Art Opening Reception: Friday, November 8, 2024 / 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm @ 9 Vassar Street

The Right To Be Held by Lala Montoya

Lala Montoya is a mixed-media artist who was born and raised in Medellín Colombia – a land of strong mountains, ancient lakes and careful campesinos. It is this abundance of nature and the abundant nature within each of us, particularly the way that nature is expressed in the body and in the work of Life, that inspires her powerful earthen art of ceramics, wood carving, painting, and printing blocks. It is through these mediums that she seeks to illuminate the beauty of time and of age and to make transparent the small details often missed in the rush of progress and perfection. “At the core of all my work are three ethics – Care for the Earth, Care for the People and Fair Share that is practiced by making outdoor education accessible and eliminating economic and language barriers,” explains Ms. Montoya.  Her exhibition at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, “The Right to”, focuses on the harsh realities of conflict and human rights violations and aims to stimulate contemplation on how to collectively preserve these sacred rights, fostering empathy and awareness.  She is currently rooted at the foot of the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, NY and, in addition to being an accomplished artist, works as youth coordinator of Poughkeepsie Farm Project.