Provenance Gallery is pleased to present, LUCRE, an installation featuring recent work by Jenelle Esparza.
In a continuation of Esparza’s work with cotton, Lucre will be comprised of approximately 250 pieces of handmade cotton paper money, various found objects, and graphite drawings. The focus of this installation is the fiber itself, the hands it passes through, and the money that passes in all directions.
“The cash flow goes down the hierarchy of the company and into the hands of the workers only to be recirculated back into the the economic flow. It’s ironic that the very money being circulated is made primarily out of the fiber being picked. The installment of the cotton money pieces is meant to represent this directional, stigmatic flow and transformation of the cotton fiber. This surge is occasionally interrupted by various artworks and found objects that are meant to steer the thought process to issues surrounding cotton such as legal matters, provision of labor, and of course the human element.”
- Jenelle Esparza
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jenelle Esparza is a photographer originally from Corpus Christi, Texas. Though primarily a photographer, Esparza also works in multi-media installation and creates abstract photo-based pieces. She received her BFA in photography from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2010 and continues to exhibit annually. She was recently awarded the 2015 NALAC (Nat’l Association of Latino Arts and Culture) Artist Grant for her project ‘El Color de la Obra’ on Latinos in the South Texas cotton industry. She has exhibited nationally and currently manages her photography studio working for local artists and arts organizations.
Artist's Website: www.jenelleesparza.com
Exhibition will be on view until February 26th, by appointment.
