CALIFORNIA FOCUS / EVENT:Santa Ana Unveils “Wings of the City” Public Art Exhibit October 27
[Santa Ana, Calif.] – The City of Santa Ana, in partnership with the Consulate of Mexico, is pleased to bring Mexican figurative artist, Jorge Marín’s internationally hailed sculpture exhibit, “Wings of the City,” to commemorate the Mexican culture and heritage of the Santa Ana community. The public art exhibit will officially unveil with a free celebration on Friday, October 27, 2017, and will be on display throughout Santa Ana’s historic downtown through October 2018.
“Wings of the City” commemorates our community’s deep cultural ties to Mexico and exemplifies our on-going commitment to arts and education,” commented Mayor of Santa Ana, Miguel Pulido.
The nine bronze sculptures of “Wings of the City” pay homage to classic Baroque and Renaissance pieces with surreal twists including men adorned with dream-like wings, wearing bird masks, and in stunning acrobatic poses. Since the collection’s debut in 2010 as a public art exhibit on Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma, the surreal sculptures have traveled to cities across the country since 2013. As Orange County’s cultural and artistic epicenter, Santa Ana is the only U.S. city to present the exhibit for an entire year and will mark the final destination on the “Wings of the City” world tour.
"The instant context, the time, and the events that happen simultaneously, all feed up the original dialogue of the artworks, constructing culture in its broadest sense: a way of being and thinking," said Jorge Marin.
“Santa Ana is home to the largest concentration of individuals of Mexican decent outside of Mexico and one of the largest concentrations of Vietnamese Americans,” said Mayor Pulido. “Many immigrants have laid strong roots here in pursuit of the American dream, and Jorge Marín’s exhibit pays homage to that dream and all of their achievements.”
Each of the nine sculptures will be strategically positioned throughout the downtown area, providing the local community and the general public an opportunity to engage with the work and celebrate Santa Ana’s cultural bridges. Self-guided walking tours of the exhibit in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese will be available. Special public programs around the artwork will be hosted throughout the year.
“This exhibit comes to us at a timely moment as it speaks to important themes of migration, ingenuity, and the power of dreams. Santa Ana has taken a leadership position in protecting all our residents, regardless of their immigration status. Through Marín’s work, we hope to build consciousness and give a voice to our community,” stated Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez.
"Santa Ana is the most Mexican City in the United States, in demographic terms (nearly eight out of 10 residents are of Mexican origin),” said Cónsul of México in Orange County, Mario Cuevas. The “Wings of the City" exhibition symbolizes the contribution of the Mexican community in all levels and activities, the strength of their values, and their aspirations to live in peace and harmony in this great city."
To unveil “Wings of the City” in Downtown Santa Ana, a free public celebration will be held at Plaza Calle Cuatro (325 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, CA) on Friday, October 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. Among others, the event will welcome commemorations by Mayor Pulido, Consul Cuevas, Studio Marín, and mariachi and folklórico student performances.
Additional information can be found at www.santa-ana.org/wingsdtsa. Get involved and share photos and videos with “Wings of the City” on social media using the hashtag #wingsdtsa.
ABOUT CITY OF SANTA ANA
The City of Santa Ana is a 27 square-mile ethnically diverse city located 35 miles south of Los Angeles and roughly 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. With a total population of over 330,000, Santa Ana is Orange County’s second largest city and serves as the county seat. Incorporated in 1886, Santa Ana has long been the county's government powerbase. Santa Ana's centralized location puts it less than 30 minutes from most Southern California destinations, including four airports. Its density and mass transit infrastructure enables residents and employees to embrace a green lifestyle, commuting to work by bus, train, bicycle and foot. This convenience attracts a diverse population that appreciates Santa Ana's distinctive, affordable housing choices, energetic nightlife and cultural amenities
ABOUT JORGE MARÍN
Jorge Marín is one of the greatest representatives of Mexican figurative art. Throughout his career, his artistic labor has approached different artistic disciplines and materials, including ceramic and resin. After a broad search, he decided to adopt bronce as his medium of expression - turning it into a distinctive sign of his art. He has dabbled into different sculptural dimensions, spanning from miniatures to monumental pieces, which have taken over public spaces in Mexico and abroad. He has participated in more than 260 collective expositions, and individually, his works have been showcased in galleries and museums throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and Central America.
