“Paco” Loza and his work.
Dorchester Center for the Arts is excited to present their new exhibition The Fiber of Life, which features the original work of Mexican-born artist Francisco “Paco” Loza. Twenty-five pieces of his intricate art will be on display next to works by a group of fiber artists based in the greater DMV area. The exhibit is DCA’s main offering for September and October.
Baltimore-based Loza, a self-taught artist with over two decades of experience, honors his Mexican heritage through the technique of Arte de Estambre, or Pressed Yarn Art.
Working on wood surfaces that he covers with two types of wax, Loza shapes, cuts, and presses multi-colored yarn, thread by thread, into vibrant and intricate works that also include beaded pieces. Some of his productions are uniquely three-dimensional in depth and perspective.
Loza invites people to gain a more nuanced understanding of Mexico’s culture, traditions, and forms of artistic expression.
His art also reflects his interpretations of the environment, immigration, spirituality, the contemporary, and the abstract. Go to his website to view his work.
He has exhibited and led interactive workshops in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, at museums, cultural centers, universities, Rehoboth Art League, and Washington DC’s Mexican Embassy. Speaking of workshops, Loza will be teaching his original Pressed Yarn technique on Sept. 13 from 10am to Noon at the DCA. You can get more information and register here.
The Fiber of Life intertwines Loza’s extraordinary artwork with fiber artists from different backgrounds. Their artwork reflects stories that explore themes from race and gender, family and cultural heritage, as well as their identity as an artist. The selected artists for the group exhibit are inspired by Loza’s approach to storytelling via the medium of yarn or fiber art.
The exhibition opens on Sept. 4 and runs through Oct. 29. There will be Second Saturday Artists Receptions on Sept. 9 and Oct. 11 from 5-7 p.m. Dorchester Center for the Arts is open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 11-5, except Second Saturday when it’s 11-8. Tuesdays and Thursdays, they’re open 12-8. The address is 321 High Street in Cambridge.
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