Carmen la Griega

The Opening Gallery is pleased to present Take Me Where There Is Life, a solo exhibition of works by Carmen la Griega curated by Sozita Goudouna, PhD. Installed across the first floor of 42 Walker St, this survey attempts to provide an in-depth examination of memory, driven by a desire to preserve the individual memory of the artist's father who was suffering from Alzheimer's. The artist has explored three approaches to integrating memory into her artistic process that  led her to share the process with others facing similar issues. She employs watercolors to document her memory, providing a poetic way of seeing reality. This artistic approach allows the artist to explore notions of care and share different ways of memory through the process of emotion and humor using watercolor.

Engaging with art can be a meditative experience, helping to reduce anxiety and agitation commonly associated with Alzheimer’s. Artworks and artistic styles might trigger memories or associations from the past, providing a pathway for reminiscence cure, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals with Alzheimer’s. Visual stimuli can enhance engagement for patients, making therapy sessions more stimulating and enjoyable. This multi-sensory approach can capture attention and maintain interest.  Art practices can create a supportive environment of care that enhances the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients, helping them connect with themselves and others.

Contemporary art explores the theme of care in various innovative and thought-provoking ways. Carmen La Griega creates works that emphasize the importance of relationships and community. This can involve collaborative projects that bring people together, highlighting the role of care in human connections. Art addressing health care often reflects a caring attitude towards marginalized communities or the planet. The artists attempts to raise awareness and advocate for change, demonstrating care through activism, a focus on the physicality of materials, using them to express vulnerability and intimacy. This can be seen in works that incorporate organic materials or tactile processes, inviting viewers to consider the care involved in making and experiencing art.

Carmen La Griega incorporates elements of healing into her work, whether through art practices, meditative installations, or community workshops aimed at mental health. These practices underscore the importance of self-care and communal support. Her "storytelling"in contemporary art often includes personal narratives that explore themes of caregiving, loss, and resilience. Through these stories, the artist can express the complexities of care in their lives and societies.

The artist often draws from cultural practices that emphasize care, such as communal rituals, caregiving traditions, or indigenous knowledge systems. These influences can enrich contemporary expressions of care in diverse contexts. Through these various lenses Take Me Where There Is Life serves as a platform for dialogue about care, encouraging audiences to reflect on its multifaceted nature and significance in our lives and communities.

Carmen la Griega's love for nature and the painting process, drives her to look for ways to communicate and research on graphic ways to communicate symbols that represent the lake, trees, sun, the energy of the water, the light. Working with memory not as a past that is lost, not as a body that loses its mind, and not as a body that memory dies, Carmen la Griega aims to maintain the Memory of those who are falling into oblivion.

The artist developed the project at The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC).

The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) was founded in 1971 when the National Endowment for the Humanities began funding state-based humanities programs. The Humanities Center’s mission is to spark positive change by increasing collective understanding of ourselves, our communities, and our histories through stories and experiences. Its vision is a just society that is curious, connected, and compassionate. The mission and vision guide the programming and initiatives at MHC.. Besides support for “Take Me Where There Is Life,” you can learn about MHC’s other events, initiatives, and grants at our

Carmen la Griega (b. 1971, Carmen García Bartolomé, Madrid) oeuvre focuses on performance, large paintings, charcoal drawings and object theater investigating the notion of a new contemporary mythology based on strong archetypal women. As a teacher, her groundbreaking nude model drawing classes for children exemplify the artist’s constant search for innovative approaches. The impact of her award-winning video piece “Take me where there is life” about her father’s Alzheimer, demonstrates her dedication to socially engaged art, connecting health, art and sciences in compelling projects.

Carmen García Bartolomé’s pieces, installations and live acts have been exhibited in Japan at the Mori Museum and the Niigata Eya Gallery, in Madrid at Rafael Pérez Hernando and Alegría Gallery, Art institutions such as Casa Encendida, CAB de Burgos, Alicante Museum, Pradillo Theater and Kulturpalast in Berlin. Selected Awards include: 2022 Reina Sofia Alzheimer Foundation, Audience Award Thessaloniki Film festival 2017 and the Madrid City Council 1st Drawing Prize.