Nery Gabriel Lemus: I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me (Exhibition Catalog)

Nery Gabriel Lemus

I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me

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Nery Gabriel Lemus

I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me M ARCH 10 - APRIL 20 | 2 015

Cover images: Design by Rebecca McKinney featuring De Guatemala a Guatepeor and She’s Always Known that She’s Not a Wetback, by Nery Gabriel Lemus All documentation photographs by Jeff Rau, from exhibition in the Earl & Virginia Green Art Gallery.

I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me (exhibition catalog), by Nery Gabriel Lemus Editor: Jeff Rau Copyright © 2015 Earl & Virginia Green Art Gallery All rights reserved.

First Edition.

Book design by Rebecca McKinney and Melanie Kim. Published through Issuu.com Earl & Virginia Green Art Gallery Biola University Art Department 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639 562.903.4807 • www.Biola.edu/ArtGallery No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

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CONTENTS Exhibition Statement I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me “And who is my neighbor?”

Untitled (Mother and Pheasant) Untitled (Barry and I) Untitled (Mom, Barry, and I) Untitled (My Mother and I On a Chair) Guatemalan-American Flag De Guatemala a Guatepeor From L.A. to Calabasas I Was a Stranger in Egypt She’s Always Known that She’s Not a Wetback (After James Baldwin) Mi Mama Nunca a Volado en Ovni My Mother Did Not Come From Outer Space

Exhibition Checklist Guest Reflections Artist Biography About the Gallery 3

I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me 4

Installation View - Earl & Virgina Green Art Gallery

In the mid-1970s Rita Lemus immigrated to the United States from Guatemala as an orphan in search of a better life. Within a year of her arrival she found work as a housekeeper with Frank and Mary Pat here in Southern California.

Their family provided consistent employment, but perhaps more importantly, they generously invited Rita into their home, and in many ways invited her into their family. Now for almost 40 years she has worked with the same family, and in that time she also raised up her own children, including her son, Nery Gabriel.

Now artist Nery Gabriel Lemus looks back on his experiences growing up in this uniquely open and welcoming environment, and how these relationships shaped his own understanding and experience of racism and prejudice. Lemus employs a variety of strategies in this investigation, from a direct video interview with Rita and Mary Pat, to mining the family archives for images that reference the continued proximity of the two families, and text paintings that draw from such varied sources as funny childhood misconceptions, challenging cultural critiques, popular sayings, and Bible narratives. With these and other strategies Lemus builds on his previous oeuvre with new investigations of how these issues impact his own family story as they have sought acceptance in a foreign environment.

Recalling the famous words of Christ, I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me challenges us to consider how simple gestures of generosity that bridge across social, economic, and racial boundaries, can help to break down barriers and offer hope to others in the midst of continued institutional opposition.

By focusing his attention on his own family experience, Lemus avoids being drawn into a divisive debate, shifting the debate from a macro scale down to a singular narrative. He clearly asserts this work as one family’s story, but this is not to say there are not wider implications. Beyond garnering empathy, Lemus highlights how simple acts of generosity—in opening one’s home—had a profound impact on his own experience; challenging us to reconsider the words of Christ quoted from the Gospel of Matthew, and look again at the ways in which we all have opportunities to “welcome” those who are marginalized by society.

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I Was a Stranger an d Y o u W e l c o m e d M e

2014 HD Video 22 min. 12 sec.

Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery 8

F ro m L . A. to Calabasas

2014

HD V i d e o 10 m i n u t e s

Cou r t e s y o f t h e A r t i s t a n d Charlie James Gallery 9

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“ An d w h o is my neighbor?”

2014

oil o n p r i n t e d p a p e r 17” x 1 2 . 5 ” Cou r t e s y o f t h e A r t i s t a n d Charlie James Gallery 11

Untitled (Mo t h e r a n d P h e a s a n t )

2014

C-printed photograph 14� x 10.5�

Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery 12

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U nt i t l e d (Barry and I)

2014

C-p r i n t p h o t o g r a p h 14” x 1 0 . 5 ” Cou r t e s y o f t h e A r t i s t a n d Charlie James Gallery 15

Untitled ( M o m , B a r r y , a n d I )

2014

C-printed photograph 14� x 10.5�

Courtesy of the Art ist and Charlie James Gallery 16

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U nt i t l e d (My Mother and I On a Chair)

2014

C-p r i n t p h o t o g r a p h 14” x 1 0 . 5 ” Cou r t e s y o f t h e A r t i s t a n d Charlie James Gallery 19

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Guatem a l a n - A m e r i c a n F l a g

2014

Nylon Flag 60” x 36” Courtesy of the Art ist and Charlie James Gallery 22

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De Gua t e m a l a a G u a t e p e o r

2013

oil on canvas 24” x 22” Courtesy of the Art ist and Charlie James Gallery 24

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I W a s a Stranger in Egypt

2014

oil o n c a n v a s 48” x 2 4 ” x 2 . 5 ” Cou r t e s y o f t h e A r t i s t a n d Charlie James Gallery 27

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S he ’ s A lways Known that She’s Not a W et b a c k (After James Baldwin) 2013 oil o n c a n v a s 41” x 7 2 ” x 2 . 5 ” Cou r t e s y o f t h e A r t i s t a n d Charlie James Gallery 29

Mi Mama Nunca A V o l a d o e n U n O v n i

2014

oil on primed paper 19� x 26�

Courtesy of the Art ist and Charlie James Gallery 30

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M y M o t h er Did Not Come From Outer Space

2013

oil o n c a n v a s 41” x 7 2 ” x 2 . 5 ” Cou r t e s y o f t h e A r t i s t a n d Charlie James Gallery 33

Ex h i b i t i o n C h e c k l i s t I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me

Untitled (Mother and Pheasant)

Untitled (Mom, Barry, and I)

2013 HD Video 2 2 m i n u t e s 12 seconds

2014 c-print photograph 14” x 10.5”

2014 C-print photograph 14” x 10.5”

C o u r t e s y of the Artist a n d C h a r lie James Gallery

Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

“And who is my neighbor?”

Untitled (Barry and I)

Untitled (My Mother and I on a Chair)

2013 C-print photograph 14” x 10.5”

2013 C-print photograph 14” x 10.5”

Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

2014 o i l o n p r imed paper 1 7 ” x 1 2 . 5”

C o u r t e s y of the Artist a n d C h a r lie James Gallery

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Nery Gabriel L e m u s

Guatemalan-American Flag 2014 nylon flag 60” x 36” C o u r t e s y of the Artist a n d C h a r lie James Gallery

De Guate mala a Guatepeor 2013 o i l o n c a nvas 24” x 22” C o u r t e s y of the Artist a n d C h a r l ie James Gallery

I Was a Stranger in Egypt 2014 oil on canvas 48” x 24” x 2.5”

Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

She’s Always Known that She’s Not a Wetback (After James Baldwin) 2013 oil on canvas 41” x 72” x 2.5” Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

Mi Mamá Nunca a Volado en Un Ovni 2014 oil on primed paper 19” x 26” Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

My Mother Did Not Come From Outer Space 2013 oil on canvas 41” x 72” x 2.5” Courtesy of the Artist and Charlie James Gallery

From L.A . to Calabasas 2014 HD video 10 minutes C o u r t e s y of the Artist a n d C h a r l ie James Gallery

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Guest Reflections Selections from the gallery comment book

“I absolutely love this work, in many ways I can relate... Thank you so much for making meaningful work. My favorite is your title, 'I

“Interesting...”

“I was a stranger and THIS welcomed me!”

- E.

was a stranger and you welcomed me.' I believe God led me to your exhibit, too bad I didn't get to meet you! Maybe some day...” -R.V.

“Excellent view of integration. The work speaks volumes for the human spirit.”

“Your concept of color is beautiful. That typography! Mind blowing.” -K.

"Me encanto! Se que hay muchas madres que han pasado por esto, como la mia."

“Wonderful! Thank you for your heart.

We are all 'strangers' and 'aliens' on the way to our true home. PTL!” -J.

“I'm Guatemalan and I understand what it feels like coming to Biola.

“Those are powerful, effective words to base an exhibit around.

I think your work does inspire a generosity of spirit.” -M.M.

My favorite is 'guatepeor'! Too funny!”

“How can I do more to welcome others as strangers? The kindness and closeness of the employing family forces me to examine how I can become that kind of help to others.” -E.P. “Thank you for sharing your art with the Biola community. It means a lot to the community as well as myself especially. Love the story. It's true and beautiful.” -J.

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“Your narrative, it is an echoing challenge for me to continually reorient my understanding of balancing who and what my neighbor is, and who is a stranger. Reconciling the words of Christ, welcoming the stranger in such a way that transverses into caring for them as a neighbor is awakening. Your narrative, in light of the political statement is honest and unthreatening and compels me to use my voice to advocate for my new found neighbor. Thank you.”

- A.G.

“Very beautiful reflection on cross-cultural relationships and how we see others who we consider'different' from ourselves, when really we're all one and the same.”

“Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability. I have come into the gallery many times to get creative and thought provoking inspiration from your work. I love how you have taken something so personal to you and extended it to others in the Christian circle who might not understand this topic the way you do...” -M.V.

“So beautiful. The colors.” -J.O.

“I am also an immigrant. I came to the USA from Mexico. I am 'unique and special' and will continue to 'pass it forward' with the guidance of my God!”

“This really made me think about the importance of generosity in our society/culture. It was a great reminder of what is truly important and meaningful in life...” -J. “Me encanto la expocision, me relaciono mucho con las frase en las pinturas, porque soy immigrante de Mexico. La bandera de Guatemala y Estados Unidos me impacto porque yo me siento de dos diferents mundo, o entre dos naciones. Aparte soy artista y me interesan mucho estos temas, son los mas poderosos.

Gracias.” -T.

“Cultural barriers is a huge issue in the communities that are all around.

I really appreciated what you were trying to convey. I hope you continue to bring awareness of this issue to people in this world, and specifically on this campus!”

“Your work, your testimony of life, strikes a rich, rich chord in my heart. I too am a part of an immigrant family, and I too have experienced this marginalization. I have let it define me. I let it build so much in my heart that I question whether I try to fight this more out of spite or out of love. I have always felt like a stranger, but I never let God welcome me.”

“As a student of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I really appreciated the heart of this exhibition. Thank you for a picture of Abrahamic hospitality and encouragement.” -J.R.

“I can't help but think of my dad who

“Perhaps as someone unfamiliar with

came from El Salvador and lived on

both Spanish and the story of an

the streets of San Jose for the first

immigrant, I felt disconnected from

couple years he was in California.

the poignancy of the works... Though

He still hears cracks about

I heavily appreciated the artists

'being brown'...”

allusions to the journey.” -M.G.W.

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Nery

Gabriel

Lemus

A native of Southern California, Nery Gabriel Lemus was born in Los Angeles, in 1977. The subjects in his work range from issues of stereotype and immigration to problems in society that can lead to the failure of families, such as poverty, abuse and neglect. Lemus received his BFA at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California (2007) and his MFA at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California (2009).

Lemus also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine (2008).

His work has been featured in solo exhibitions at, Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Steve Turner Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA; The Bindery Projects, Minneapolis, MN; Project Row Houses, Houston, TX. Group exhibitions include, FĂştbol: The Beautiful Game, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA; Made in L.A. 2012, organized by the Hammer Museum in collaboration with LA><ART, Los Angeles, CA; dia a dia/ day by day, The 9.99 Gallery, Guatemala City, Guatemala; OZ: New Offerings From Angel City, Museo Regional Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; 2010 Border Art Biennial, El Paso Museum, El Paso, Texas; Common Ground, California African-American Museum, Los Angeles, CA and exhibitions at the Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA; Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA; Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN; Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA; Centro Cultural Paseo del Norte, Chihuahua, Mexico and the Centro Cultural Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico, among others.

He is a recipient of a COLA Fellowship Grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles, and the Rema Hort Mann Foundation Fellowship Award. He is represented by Charlie James Gallery in Los Angeles.

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About the Gallery The Earl & Virginia Green Art Gallery presents a program of rotating contemporary art exhibitions on the campus of Biola University. Located in the greater Los Angeles area, the Green Art Gallery is well positioned to represent a vital Christian worldview within the critical dialogue of contemporary visual art and to produce engaging exhibitions that grapple with issues concerning the intersection of faith with art and culture.

The Green Art Gallery also provides professional development opportunities for Biola art students through gallery exhibitions and internships.

For more information please visit www.Biola.edu/ArtGallery

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