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Remedios Rapoport Chicago Art Show

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Portland-based artist and sign painter Remedios Rapoport has been granted the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase her work in Chicago in the upcoming exhibition "The Pre-Vinylite Society," an international showcase of Women Sign Painters. 

In her practice Remedios entwines decorative elements
drawn from various sign-painting traditions, including Filete Porteño and vintage psychedelic letterforms. Employing mixed media, her work combines cut and carved, painted and gilded panels of wood and aluminum, found objects and mirrors, with a concentration on craftsmanship and luminosity. 

In her Gentle Revolution series Remedios seeks to mobilize acts of social change through positive ideology, utilizing the voice of the activist. She intends to engage communities in cities across North America and globally, spreading a message of peace and love in times of unrest.  

The Pre-Vinylite Society show at Chicago Art Department represents a chance for Remedios to exhibit work from her Gentle Revolution series. This includes the Gentle Revolution mobile, a dynamic and multifacted kinetic sculpture consisting of signage encouraging positive change. This is not only an amazing opportunity for new audiences to engage with this powerful work, but also a fantastic opportunity for Remedios to progress in her career and national recognition as an artist and craftsperson. She is hoping for your generous support to help make this dream come true!

All funds donated will go directly to expenses including:
-Flying to and from Chicago ($62)
-Cab ride to and from Airport ($40)
-Lodging ($400) 
-Food ($315)
-Bike rental ($10 per 30 minutes)
-Shipment of Gentle Revolution Artwork ($760)

Your generous support of this project will allow Remedios to be a part of this exhibition, install her mobile and other work according to her specifications, particpate in the opening and panel discussion, contribute to the painting of a large on-site mural, and most importantly to spread and catalyze her message of positive social change in a new city.

The exhibition is taking place in September 2017, so she needs the funds in the next several weeks in order to purchase plane tickets, book lodging and ship the work before the exhibition.  Remedios is incredibly grateful for any contributions, big or small. Your support means the world to her!

*Artist Statement: 

As global news reports an alarming increase in wars, social unrest, and natural disasters, my motivation to inspire humanity with the ideologies of The Gentle Revolution is more urgent than ever. By reiterating powerful historic mantras from moments ripe with cultural evolution—and framing these messages with extreme beauty—my purpose is to emphasize their value.

**Curatorial Statement for the Exhibition: 

On behalf of the Pre-Vinylite Society, we are proud to present a group art show celebrating the work of more than 50 women sign painters from 9 countries around the world! This show, the first sign painting exhibition to feature women only, will display the talent of an international array of female sign painters with a wide range of experience and skill level. With the current political climate in the United States and beyond, this exhibition offers a vital feminist statement that pushes back against the common belief that the trade of sign painting, like many skilled trades, is the domain of men alone.

The Pre-Vinylette Society’s International Showcase of Women Sign Painters will feature text-based works in enamel and gold leaf on wood, metal, or glass. It will also include a companion catalogue with a brief essay chronicling the historical and cultural context of women in trade and short interviews with each of the artists. As a way to engage with the viewers on multiple platforms, we will also host a panel discussion/audience Q&A with the curators and select artists on September 9th at the gallery.

The name of our show—the Pre-Vinylette Society—is a tongue-in-cheek re-appropriation of the grammatical “ette” suffix, which typically denotes a female or smaller version of a male or more substantial (read: better) thing. As language is at the forefront of sign making, this show allows for more female voices to be heard than most historical and even recent surveys of the trade have acknowledged. By reappropriating the “ette” formation, the women of the Pre-Vinylite Society are asserting their rightful place in the long tradition of sign painting and the lettering arts.

Organizer and beneficiary

Rachel Brown Smith
Organizer
Portland, OR
Remedios Rapoport
Beneficiary

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