HAF news: arch of resistance
HAF member/artist: Reenie Charriere was a participant in the Hannacc Can Borni artist residency in Penedes Spain, outside of Barcelona, from February 11 through February 27. I have been watching her studio projects during this residency and was captured by her installation, arch of resistance. Reenie constructed this wonderful symbolic installation project with unsustainable materials. Reenie’s work continues to addresses environmental issues exposing the natural beauty as well as the synthetic troubles all around us, and in so doing, she actively considers the consequences of the human condition in today’s world. Reenie Charrière received her MFA in 2009 from Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine. She was featured on HAF back in November 2016, with her inclusion of HAF’s Plastic Trash into Art Project. I was able to engage in a short dialogue detailing Reenie’s recent Spanish adventure.
HAF: Hello Reenie, I understand that you participated in an artist residency in Spain. How did you learn about the residency and how long was the stay?
Reenie: One Month, but I am only able to stay for 16 days, it is a granted residency. It is located in the Penedés region, 45 minutes south of Barcelona. I applied to the residency, and was accepted. It was listed on Residency Unlimited and other international residency listings. The facilities are lovely and invigorating and it is run by a couple, David Cuende – Marketing manager, and Sonia Toneu – artist. They are generous, and informative, happy to introduce Barcelona other spectacular areas, and cultural events.
HAF: How has this experience influenced your work?
Reenie: My work is always site specific, and seeing Gaudi’s genius architecture in person has definitely pushed me to go further. In his Pedrera, there is a connection in his iron work, inspired by the growth of seaweed, and that resonates with my work. I am always pushing the juxtaposition of synthetic and organic matter. Also, I visited the Tapies Museum and was inspired by his raw, dynamic, and rebellious objects.
HAF: You describe the works of Antoni Tapies as raw, dynamic, and rebellious objects. How were they rebellious?
Reenie: He brought life to everyday objects, just in way he hung a piece of fabric or emphasized the wrinkles in paper giving it importance.
HAF: Tell us the story behind Arch of Resistance?
Reenie: I have been obsessed with arches, as form, and a symbol. To me an arch is a place of contemplation, and framing. Drawing is my medium, and sculptural forms evolve from the drawing. This work is a sculptural drawing. I believe that in these times RESISTANCE is necessary to get beyond the negative -isms, racism, fascism, ageism, sexism, to name a few, that block the way of freedom. The pink in my piece refers to the pink hats in the Woman’s March, which I participated in, and the ongoing strive for world PEACE.
Title: Arch of Resistance, 2017
discarded jewelry box fillers, discarded plastic hoses, ink 120 x 60 x 30″
Hannacc Can Borni residency Penedes, Spain
for additional information visit Hannocc Can Borni
