Emily Elizabeth Hassell

Basilica Industria, Hudson NY 2008 Solo exhibition

Artists Statement

Im drawn to recreate things I perceive about human nature, situations, emotions, stories, and often difficult scenarios that I either cannot ignore, cant comprehend, or observe without  processing it somehow. I try to find points where our humanity resonates on some level connects rather than separates, recreating a shared glimpse of our humanity. Though much of my material is deeply researched and thought out, when Im actually up to my elbows in it I leave myself free to let the material and composition evolve on its own as well.  Though the beginning of the work process leans toward conceptual, my goal is to make it be simple enough to speak for itself simply and clearly with no long explanation on the wall next to it describing what it is. That it holds enough content through the materials I use to continue to provoke thought over and over again, but be "readable" and make sense even for a young child at first glimpse.  The materials for me become the metaphors for the different thoughts surrounding the subject itself, describing scenarios and ideas. 

b.1976
Autodidact

Biography

     After living and working for two years in England while studying theatre and sculpture, Hassell travelled in 1994 to Guatemala where she married into and worked as part of an avant-guard collective called los Bizarros. The group was made up of a small group of multi- disciplined artists who were all in their in early 20's. After over thirty years of war in Guatemala, los Bizarros were one of the first groups to bring enduring changes that called attention nationally and internationally, forming a world class Contemporary Art scene within Guatemala. Los Bizarros quickly gained recognition and merit for their accomplishments from Galleries, organizations, government, press, Ministries of Cultural et all. Emily established herself within this generation artists as a sculptor and painter, but was also involved with the group during the  formation of acclaimed city festivals (Octubre Azul, Arte Urbano, Festival del Centro Historico), organizations, bands ( Bohemia Suburbana), theatre companies, film production (Casa Comal), art classes, television ( Guate Vision), and countless other group and individual initiatives.

      As well as being an exhibiting artist since 2000, Hassell has co founded two intentionally ephemeral initiatives. As executive Director of "0-27" a multidisciplinary Art Project in Guatemala City, Hassell hosted and sponsored a residential /work and exhibition space for more than 13 artists including Anibal Lopez A – 153167 (Young Artists Award, 1996 Venice Biennial represented by  Ida Pissani and Prometeo Gallery, Italy). Hassell also co- founded the Experimental Artists Collective at Gallery 345, Hudson NY with a group of five other local artists. Hassell has curated and organized exhibitions for numerous other artists over the years nationally and internationally. She has also organized solo exhibitions of her own work at the Metropolitan Cultural Center in Guatemala and at the Basilica Industria under the ownership of Patric Doyle in Hudson NY with private patronage. She received a studio work grant in 2009 through Hudson River Art Projects with Peter Barton and exhibited the work at Studio 444 in Hudson NY.
     Hassell has received the Henriette Reiss Award, as well as the Think Outward Arts Grant, Hudson River Arts Project Studio Grant with Peter Barton and Artefact and Robert Pardo Gallery, Forth Worth, Fla. studio grants. Her work is in numerous private collections in both Central America and the US. Hassell presently works under the guidance of McDaris Fine Art and Consulting, Hudson NY.
She lives and works in Ghent N.Y. and considers it noteworthy that she has raised her four children on her own.

Individual Exhibitions
2009 "Blood" Studio 444, Hudson River Art Projects, Hudson NY
2008 "Tides" Basilica Industria, Hudson NY
2004 "Payasos y Ladrones" Canton Exposition, Fundaccion G&T Continental, C.A
2003 "Diary" Metropolitan Cultural Center, Guatemala curated by Jose Osorio
2002 "Guerra por Amor" Gavroche, Guatemala curated by Aida Aguilar

Collective Exhibitions
2010 "Water" Basilica Industria Hudson NY
2008 "Waves on Windows" curated by Gregory Kepinski
2008 345 Artists Collective, Hudson NY
2007 November Gallery 345 Experimental Artists Collective, Hudson NY
2007 October Gallery 345 Experimental Artists Collective, Hudson NY
2007 September Experimental Artists Collective, Hudson NY
2007 CCCA Arts Walk, Hudson NY
2007 La Puerta Roja, Guatemala, Central America
2006 La Puerta Roja, Guatemala, Central America
2005 Metropolitan Cultural Center, Guatemala,Central America Curated by Jose Osorio
2005 Museo Ixchel, Guatemala,C.A. Curated by
2005 Sol del Rio, cuarated by Victor Martinez, Guatemala, Central America
2004 Red Mills, Merchant and Ivory Foundation, NY
2004 Sol del Rio, Victor Martinez, Guatemala, Central America
2003 Hipersensitivity, 0-27 Guatemala., Central America
2002 Coloquia, Guatemala, Central America
2001 0-27 Guatemala Central America
2001 Imagica, Antigua, Guatemala, Central America.
2001 Semana Bizarra, Guatemala, Central America
1998 Casa Bizarra, Guatemala, Central America.
1997 Casa Bizarra, Guatemala, Central America.
1996 Casa Bizarra, Guatemala, Central America
1995 Arts Walk, Hudson, NY

Awards
Hudson River Art Projects 2009
Credere Grant 2008
Henriette Reiss Award 2004

Ephemeral Art Projects
Executive Director  and Co Founder of 0-27, Guatemala City 2001-2003
Co founder of the Experimental Artists Collective and Gallery 345, Hudson NY 2007-2009

Workshops
2005/06 HLM, Antigua,Guatemala
2003/04 Casa Comal, Guatemala


Televisión
2007 Guatevision HLM interview on Equine Therapy HLM
2004 Guatevision EL Vagon, interview with Igal Permuth on exhibition “War for Love”
2003 Guatevision El Vagon, Igal Permuth on other works

Bibliography
La Cuerda, Lucia Escobar 2006

References for Los Bizarros and la Casa Bizarra
"El inicio de arte urbano en la ciudad de Guatemala después de la firma de la paz" DeGuate.com 2009
"Anologia de ocho Expresiones Artistico..." Thesis by Luis Alberto Torres Morales 2009
"La Casa Bizarra, preludio del arte Contemporanea en Guatemala"  by Javier Payeras


Apprenticeships
1992-94 Hugh Baker, Sculptor, UK
1992-94 Anna Smith, Theatre, UK
1998 Larry Stirling, Sculptor Guatemala/USA