Wednesday, February 12, 1997
Long Beach’s recently opened Latin American Art Museum gives
patrons the opportunity to see that there is more to Latin American
art than Mexico.By Amanda Miller
Daily Bruin Contributor
Latin America has a strong artistic voice, but art exchange
between the U.S. and Latin America has had few channels for
reaching the public in the past.
The opening of the Latin American Art Museum last fall in Long
Beach aimed to create an outlet focused on the study and
presentation of art from throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and
Central and South America.
Its current exhibit, titled "Latin Tempos: Dancing the
Marvelously Real," features artists from Argentina, Uruguay, and
Mexico in a multi-media exploration of the European traditions
permeating dance and visual arts in Latin American culture.
The vision behind this exhibit and the Latin American Art Museum
came from Dr. Robert Gumbiner, founder of the first large-scale
health maintenance organization (HMO).
This museum is unlike any other in the U.S. Although four
essentially Mexican art museums exist in the U.S., Long Beach’s
museum is one of the few dedicated to the expression of the many
cultures of Latin America  indigenous, colonial, and
contemporary.
Creative expression is prevalent throughout Latin America Â
American collectors just seem to be slow in discovering it and
bringing it to the U.S.
"America is slowly learning that the Latin American presence in
Los Angeles goes beyond that of the Mexicans. In L.A., there are
huge Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Honduran and Argentinian communities,
just to name a few. The people are here, but the access to their
culture is limited," recalls Amanda Barton, executive assistant to
the museum’s CEO.
The art communities throughout Latin America are very
productive. "Buenos Aires, Rio de Janiero, and Caracas are ‘big art
cities,’ but not many people venture down there. The exchange
between the north and the south just isn’t really happening now. We
plan to open that door and increase that exchange," Barton
says.
The gallery features an assortment of sculptures in bronze, wood
and collected objects. Many are the work of Cecilia Z. Miguez, an
Uruguay native who currently lives and works in Los Angeles. Her
frequent subject matter includes dancers, clowns, acrobats,
magicians and jugglers  all performers in an imaginary
circus.
Her sculpture titled "Harlequin," is of a graceful clown-dancer
balancing on one leg. Her wooden chest opens to a staircase leading
within herself.
Juxtaposed to the simplicity of Miguez’s sculptures, the
paintings of Sergio Camporeale are full of action, color, and are
of an eclectic nature.
Camporeale is from Argentina, and his paintings reflect the
inspiration of the tango, which arose from his neighborhood in
Buenos Aires at the turn of the century. His emphasis on movement
is combined with clearly European and American influences,
incorporating images of Mickey Mouse and women resembling Marilyn
Monroe.
Further defying the often natural association of anything Latin
American as reminiscent of Carmen Miranda, photographs and videos
of dances performed by the Choreographic Workshop of the National
Autonomous University of Mexico are traditionally European at first
glance. The dancers move in classical form to the music of Igor
Stravinsky, emphasizing the strong European impression on the
displayed Latin American art.
In spite of these overtones, Latin American surrealism and
mysticism subtly run throughout the collection, quietly reflecting
the vibrance of life beyond our southern border.
Barton agrees. "This art does leave me with the impression of a
very strong European influence. But Latin American art is
significantly more mystical and spiritual, reflecting the
(indigenous) culture." Barton notes that Latin American culture has
been shaped by indigenous religions and their interest in the
surreal.
Gumbiner appreciates these subtle distinctions, having been an
international traveler and art collector for years. "Although he is
now 74, he hasn’t even begun to slow down," comments Barton. He
takes two or three trips a year to Latin America to explore
contemporary art, discover talent for exhibit, and buy pieces for
his own collection.
Gumbiner has lived in Long Beach for the last 30 years. "His
love for the arts and for Long Beach come together very well here,"
says Barton.
Los Angeles is home to an immense percentage of California’s
immigrant population. Whether visitors to the museum come out of
their interest in the arts or in Latin America, they come away with
an experience of both.
ART: "Latin Tempos: Dancing the Marvelously Real," will be at
the Latin American Art Museum in Long Beach through March 9. The
museum is open 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m.
Sunday. General admission is $2. For more information call (310)
437-1689.
"Ballerina," (bottom left) and "Harlequin," (top left) by artist
Cecilia Miguez are sculptures which show the artist’s affinity for
dancers, clowns, acrobats and magicians. "Public Theatre," (bottom
right) by Sergio Camporeale shows the surrealistic side of Latin
American art. "Bicycling Time,"(top right) is also by Cecilia
Miguez. The works are currently on display at the Latin American
Art Museum.