Antepasados: Those Unseen
This exhibition, which was the first in Arts and Culture El Dorado's new gallery space, featured the original prints of Sigrid Benson and sculptural works of Marisa Sayago. Antepasados: Those Unseen examined the complexity of human relationships, kinship, and the invisible presence of those who have come before us.
Opening Reception: Friday, May 5, from 6 - 8 PM at Switchboard Gallery
Artist Talk: Thursday, May 25, at 6 PM at Switchboard Gallery
Arts and Culture El Dorado unveiled its new gallery space, the Switchboard Gallery, with Antepasados: Those Unseen on May 5, 2023. Antepasados: Those Unseen featured the original works of Sigrid Benson and Marisa Sayago, two local artists. The show examined the complexity of human relationships, kinship, and the invisible presence of those who were here before we were.
Benson serves as Director of Exhibits and Collections for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. Her series of original prints explores our continual relationships with those who have come before us.
Sigrid Benson explained, "This series reflects on the gifts of time and wisdom that our Elders and Antepasados have to share with us. The monotype process lends itself to playful experimentation and delightful surprises as the participant follows the story’s lead and latent concepts are brought into time. Ultimately, the images are reminders that there is energy all around us."
Marisa Sayago, the Department chair of the Visual Arts Department of Folsom Lake College, is a celebrated sculptor and painter. Her works intertwined with Benson's in examining what personhood means and how our relationship to others bears echoes throughout our lives.
Sayago shared her inspiration, "I’m not interested in recreating the physical world. Instead, I deliberately provoke the viewer to reconcile the physical and inner worlds. Through my work, I hope to remind the viewer that we are all bound by the same fears, loves, and experiences."
