Virginia (Rochi) Llaneza
Artist Statement
My work is inspired from observation and by direct personal experience. It is about things that happen to women at home, sexually as well as in relationships with others. As a mother and wife, domesticity permeates my every image. I like to use humor to put across serious issues that can create helplessness but somehow we have the ability to manage making fun of our circumstances.
I am drawn to the psychological and emotional content of subjects that are close to home culturally. I tap on the difficulties between couples, quandaries of motherhood, women’s rolls, expectations and other associations with my surroundings.
I want to communicate the exceptional potential of contemporary women and the ageless potential of the universal woman . She is a lover, a mother, protector, she nurtures, and she heals and grieves. She is everything old and new.
Artist Statement
My work is inspired from observation and by direct personal experience. It is about things that happen to women at home, sexually as well as in relationships with others. As a mother and wife, domesticity permeates my every image. I like to use humor to put across serious issues that can create helplessness but somehow we have the ability to manage making fun of our circumstances.
I am drawn to the psychological and emotional content of subjects that are close to home culturally. I tap on the difficulties between couples, quandaries of motherhood, women’s rolls, expectations and other associations with my surroundings.
I want to communicate the exceptional potential of contemporary women and the ageless potential of the universal woman . She is a lover, a mother, protector, she nurtures, and she heals and grieves. She is everything old and new.
Contemporary Icons Exhibit
After my oldest son Alex turned 14, I thought I had seen every cartoon in existence; I had been to Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World as many times as I was required to. But no, at the age of 39, I became pregnant with my youngest, Giancarlo.
Reading Peter Pan to my little one and explaining timeless Tinkerbell as I remembered her from my childhood triggered my curiosity. The minute I experienced this scene, I was captivated by the idea of how these personas become icons because of their eternal quality, mythological resemblance or re-incarnation, as in the case of Hawkgirl and Wonder Woman, to name a few.
There is a timeless, jewel-like value to these characters because they are a legacy passed on from parents and grandparents to children; they are venerated and are part of our family unit and environment as Saints or “Santos” are in Latin American cultures. They answer every parent’s prayer for free time and every child’s fantastic archetype identity: even more, they have become our babysitters. Therefore, we idealize them in a sacred way.
When I reflect on this ageless, enduring concept I immediately associate it with amber and religion. Amber is a semi-precious stone that is mined in the outskirts of the city I grew up in That dates back to the 25-35 million year range. Astonished over the marvel of each “frozen little drama” inside the resin, you come across preserved organisms that will live forever as a window to the past. I associate this magic to animation personalities because the characteristics of each archetype keep repeating themselves throughout prehistoric times.
The fact that contemporary lifestyles fail to give parents the time they would like to spend with their children and the social reality that kids can’t play outside without supervision, have forced television onto kids lives more than ever before. These contemporary icons come to fulfill every child’s yearning for archetypes, heroes and heroines.
‘A drop of amber, from the weeping plant,
Fell unexpected, and embalm’d an ant;
The little insect we so much condemn
Is, from a worthless ant, become a gem’
(Rev. R. Graves, from Martial Epigrams, Book vi, Epigram XV)
VIRGINIA (ROCHI) LLaneza
EDUCATION:
FIU, Miami, FL, 2004 to present, MFA courses
FIU, Miami, FL, 2004, Bachelors in Fine Arts with minor in Art History (Suma Cum Laude)
Escuela de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Dominican Republic, 1983, Certificate in Art
Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, D.R., 1983 Bachelors in Business and 2nd major in Health Services Administration
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2000- Present Studio Artist
1993-2000 Freelance Mosaic Artist, Miami Fl
1991-1993 Freelance Art Critic
“La Informacion” Santiago, Dom. Rep.
1991-1993 Art Workshop Instructor
“Colegio Las Americas” Santiago, Dom. Rep.
1990-1991 Dominican American Chamber of Commerce
Miami, Fl
Director of Cultural Affairs
HONORS AND AWARDS:
· 2004- present: The Honor Society of Phi Beta Kappa, Epsilon of Florida, FIU, Miami, FL
· 2004: College of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Art and Art History, FIU, Miami, FL
· 2001- present: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Chapter #206, FIU, Miami, FL
· Summer of 2003: Dean’s List, College of Arts and Sciences, FIU, Miami, FL
· 2003- present: Golden Key International Honor Society, FIU, Miami, FL
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2005 Azur Liquido/Liquid Blue, Quinta Dominica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2005 Contemporary Icons, Juried Group Exhibition, Caladan Gallery, Beverly, MA, http://www.caladangallery.com/
2005 Unlimited Vision Exhibition, Emerging Artist Group, http://www.emergingartistsgroup.com/
and North Water Street Gallery, Canal Fulton, OH
2005 Tsunami Benefit Art Auction, Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL
2004 Broward Cares for Kids, An Art Initiative to Benefit CHILDNET, Design Center of The Americas, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2004 Recurring Trade: 2nd Annual Exchange Exhibit Between FIU and UA, University of Alabama ASL Gallery, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2003 Cuban Women: XXI Century, La Casa Azul Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas
2003 2003 Annual Student Show, The Art Museum at FIU, Miami, FL
2003 Remnant Habitat Resource, Graham Center Gallery at FIU, Miami, FL
2003 Southern Shift, University of Alabama, ASL Gallery, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2003 Coral Gables Gallery Night: FIU Students, Iberia Gallery Showroom, Coral Gables, FL
2002 2002 Annual Student Show. The Art Museum at FIU, Miami, FL
1997 Bird Road Art Connection Group, Mexican Cultural Center, Miami, FL
1996 Untitled, Terri’s Art Glass Gallery, Miami, FL (solo exhibit)
1995 Glass Works, Terri’s Art Glass Gallery, Miami, FL
1992 Lo Esencial Resulta Invisible, Centro Cultural Dominico-Americano, Santiago, Dominican Republic (solo exhibit)
1992 E. León Jiménez, C. por A., XIV Bienal de Arte, Santiago Dominican Republic
1992 El Cibao Pinta, CONANI: Consejo Nacional de la Niñez, Santiago, Dominican Republic
1992 Carnaval ’92, Centro Cultural de Santiago, Santiago, Dominican Republic
1989 Personal References, Big Five Club, Miami, FL (solo exhibit)
1981 Centro de Bellas Artes Student Show, Centro Cultural de Santiago, Santiago, Dominican Republic
COLLECTIONS:
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Peña
Mr. Barry Fellman
Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Ortiz
Carlos & Maria Enríquez
Dr. & Mrs. Gustavo Plasencia
Dr. Eduardo Peron
Dr. & Mrs. Pedro Llaneza
Mr. & Mrs. Jesus Gomez
Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Bornia
Mr. & Mrs. Luis Polonia
Dr. & Mrs. Jose Armas
Mr. Luís Robaina, Jr. & Sr.
Ms. Mayra Galliano
Dr. & Mrs. Pedro Llaneza
Mr. Luis Palomo
Dr. & Mrs. Ricardo Machado
Dr. & Mrs. Carl Lowell
Luís & Delia Martínez
José & Mirtha Dávila
Alicia Aixala
More collectors in:
United States, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Canada and others
EDUCATION:
FIU, Miami, FL, 2004 to present, MFA courses
FIU, Miami, FL, 2004, Bachelors in Fine Arts with minor in Art History (Suma Cum Laude)
Escuela de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Dominican Republic, 1983, Certificate in Art
Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, D.R., 1983 Bachelors in Business and 2nd major in Health Services Administration
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2000- Present Studio Artist
1993-2000 Freelance Mosaic Artist, Miami Fl
1991-1993 Freelance Art Critic
“La Informacion” Santiago, Dom. Rep.
1991-1993 Art Workshop Instructor
“Colegio Las Americas” Santiago, Dom. Rep.
1990-1991 Dominican American Chamber of Commerce
Miami, Fl
Director of Cultural Affairs
HONORS AND AWARDS:
· 2004- present: The Honor Society of Phi Beta Kappa, Epsilon of Florida, FIU, Miami, FL
· 2004: College of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Art and Art History, FIU, Miami, FL
· 2001- present: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Chapter #206, FIU, Miami, FL
· Summer of 2003: Dean’s List, College of Arts and Sciences, FIU, Miami, FL
· 2003- present: Golden Key International Honor Society, FIU, Miami, FL
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2005 Azur Liquido/Liquid Blue, Quinta Dominica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2005 Contemporary Icons, Juried Group Exhibition, Caladan Gallery, Beverly, MA, http://www.caladangallery.com/
2005 Unlimited Vision Exhibition, Emerging Artist Group, http://www.emergingartistsgroup.com/
and North Water Street Gallery, Canal Fulton, OH
2005 Tsunami Benefit Art Auction, Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL
2004 Broward Cares for Kids, An Art Initiative to Benefit CHILDNET, Design Center of The Americas, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2004 Recurring Trade: 2nd Annual Exchange Exhibit Between FIU and UA, University of Alabama ASL Gallery, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2003 Cuban Women: XXI Century, La Casa Azul Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas
2003 2003 Annual Student Show, The Art Museum at FIU, Miami, FL
2003 Remnant Habitat Resource, Graham Center Gallery at FIU, Miami, FL
2003 Southern Shift, University of Alabama, ASL Gallery, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2003 Coral Gables Gallery Night: FIU Students, Iberia Gallery Showroom, Coral Gables, FL
2002 2002 Annual Student Show. The Art Museum at FIU, Miami, FL
1997 Bird Road Art Connection Group, Mexican Cultural Center, Miami, FL
1996 Untitled, Terri’s Art Glass Gallery, Miami, FL (solo exhibit)
1995 Glass Works, Terri’s Art Glass Gallery, Miami, FL
1992 Lo Esencial Resulta Invisible, Centro Cultural Dominico-Americano, Santiago, Dominican Republic (solo exhibit)
1992 E. León Jiménez, C. por A., XIV Bienal de Arte, Santiago Dominican Republic
1992 El Cibao Pinta, CONANI: Consejo Nacional de la Niñez, Santiago, Dominican Republic
1992 Carnaval ’92, Centro Cultural de Santiago, Santiago, Dominican Republic
1989 Personal References, Big Five Club, Miami, FL (solo exhibit)
1981 Centro de Bellas Artes Student Show, Centro Cultural de Santiago, Santiago, Dominican Republic
COLLECTIONS:
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Peña
Mr. Barry Fellman
Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Ortiz
Carlos & Maria Enríquez
Dr. & Mrs. Gustavo Plasencia
Dr. Eduardo Peron
Dr. & Mrs. Pedro Llaneza
Mr. & Mrs. Jesus Gomez
Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Bornia
Mr. & Mrs. Luis Polonia
Dr. & Mrs. Jose Armas
Mr. Luís Robaina, Jr. & Sr.
Ms. Mayra Galliano
Dr. & Mrs. Pedro Llaneza
Mr. Luis Palomo
Dr. & Mrs. Ricardo Machado
Dr. & Mrs. Carl Lowell
Luís & Delia Martínez
José & Mirtha Dávila
Alicia Aixala
More collectors in:
United States, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Canada and others