ArtCenter South Florida

ArtCenter / South Florida (ACSF) presents Inherent Connection, an exhibition with resident artists Elsa Carolina Munoz and Melissa Ruffino that highlights the importance of revival and abstract art. Whereas Munoz documents life through photography, Ruffino paints reflections of her dreams. The juxtaposition of “the here and now” and a fictitious reality create ambiguities in the pieces that are literally and conceptually familiar. Inherent Connection opens August 1st and runs through September 14th, 2008, at the ACSF gallery, located at 800 Lincoln Road, in Miami Beach). The reception slated for Saturday, August 2nd, is free and open to the public.

“This is an exciting exhibition by two very talented artists from our residency program,” said Jeremy Chestler, ACSF Executive Director. “ArtCenter is a place for people to meet, hone their craft and be inspired by each other. Whether through our education program or by partnering for an exhibition, Munoz and Ruffino show how new relationships can be forged by creative exchanges.”

Munoz and Ruffino’s pieces have been inspired by a “call and response” method, with one artist giving her abstract creation to the other to interpret in her own medium. Their pieces will be displayed side by side in the ArtCenter gallery, further emphasizing the similarities and differences in subject matter and materials. Since both women create in a very instinctual manner that is intimate and insular, they feel that a large portion of the creative process comprises the viewer. "An outside source is imperative to growth," said Ruffino with regard to collaborating with artists. “Others can be informative on things that I might not be aware of, helping me to answer the questions that are posed by my work.”

As an experimental photographer, Munoz is curious about the possibilities of different materials and creates her work by carefully observing nature and everyday experiences. By means of long exposures, controlled light sources and precise movement techniques, she draws or sketches still images using only her camera. Munoz’ pieces are true explorations of movement; never altering the final output, the recording process becomes the object through gesture.

Ruffino manipulates paint through glazing, sanding and using contrasting colors and textures to illustrate chaotic but controlled reflections of her memories. True to non-representational form that is characteristic of abstract art, she describes the lyrical yet strange balance of space in her work as resembling a scientific microscopic image or an underwater scene.

For more information, please call: 305.674.8278