“NATURE IS THE NORM,” THE MYTH OF NORMAL
MASSART ART MUSEUM
“The myth of normal, a curated exhibit by Marie Spirito. Celebrates the 150th anniversary of Massachusetts College of Art. I was invited to paint a mural in this group exhibit at MAAM. As an alumni, it was an honor to return to school to paint my second museum show 2023. This exhibit is particularly special because it reassured me that all of the hard work throughout the years after graduating in ‘09 was worth the effort.”
-Felipe Ortiz
“It is a humbling experience to return to my educational roots, recognize old teachers, and walk through school facilities. I explored my two thematic strengths in my paintings, “Explosive Nature” and “Urban Scenery.” This one feels like a dream come true. Special thanks to Lisa Tung, Joy, Mari Spirito, Cedric Douglas, and the entire Museum Staff.”
-Felipe Ortiz
EXHIBITION TEXT | MassArt Art Museum
Nature is the Norm, 2023
Acrylic paint Felipe Ortiz ’09
“Ortiz embraced Gabor Maté’s calling out of capitalism, competition, and individualism as the driving forces behind today’s sick societies. These forces are represented with a glut of urban development and despair. Ortiz paints plants and buildings from his early life in Colombia and his current life in Boston. The left side proposes nature as space to be still, to have time to look at ourselves deeply. Here we are able to reconnect and move beyond the alienation of modern life. There is hope that we could work with our relationship to our trauma, to care for it, to acknowledge it, and integrate it into our whole self.”
-Mari Spirito, Curator