FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Department: Arts & Culture
“Sol To Soul” – Artistic
Impressions from Venezuela
Art Exhibit at SAFECO shows the
work of three contemporary Venezuelan artists
Fountain Valley, CA, July 11,2002
– Three contemporary artists from Venezuela will show their compelling artwork
at the corporate offices of SAFECO Insurance Company in Fountain Valley from July
to September 24th, 2002. The art show “Sol to Soul” introduces
Venezuela’s charms, mystic spells and beauty seen through the eyes of the
artists: Eduardo Azuaje, Juan Urbina and Freddy Villarroel.
Eduardo Azuaje’s
atmospheric images are influenced by his country’s indigenous culture and evoke
a sense of mysticism. Born in Eastern Venezuela, close to the flatlands and the
jungle where the Kariña Indians live, his paintings refer back to the roots
of his country’s indigenous belief system, to the times when the jungle was
still sacred and Western civilization hadn’t taken over yet to impose its
values on the Indian culture. A unique collage technique accentuates the depth
of Azuaje’s spiritual compositions.
Juan Urbina’s surreal
work is inspired by his childhood memories of circuses coming to town and
‘bringing the world’ to the small neighborhoods of Caracas. Juan Urbina relives
these memories in his brilliantly colorful paintings, where harlequins,
jugglers, elephants and clowns come to play and perform in front of the
viewer’s eye. Reminiscent of Gabriel
Garcia Marquez’ literary magical realism, Urbina’s circus scenes could be part
of Mancondo, the small town described in Garcia Marquez’ novel ”One
Hundred Years of Solitude”.
Freddy Villarroel’s work
reflects the atmosphere surrounding Isla de Margarita, Venezuela. The island is
known for its unique light qualities. Freddy Villarroel masterly captures the
warmth of this light with his dramatic and predominant yellow palette. The
presence of fruits and flowers in his abstract compositions are his expression
for the land’s fertility, and the generosity and exuberance of its people. As
he states in his own words: “I try to communicate the feeling of a landscape
rather than the landscape itself.”
Accompanying the paintings are
wall texts, which provide additional information on each artist, as well as a
comprehensive notebook that gives the visitor a short overview on Venezuela’s
art history. “Sol to Soul” – Artistic Impressions from Venezuela was organized
by Jeannie Denholm, Art Matters of Newport Beach and Cornelia Betschart de
Fuertes, ArtVivendi of Costa Mesa.
SAFECO Insurance Company features
quarterly rotating art exhibits focusing on various topics for their employees
and building visitors. The rotating exhibition program emphasizes emerging
local, national and international artists, allowing employees and visitors to
their building to learn more about diverse art styles and other cultures.
SAFECO Insurance Company is
located at 17570 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 right off the 405
FWY. The art exhibit is installed in the Corporate Lobby Gallery behind the
security reception area. Building hours are: Mon – Fri, from 9am-4pm.