Much ink’s been spilled over our current media landscape and its overwhelming oversaturation, but this dual exhibition of Emilio Villalba and Carlos Ramirez’s work empties entire paint cans on the subject from two different but intertwined perspectives. As Ivester’s exhibition copy explains, Villalba’s paintings “explore the psychological weight of existing within this climate” with figures shown in compartmentalized spaces indicative of a culture obsessed with public vs. private expression. On the other hand, Ramirez focuses more heavily on imagery associated with political unrest, such as redaction bars, along with “visual vocabulary rooted in Chicano cultural histories, revolutionary posters, sign painting, and graffiti.” Both artists display their work through mid-July at this exhibition co-curated by Matt Diehl. – James Scott
