“Spark” Flies at Arte

At dusk, the rebuilt clapboard structure — steps away from the picturesque Quinnipiac River and home to Arte Inc. — was aglow with warm light and the excitement of ​“Spark,” a new exhibit featuring around 50 works of seven emerging Hispanic artists, and some very young artists from six New Haven public schools.

More than a handsome architectural gateway at number 19 Grand Ave., more than an art gallery, Arte Inc. is the physical expression and vision of co-founders Daniel Diaz and David Greco, who recognized a great need and decided to do something about it. In a video posted on the Art Inc website, co-founder Diaz explains: ​“We noticed that there was a disconnect between the Latino community and the arts community… We founded Arte, an organization devoted to Latino arts, culture, and talent.” 

Though the organization has been active for almost 10 years, many in the greater New Haven arts community remain unaware of its multifaceted mission and record of accomplishment. ​“Our goal is to create a bridge between communities, open dialogue and breakdown stereotypes, and we accomplish this through our programs which include mentoring programs, after school programs, family workshops, scholarships, road trips and cultural and heritage events,” said board Chairman Diaz. Executive Director David Greco said that since its inception, Arte has awarded almost $50,000 in college scholarships.

Greeting visitors at the Spark opening were co-curators Yvonne Padilla and Noelia Bonilla, artists who attended New Haven public schools and who after college returned to the community to help enrich the lives of young people through after school arts programs sponsored by Arte, Inc. Curator Padilla said that the Spark exhibit required participants to live in Connecticut and be ​“emerging artists,” which she defined as artists who exhibit less than two times per year.

As at many gallery openings, some of the artists represented were available to discuss their works and share their personal stories. Standing before her vivid painting inspired by El Yunque, the rainforest in her native Puerto Rico and premier eco-tourism location, Raquel Ibarra said she loves the ​“hot colors” of the forest. She said that people have found up to 45 bird images integrated into the flowing forms of pigment she applied exclusively with a spatula. Ibarra said that though she had been working primarily with ceramics from an early age, she took up painting in 2008 as a way of coping with her father’s illness and eventual death.

Andres Madariaga, who attended New Haven’s Wilbur Cross High School, Educational Center for the Arts, Gateway College and the Cooper Union summer arts program, said that the imagery he creates is informed by investigations of symbolism, iconography and color. In his ​“Color Theory 101,” Madariaga has given a nod to Vienna secessionist painter Gustav Klimt, exploring color’s emotional content with shimmering elements, symbols, and ​“all the colors of the palette.”

In the gallery’s lower level, aspiring artists from six of New Haven’s public schools got a jump on what it feels like to exhibit in a gallery and even sell their works of art. Roberto Clemente fourth-grader Antonio Ortiz called his mixed-media design of watercolor, crayons and ​“sharpies” an expression of his love for music. A keyboard, music notes and other symbols combined to create a sense of visual music for this young artist, who said he loves to play the recorder and will soon be traveling with classmates to perform in New York.

During a brief pause from the art viewing and festivities, Daniel Diaz, who also works for New Haven’s Board of Education, took an opportunity to give acknowledgements, discuss upcoming exhibitions, events and programs. He expressed his and the gallery’s pride in participating New Haven students: ​“We have great students out there and we are proud of them.”

The Spark exhibit runs through April 28.