-love and family dynamics. Misla, our third exhibiting artist, delves into themes of memory, identity, and cultural heritage, crafting artwork that fosters connection and understanding within her community. Her installation seeks to intertwine the essence of home, community, and identity, reflecting the diverse facets of the Latinx experience. Her contribution to the exhibition is a community healing room complemented by a video installation featuring a compilation of artists who, through an open call, express how their art, whether in its creation or observation, serves as a source of healing. BotanicÁrte explores how art contributes to wellness, drawing on the Afro-Caribbean botánica. It challenges traditional healthcare ideas, showcasing art’s transformative power in individual and community healing. The exhibition offers an immersive experience, inviting viewers to consider art’s healing role in daily life.

For additional information about Liana Collective, Gina Goico, and/or Misla please contact Andrea Sofia Matos at rmandreasofia@gmail.com.

Taller Boricua Galleries 1680 Lexington Avenue, Harlem, NYC, New York 10029. Directions: 6 Train to 103 Street. Free Admission Accessible for individuals with disabilities. T: 212.831.4333; contact@tallerboricua.org; https://tallerboricua.org/

About the Taller Boricua: Founded in 1969, the Taller Boricua / Puerto Rican Workshop champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts. As a pioneer arts organization, its ongoing advocacy for interdisciplinary artists who are unrepresented, underserved, and marginalized both expands the art and culture world for all of society as well as builds up our communities within it.

BotanicÁrte Exhibition Support Team: Marcos Dimas, Executive and Artistic Director of the Taller Boricua; Willie Correa, Technical Manager; and Jesús Muñiz (Jay), Gallery Attendant. As well as: Christine Licata, Consultant; and Isabella Ruiz, Curatorial Assistant.

This exhibition and public programming is made possible with support from the The New York City Department of Youth & Community Development, The NYC Council Deputy Speaker, Hon. Diana Ayala, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York State Council of the Arts, The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, Material for the Arts, The Puerto Rican Workshop, Inc, Ponce Bank, Goya Foods, and individual contributors.