Alternate Pathways Opening Reception OCTOBER 19, 2019 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | 2315 Union Street, Houston, Texas 77007.

Alt Projects is pleased to present Alternate Pathways, an artist-centered and driven group exhibition. An event that highlights the diversity of both Houston and the artists involved.  The show will feature the works of visual artist Luisa Duarte, mixed media artist Celan Bouillet, fine art photographer Karen Navarro, painter of sculptural shaped canvases Eduardo Portillo, and artist and illustrator Hedwige Jacobs.

Opening reception RSVP here

The show runs until November 22th, by appointment only.

Artists talk and brunch: Sunday October 27th, 1-3 PM at the Union. Free and open to the public.

Read the new interview on CREATE! magazine about Karen’ studio practice. CREATE! magazine is an independent, contemporary art magazine highlighting the work of artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs. 

What is your process like?  

“Usually, everything starts on the sketchbook, then I pay a visit to the warehouse to buy some painting to paint the backdrop wall. After that I go to the thrift store to get some clothing and some props to prepare for the photo shoot. In my performative photographs I create characters, for this reason I meticulously arrange the elements in the scene. Although, while in the photo shoots I allow myself to get creative and try new things, I don’t stick entirely to the sketchbook. 

Since my work is evolving and I am working on new mediums, like collages and soon sculpture, my process changes according to the work I am doing. For example in my last series of collages “El Pertenecer en Tiempos Modernos”  I added laser-cutting, 3-D printing, and embossing.” 

Read the full interview here

Navarro’s work is now available through PxP Contemporary. PxP Contemporary is an online platform which connects collectors with high-quality, affordable artworks.

Check Navarro’s collection here

Karen was recently interviewed about her series “El Pertenecer en Tiempos Modernos” by Haley Berkman Karren on Houston Center for Photography’s SPOT Magazine. 

 “I think I made this work to break some rules in the photography world and to challenge the medium. This series is a point of experimentation for me as well—an introduction to sculpture, which is something I want to explore in the future. I want to push the boundaries of not only photography, but my art practice as well. I feel like this thinking aligns with the Cubist mentality because Cubism was drastically breaking away from existing modes of thinking.”

Read the full interview here

Karen’s work will be included in Aint–Bad’s No. 14 annual publication. Aint–Bad is an independent publisher of new photographic Art. The Issue No. 14 showcases over 150 leading contemporary photographers from all over the world within 256 pages. This publication will act as a record of the best photographic work being made today.

Now you can buy some of the pieces from the series “El Pertenecer en Tiempos Modernos” on Artsy through Foto Relevance

Over the past year Navarro has been co-organizing a group exhibition that highlights Houston’s cultural diversity. Alternate Pathways is fiscally sponsored  by the non-profit Fresh Arts. And, It was just awarded a Houston Arts Alliance City’s Initiative grant.  

More info about the exhibition coming soon.

Four of Navarro’s pieces has been included in the group show 1000+1 at Foto Relevance. When thinking about photography, an old adage often comes to mind: a picture is worth a thousand words. To say this is to recognize photography as an inherently communicative practice, to acknowledge the ways in which an image can convey meaning when language falls short. Engaging in this conversation, 1000+1 is a group show highlighting seven contemporary artists—Kalee Appleton, Joana P. Cardozo, Mark Chen, Paul-André Larocque, Noelle Mason, Karen Navarro, and Krista Svalbonas—who expand our expectations of photography through the use of photo-based techniques in conjunction with alternative media such as sculpture, text, painting, and textiles.

1000+1 will be on view from July 12th to September 6, 2019, with an opening reception on July 12th from 6 to 8 pm. 

See photos of the show, here

Subject #11 Laser-cut embossed archival inkjet print

El Pertenecer en Tiempos Modernos (Belonging in Modern Times) 
June 29 - July 27

El Pertenecer en Tiempos Modernos (Belonging in Modern Times) explores the online self-representation used as a venue to create a sense of belongingness. Inspired by cubism and the representation of the subject through the investigation of materiality and collages, the portraits were reassembled depicting a distorted image that speaks about the constructed identities we perform on social media. The participants photographed were selected by an open call on Instagram. To address this contemporary issue new technologies such as 3-D printing and laser cutting were used. Additionally, the photographs were embossed with the top 100 hashtags on Instagram.
The tridimensional collages suggest multiple layers of meaning and aim to discuss the challenges of being authentic and real in a time of obsession over portraying an online illusion of ourselves.

OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, June 29th, 6-8 pm
Gray Contemporary
3508 Lake St, Houston, TX 77098

The exhibition runs until July 27
Tues- Sat 12-5PM

For more info and to RSVP click here

“El Pertenecer en Tiempos Modernos” (Belonging in Modern Times) as part of Meet Her Hands exhibition series opened last week with a very successful turnout at Elisabet Ney Museum Austin, TX. Meet Her Hands is a collaborative exhibition series, produced by the non-profit #bbatx and the Elisabet Ney Museum every summer, featuring three Texan women artists from #BBATX’s annual residency.

The opening reception and artist talk for Navarro’s exhibition was held on June 13 at the Elisabet Ney Museum. The exhibition itself will be open through June 24.

ON VIEW
The exhibition runs until June 24th
Wed-Sun 12-5PM
Elisabeth Ney Museum
304 E 44th St, Austin, TX 78751

Click here for more