Pollock Gallery Presents Libro MAOF/MAOF Book

Visiting Artist Lecture by Tony Cruz Pabón and Ramiro Chaves on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.

The Pollock Gallery of the Division of Art at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts will present Libro MAOF/MAOF Book, an exhibition featuring a new book by Ramiro Chaves detailing the work of Puerto Rican artist collective MAOF, from November 16 to December 4, 2018.

Since 2014 MAOF (Materiales y Oficios, or materials and crafts) has been working to improve management of waste in Puerto Rico, particularly organic waste. MAOF focuses specifically on salvaging fallen trees and other organic materials to explore the historical and everyday uses of wood.Because most goods in the island are imported from the continental U.S., local materials for use by artists and craftsmen are often overlooked. MAOF’s practice is rooted in traditional and often-forgotten, native uses and knowledge of local materials, construction techniques and methods of working with certain tropical woods. Their goal is to make material for design and art projects and create a local woodworking culture that is both sustainable and economically feasible.

Ramiro Chaves, a Mexico City-based artist, has been documenting MAOF’s work since its inception. His book will include photos, texts, drawings, diagrams and more tracing MAOF’s collaborative efforts in Puerto Rico. Contributing writers include Pablo Guardiola, Michael Linares, Ulrik Lopez, Michy Marxuach, Ramon Miranda Beltran, Ernesto Oroza, Tony Cruz Pabón and Beatriz MuñozSantiago. The exhibit is produced by Sofia Bastidas, Pollock Gallery curatorial fellow.

An opening reception with Chaves and several of the contributing writers will be held Friday, Nov. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the gallery. In addition, contributing writer and artist Tony Cruz Pabón will join Bastidas and Chaves for a free Visiting Artist Lecture at SMU on Wed., Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall, Room 2130 in the Owen Arts Center, 6101 Bishop Blvd. on the SMU campus.

About Ramiro Chaves:

Ramiro Chaves (b. 1979, Cordoba, Argentina) studied film and television at the National University of Cordoba and photography at the School of Arts Lino E. Spillimbergo. He moved to Mexico in 2002. He was selected for the XI Biennial of Photography at the Centro de la Imagen (Center for the Image), Mexico City, in 2004 and had his first solo exhibition, Proyecto Canada, at Mexico City’s Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil in 2006. Editorial Diamantina published his book Domingos in 2006. Chaves was selected for Descubrimientos (Discoveries) in PhotoEspaña, Spain, 2009. He participated in the Miradas Cruzadas residency exchange program between Mexico and France in 2010, and was a selected artist for the prestigious 2012-14 Bancomer-MACG Program in Mexico City. He was also a 2013 resident artist in the International Studio and Curatorial Program in Brooklyn, New York, with the generous support of FONCA in Mexico. His work is part of the Isabel and Agustin Coppel collection as well as those of the Museo de Arte Moderno and the Centro de la Imagen in Mexico City, plus a number of private collections worldwide. His work has been exhibited in Mexico, France, the United States, Spain, Holland, Turkey, Germany, Austria, Argentina and Japan.

About the Pollock Gallery:

The Pollock Gallery is located on the first floor of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, 3140 Dyer St. on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday. Admission is free. For more information, call 214-768-4439 or visit here.