Maria Batlle

Artist Statement

My practice includes drawing, sculpture and photography but is primarily focused on drawings rooted in my experience navigating discrimination, self-acceptance, relationships and sexual liberation as a lesbian living in the Dominican Republic. In 2023, I worked on a series about the Armenian Genocide, inspired by my grandfather’s story as a survivor and refugee, and how wars seem to be a repetitive and permanent pattern in human history.

Somos libres, 2024 21.8” x 31.5” Color pencils on paper

Bio

In 2013, as an artist in residence at the Altos de Chavón School of Design, affiliated with Parsons, I started exploring the benefits of music in education together with Deaf students in a little school of La Romana, located in the East of the Dominican Republic. Ever since I’ve been committed to promote disability rights along with my art practice, creating a nonprofit and collaborating with the Louvre Museum, UNESCO and the Dominican Ministry of Culture. During these years I participated in Yo-Yo Ma’s institute at Harvard University, and was invited to present my work at Yale, Columbia, NYU, Tesla Motors and Sir Richard Branson’s private island. In 2018, I was honored with a Project Zero Fellowship from Harvard. In 2020, COVID motivated me to rethink disability policies in my country and I proposed to the Dominican government the creation of the Department of Disability Inclusion in the city hall of my country’s capital, Santo Domingo. On its first year, United Nations and the National Disability Council recognized the city hall with the highest award for this initiative. This Department is currently being replicated in 12 other cities in the Dominican Republic. In 2022, Coldplay included as part of their global tour the initiatives I started with the Deaf students back in 2013. It’s the first inclusive tour in the music industry. Since 2023 I’ve been back in the studio, working on my art nonstop.

www.mariabatlle.com

Chris Jagmin

Artist Statement

A self-described documentarian, I embrace words that have defined my life, for good and for bad. This confessional work makes a direct verbal appeal for introspection, self-awareness, and forgiveness. In my drawings, installations, audio work, videos, and social practice work, I search for universal connections by retelling personal and intimate storytelling. I want to encourage conversations and find common vocabulary. Informed by the intersection of a complicated upbringing. My Catholic school-life was immersed with rituals, confessionals, civility, and verbal abuse. Juxtaposed with a loving home-life that was secretive, sad, chaotic, and violent, it felt like danger was always around the corner. In my work, I navigate the beauty of ritual with the hopelessness of penance. Parochial and political, my work offers both a celebration of sadness and a hopeful triumph over it. In a seemingly aggressive world, I hope to find a place of comfort and hope.

Will Sleep Tonight 2017-2023 Various Locations, including: Tucson Museum of Art Biennial, PHiCA Hot Box, SMoCA Label Making Tape and Push Pins 62 inches x 130 inches On the left is a close up, and the right side is the installation shot from SMoCA. Site-specific installation with phrases and mantras looking for calm and peace. As I listen to the news I worry about the future of the country. Like my Catholic Grandmother praying on the rosary, I find comfort in typing out that I am going to be okay on a label-maker. If I repeat these mantras enough, I might just make it out on the other side unscathed.

Bio

In 2023, Christopher Jagmin’s work was exhibited in the show, “Language in Times of Miscommunication” at The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, and at the Tucson Museum of Art for the Arizona Biennial (also in 2020, 2018, and 2013). In April, he spent a month at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts residency. In 2022 he received a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant. In August, he spent a month at The Jentel Artist Residency Program. In 2021 his work was shown at the Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts and Modified Gallery (Phoenix, AZ). He exhibited at Lisa Sette Gallery (Phoenix), and in 2020 he presented his first audio project at SMoCA and attended a (7-weeks) Chautauqua Institution Residency (Chautauqua, NY). In 2019, Jagmin was selected for a month residency at The Studios at MASS MoCA. In 2017 he was chosen for the Nathan Cummings Foundation Endowment (a financial award and exhibit) at the Phoenix Art Museum. Jagmin presented his social practice piece, “Your Secret Is Safe With Me” at Scottsdale’s four-day, Canal Convergence where he saw over 1200 visitors. Chris Jagmin received a BA in graphic design and printmaking at the School of Fine Arts at Indiana University, Bloomington.

christopherjagmin.com