Contemporary Art of Argentina

—By Rosemary (Tracy) Woods—

When Billy Myers informed me that he was not only volunteering his time by assisting with lighting and gallery design but he was also willing to work on some joint exhibitions, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Billy Myers brings with him years of experience, which included the Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield Museums, Worcester Art Museums, Iroquois Indian Museums and Smith College Museum of Art, where he created a Conservation Program, and is scheduled to begin teaching this program in fall of 2017, in Florence, Italy at the Florence Academy of the Arts.

His years of gallery design, expertise in lighting and doing what he does best were like hitting the Power Ball. His new role as Artistic Director of Art for the Soul is indeed a wonderful addition. He has put together an exhibition that still has me pinching myself to see if this is a reality or am I dreaming?

Tango: Contemporary Art of Argentina, the title of exhibition, began to unfold so quickly. First, with Myers having access to a large body of work by contemporary Argentina artists owned by a private collector, including a large self portrait of Sol Halabi. Soon after that, Gallery intern Audira Cave and I ventured off to the International Expo in NYC. Upon arrival at the Expo, Audira immediately found the Argentina section and not only did we get to meet the six artists whose works are being exhibited in Tango, but the Deputy Consul of Argentina stated he would like to schedule a meeting to have the gallery participate in a joint exhibition. And the rest is history. . . Myers has utilized the skills of the three gallery interns: Sierra Myers, who just happens to be his daughter; along with one of his top students, Tatalian Shannon, who is not only a prior conservationist student, but is also excellent in the field of research; and Audira Cave, who, although not a former student of Myers’, is interested in one day opening her own performing art center and who has assisted with networking with the artists as well as assisting with preparing the gallery for installation.

Why Argentina? In keeping with Art for the Soul’s mission statement of exhibiting artists of diverse backgrounds and after reading Tango: An Art History of Love, it made the Tango exhibition even more exciting. Tango dancing and the history of Tango will be discussed in an upcoming lecture. The ever popular film, Tango Negro, further depicts the African influence that blacks have had on Tango, both in dancing and music.

We hope you will stop in to see the exhibition, participate in Tango dancing and demonstrations, enjoy some Argentinean food, wine, music, film and educational lectures. This program is sponsored in part by the Springfield Cultural Council, a local agency funded by the state agency, The Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Check with Art for the Soul Gallery at 413-231-4598 for a schedule of activities or visit us at www.art4thesoul.org.