30/30+: Juliana Rico – August 1 through October 11, 2015 @ Grand Central Art Center

OPENING RECEPTION:
August 1 from 7-10PM

Juliana Rico, Day 17 and Involuntary Response Series (38 minutes).

For at least 30 minutes everyday, over the course of 30 days, artist Juliana Rico ran. Beginning from the same location, each day a new route was explored–north, east, south, and west. The duration was dependent on her physical and mental strength that day, that moment. Using unique hand-stitched maps, she plotted the daily journeys and through her photographs, she documented her body’s reaction–her sweat, effected skin color, and open pores.

30/30+ investigates the body in both surface and function to scrutinize social perceptions of gender and femininity. Responding to the adage ‘a lady never breaks a sweat’ and the social stigma attached, the works serve as a quiet but firm confrontation to the male gaze. This series illustrates the antiquated notions of how women are presumed to be. Mixing a detached scientific approach with a quotidian and personal subject matter, the works create subjective maps that examine emotions felt, places encountered, and experiences lived.

Juliana Rico received her MFA in Creative Photography from California State University Fullerton and BFA in Photography from San Jose State University. Her work has been exhibited at: Woman Made Gallery and ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL; University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX; Los Angeles Center for Digital Photography, Los Angeles, CA; Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA; Formation Gallery, Santa Ana, CA. The artist lives and works in Orange County, California.