Atravesar: Monoprints by Ramiro Rodriguez
On view December 2–31 at the Heartland Art Center

Ramiro Rodriguez presents a powerful series of monoprints exploring migration, crossing, and transition. Working with linoleum blocks, paper templates, acrylic matrices, and layered mark-making, Rodriguez creates one-of-a-kind images that move between the natural world, cultural storytelling, and human experience. Themes include the fall migrations of crows, seasonal change, the journeys of migrating peoples, and the merging of Indigenous water protectors like Tlaloc and Mishipeshu.
A reception and artist talk will be held Friday, December 12 from 6–8 pm. All are welcome.

Atravesar Statement:

Monoprinting is a type of printmaking where the intent is to make unique prints that may explore an image serially. Other methods of printmaking create editioned multiples. The monoprint is sometimes editioned as 1 of 1 (1/1). In the presented series of monoprints, I have utilized various media to create unique images, including linoleum blocks, paper templates, and acrylic matrices. The main theme in each of the series is the idea of migration, crossing, and transition. A Través del Viento allows me to share my fascination with the migratory crows that visit our area every fall. The title translates to “Through the Wind” from Spanish. Ojalá, Cuervos is a series of small studies on the same crow migrations and congregations, as well as the passing seasons from summer to autumn. The title translates to “Hopefully, Crows” from Spanish. A play on words as “ojalá” sounds like “hoja” the Spanish word for leaf. Atravesar is a series that chronicles the struggles of migrating peoples. “Atravesar” translates to “crossing” from Spanish. Tlaloc and Mishipeshu is a series of monoprints that were created with a linoleum block as the repeatable base for the differing images. Various drawing and painting tools were then used to further push the image into unique areas. My interest in the water element and the stories of its protectors combine. My merging of two mythical water beings spans North American indigenous cultures: the Meso-American god Tlaloc and Mishipeshu from the regional Anishinaabe peoples.