WASHINGTON, D.C. (CitizenWire) — The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce the selection of Puerto Rico-based artist collaborative Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla as the United States’ representation to the 54th International Art Exhibition in Venice, Italy in 2011. Lisa D. Freiman, Chair, Department of Contemporary Art, Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), and Director, 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, will serve as Commissioner organizing the exhibition and related activities from June through November 2011.
The presentation of the collaborative Allora & Calzadilla will feature new commissions incorporating interactive sculpture, performance, and sound elements. Designed to offer rich opportunities for dialogue and interaction with the public, their projects will appeal to a broad audience. The Indianapolis Museum of Art will magnify the impact of the exhibition by providing educational and visual literacy training for underserved youth from Indianapolis, Ponce, Puerto Rico, and Venice, who will facilitate tours in the U.S. Pavilion and engage in social networking and new media initiatives.
The selection of Allora & Calzadilla resulted from an open competition and followed the recommendation of the Federal Advisory Committee on International Exhibitions (FACIE), convened by the National Endowment for the Arts. The work of Allora & Calzadilla, a Spanish-speaking team living and working in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, reflects the progressiveness of creativity and culture in the United States today.
ECA’s Cultural Programs Division supports and manages the official U.S. participation at the Venice Visual Arts Biennale. U.S. representation at this global event ensures that the excellence, vitality, and diversity of the arts in the United States are effectively showcased abroad and provides an opportunity to engage foreign audiences to increase mutual understanding.
More information:
http://exchanges.state.gov/cultural/index.html?utm_source=stategov&utm_medium=medianote0810&utm_campaign=venice .