●  Kite Workshops, Exhibition, Talk, and Mural Painting through the week of 4/8.

●  Federico Cuatlacuatl: Desencabronamiento | Exhibition opening Friday April 14, 7:00-10:00. Runs through April.

The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, is pleased to present the Tom Tom Festival Artist in Residence at The Bridge, Federico Cuatlacuatl and his exhibit titled Desencabronamiento.

Federico Cuatlacuatl’s recent work explores tradition and culture as political weapons. Using sculptural kites and digital video projection, Cuatlacuatl aims to activate a space where unlike communities can find a meeting point to coexist in dialogue and culture. This exhibit will express a perspective that empathizes and connects with local Latinx immigrants to amplify collective voices, highlight relevant local urgencies, produce diversifying advances, and pose art as a powerful lens for cross-cultural endeavors.

Cuatlacuatl will showcase his exploration and experimentation of various kite models, materials, and sizes alongside experimentations with 3D tracking the motion of kites during flying sessions and using this data to simulate 3D animations. Another emphasis of this project will be community engagement through kite-making workshops and flying sessions.

Additionally, Federico will begin painting a mural piece titled Senyelistli at 1801 Broadway Street (Sun Tribe Solar building) during his residency. He intends to provide an opportunity for teenagers to work as assistants on painting the mural. The design involves ecosystems and symbiosis with nature and culture. There was an emphasis in highlighting a visual language that encapsulated technology and nature co-existing. It is a theme that carries on through natural and artificial, biological and technological, digital and organic. This mural design also pays tribute to and celebrates the native Americans of what is now Virginia. The design pays homage to their knowledge and embrace of nature as a mother by adopting a symbiotic lifestyle in their communities.

KEY DATES:

• Thurs. 4/11. 2:45-3:30 Kite Making Workshop at Common House. 206 West Market St, Charlottesville, VA 22902.
• Fri. 4/12. 8:30- 10:00 Creative Mornings talk on the theme Inclusive at The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative gallery, 209 Monticello Road.
• Sat. 4/13. 1:30-3:00 Kite Making with Federico Cuatlacuatl at Market Street Park.
• Sun. 4/14. 7:00-10:00 Exhibition Opening | Federico Cuatlacuatl presents: Desencabronamientoat The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative gallery, 209 Monticello Road.
• Week of 4/8 Begin painting mural at 1801 Broadway Street (Sun Tribe Solar).

209 Monticello Rd Charlottesville, VA 22902 – (434) 218-2060 – thebridgepai.org

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Federico Cuatlacuatl is a Mexican Indigenous artist born in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. He then immigrated to Indiana and received his MFA specializing in Digital Arts at the Bowling Green State University. Federico’s work is invested in disseminating topics of Latinx immigration, social art practice, and cultural sustainability. Building from his own experience growing up as an undocumented immigrant and holding DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Federico’s research is primarily concerned with pressing realities in current social, political, and cultural issues that Latinx undocumented immigrants face in the U.S. Federico’s independent productions have been screened in various national and international film festivals including: Mexico; USA; Canada; Finland; Athens, Greece; Delph, England; Lucknow, India; Paris, France; and Azires Islands, Portugal. As founder and director of the Rasquache Artist Residency in Puebla, Mexico, he actively stays involved in socially engaged works and binational endeavors. Learn more: cuatlacuatl.com

ABOUT THE BRIDGE PROGRESSIVE ARTS INITIATIVE: The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative is a cultural hub for Charlottesville offering an inclusive space for creative thinking and artistic pursuits while providing resources and methodology for meaningful arts engagement throughout the community . Our mission is to bridge diverse communities through the arts. More information can be found at our website – thebridgepai.org or by following us on Facebook .

ABOUT THE TOM TOM FOUNDATION

The Tom Tom Foundation is a nonprofit organization that celebrates entrepreneurship, culture, and innovation in small cities. Tom Tom’s signature event is a weeklong Founders Festival that takes place in Charlottesville, Va, each April in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson’s birthday. This cross discipline, multi-venue experience transforms the historic downtown and empowers entrepreneurs, innovators, and civic leaders who are defining the future. Since its inception in 2012, the Foundation’s programming has showcased thousands of speakers, artists, and bands to 186,000 program attendees, and has channeled $2.9 million to new ventures and projects. Learn more: www.tomtomfest.com