Peruvian artist Zeballos By K. Michelle Moran GROSSE POINTE — Despite its name, the Grosse Pointe Art Center is increasingly drawing artists, visitors and members from all over metro Detroit. But the artist with the longest commute to date has to be Juan Carlos Zeballos Moscairo: He came all the way from his hometown of Arequipa, Peru, to exhibit his work. This is only the second Michigan show for the internationally acclaimed artist, whose honors include the John Constable Award in 2002, the National Arts Award for Painting in Peru and South American Painter of the Year. Several of his bright, bold abstracts are now on display at the GPAC in conjunction with the annual holiday show, which opened Nov. 20 and will be displayed through Jan. 9, 2010. This is the GPAC’s first international show, and organizers are thrilled to be hosting the rising young talent, who turns 33 on Dec. 6. “We are very honored to have Juan Carlos here and his work here,” said GPAC Director Amy Debrunner. Mayor Dale Scrace said the city was “really excited to welcome him to Grosse Pointe,” since this is the artist’s first exhibit in the Pointes. The artist’s work has already been shown in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Rio De Janeiro, Miami and San Francisco, among other cities, and next year he’s slated for shows in Lima, Peru, and Santiago, Chile, as well as other international destinations. Through a translator, Zeballos Moscairo said he loves American and European artists from the 1960s and 1970s. Artists like Jackson Pollack and Peruvian artist Edward Morl, a native of Germany, are particular favorites. The artist said his work reflects these international influences, as well as Peruvian history, symbols, culture and social issues, such as the division between the rich and the poor. Zeballos Moscairo said he hopes viewers feel the colors in his paintings and the effort he puts into mixing them. He said Michigan “is a big color palette” and he hopes people here can identify with his work. The Great Lakes state may be geographically far from Peru, but it’s close to the artist’s heart, because his grandfather, a World War II veteran, lives in a retirement home in Clarkston. Zeballos Moscairo said he planned to visit his grandfather while he was in Michigan. “He’s one of the reasons why I am here,” the artist said. “I love Michigan.” For more about his work, visit www.zeballosmoscairo.com. The GPAC is located at 16900 Kercheval in the Village. Gallery hours are noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (313) 821-1848, send an e-mail to gpaa@grossepointeartcenter.org or visit www.grossepointeartcenter.org. You can Arts & Entertainment Editor K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1047. |
