BETSY Z. CASANAS (LTA ’08) will exhibit her latest body of work, Exploring Content at the Holy Family University Gallery (9801 Frankford Avenue) located on the lower level of the John M. Perzel Education and Technology Center (ETC). An opening reception and artist talk will occur on February 7 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Exploring Content is about self expression and self exploration. Her art explores her life with powerful self portraits that depict the dual nature of existence. Exploring Content is a multimedia painting exhibit that focuses on the transient nature of life. The self scrutiny during these fragile and brief episodes inspire the tapestry of Casañas’ work while simultaneously sharing the strength of being fully present and alive.
Opens to the public:
February 2, 2012 – February 29, 2012
8:00 a.m- 9:00 p.m. M-Th
8:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m. F
by appointment on the weekend
Biography
Betsy Casañas is a mother, artist, community activist and educator who was born and raised in the heart of “The Badlands” of North Philadelphia’s barrio. She studied art at Moore College of art and design where she received her Bachelors in Fine Arts and has worked in the Latino community since 1994. Casañas has designed over 35 public murals and mosaics nationally and internationally. In 2007 Casañas, co-founded The Semilla Arts Initiative who uses collaborative art as a means of empowering individuals and communities. In 2010 Casañas opened “A Seed of Diamond Gallery” An alternative space where artists of all communities and cultural backgrounds share a space and tell their stories through, music, spoken word, dance and Visual Art. She continues to live in the North Philadelphia neighborhood where she grew up, with her children Archangel – 17, and Kristianni – 12.
Casanas is mixed media artist who focuses primarily on drawing and painting portraits .The work is visual and written journal that combines the stories of the artist and those most interwoven in her life. She explores themes of abuse, abandonment, vulnerability, love, sex and family and the impact that the interlacing of those experiences play in the transformation and reflection of one individual. The work demonstrates that one’s life is nothing more than a combination of other lives braiding their stories, their ideas, their experiences and serving as vessels to transform and influence the ideals of activism.
