Welcome
Nora Valdez

FRAGMENTS

opens at the Hess this fall

September 20 – November 20
Artists’ Reception and talk: October 17th 2 – 5pm

Nora Valdez creates sculpture and public art exploring the idea of home and the immigrant experience. Says Nora about her new work at the Hess: “Although my themes come from a personal place, many immigrants who are navigating this same mighty river, moving from place to place and longing for home, share this feeling and yearn for a new place to rest and be safe. Now that we are all living in times of increasing change and disruption, that feeling of being dislocated and fragmented might be felt by even more people, not just immigrants. The feeling of disruption and dislocation can have many sources. Carving gives me the opportunity to hear and express answers from deep within. When I follow it I find it directs me slowly towards peace. Back home to my essential self, the self that is not fragmented or stuck between worlds.”

Born in Argentina, Nora has been living and working in the United States since 1986. She began exhibiting her work in 1977 and in 1982 graduated from the College of Fine Arts (Mercedes San Luis, Argentina) as Professor of Fine Arts. Her work has been exhibited internationally in Europe, Asia, North, Central and South America, including numerous international sculpture symposia. She has more than 15 permanent public art pieces in the U.S. and around the world. She teaches at the Carving Center & Sculpture Studio in W. Rutland, Vermont.

Hess Gallery Young Filmmakers Online Film Festival

Growing People

Take a journey into the lives of three sisters affected by food insecurity in a place we think of as a vacation paradise. Through working at a local farm, the sisters learn about growing food as they gain an education and grow as people. MA’O Organic Farms, in the historical marginalized rural community of Wai’anae, O’ahu, is the site of a youth leadership program that has impacted the lives of hundreds of Hawaiian youth. This short documentary is an intimate look at the MA’O program through the stories of sisters Miki, U’ilani and Sheila Arasato.

Directed by Dana Forsberg, Growing People won “Best Documentary” at the Santa Cruz Film Festival. Dana’s work focuses on the empowerment of young women in marginalized communities.

The Pine Manor Community can watch for free using the code emailed by the Gallery Director. Anyone can watch for free with a Kanopy subscription, including free services via the Boston Public Library. Get an electronic card at bpl.org, available to anyone in Massachusetts including students who may be from other places or people who live elsewhere but work in Mass. Questions on how to view? Email the Hess Director, cwirth@pmc.edu or go to bpl.org.