Migrant Artists to Demonstrate Their Art & Methods: May 21

Public Invited to Larchmont Art, 1899 Palmer Avenue

by Myra Hafetz

(May 17, 2005) He sits at the table, shoulders hunched, concentrating on the paper before him. Brush in hand; he is oblivious to his surroundings. Phones ring, people come in and out of the room, children play near him and voices of men and women with problems, in despair and then with hope are everywhere.

Ramón Ibarra

Saúl Arévalo, artist/day laborer, comes to the Hispanic Resource Center of Larchmont and Mamaroneck to paint as often as he can. He has no space in which to work where he lives, so he goes to the center with his watercolors, his brushes and his paper to create art. There he paints scenes of the peaceful and beautiful countryside of his Mexican homeland as well as ones of his new home, Mamaroneck. He is often joined by fellow artist/day laborer, Laurentino Nava who also needs space where he can paint his vibrant flowers as well as his visions of Mexico. A third artist, Ramón Ibarra usually works in a hallway, outside the room he shares with his brother. There, he draws with pastels and paints in oils choosing reds, browns and yellows, in a free and lyrical style.

detail: Saúl Arévalo

detail: Laurentino Nava

All three of these artists whose work is accomplished under such challenging conditions are part of a current show, Migrant Voices/Voces Peregrinas II, at Larchmont Art in Larchmont, NY. They are joined in the show by Aurelio Castano,
a former day laborer who is now a full time artist and teacher. He is exhibiting his whistles that are in the shape of animals and birds and are imbued with humor.

In conjunction with the show Castano, Nava, Arévalo and Ibarra will be at Larchmont Art on Saturday, May 21 from 1 to 4 pm. They will bring their paints, pastels, brushes and clay to show visitors to the gallery how they work. This is a unique chance to watch while an artist fills a blank canvas with colors and shapes and transforms it into a vision he holds inside.

From left: Aurelio Castano, Saúl Arévalo, Ramón Ibarra and Laurentino Nava.

Myra Hafetz and Julia Sperry of the Mamaroneck Artists’ Guild helped organize the show for the Hispanic Resource Center. This is the second exhibit of art by local day laborers. For more art, see: Hispanic Resource Center: Art, Safety & New Board Members and also Reception Held for Three Artists Transplanted from Mexico to Mamaroneck.