Nora Garza: Embracing the Absurd
On view September 9 – October 10, 2023
Opening reception: Saturday, September 9, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation is pleased to present a solo exhibition of paintings by Nora Garza. The exhibition Embracing the Absurd will be on view September 9 – October 10, 2023 as part of the Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation’s Ojai Institute initiative. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, September 9, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. The artist will be present, and all are welcome to attend.
Embracing the Absurd merges the artist’s long standing fascination with the subjects of archaeology, ancient history, biblical studies, and ufology. From a young age, and with a Catholic upbringing, she was captivated by such happenings as the search for Noah’s Ark, the Shroud of Turin, the Virgin Mary of Medjugorje, Virgin of Fatima, and her apparitions. She eventually began to read and start her research into events surrounding paranormal and unexplained phenomena such as alien encounters, both ancient and contemporary.
In the artist’s own words:
In my paintings, I leave behind a historical record from a common person’s perspective concerning the constant revelation of aliens. Up to today, the alien craft that hover over our countries have shown to be much more advanced than our aircraft and our technology. As Time passes, more and more encounters between humans and aliens occur…I am excited at the prospect of interacting more with aliens and hopefully they will be willing to bring us up to par with them in their knowledge of technology and there might be hundreds of other types of knowledge and perspectives that they would want to share with us. l am excited, and my mind is in awe. I feel so lucky to live to see this new alien revelation.
Works in the exhibition have been organized into four chapters: Messages, Interactions, Real Life Contacts, and Future of Humanity. Overall this exhibition of twelve acrylic paintings on canvas presents images of real life experiences, and those imagined by the artist based on press accounts, historical events, and other encounters.
Nora Garza is originally from the border region of Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, and now lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona. She received her MA in Education from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and had a long career as a public education teacher, school principal and museum educator. After retiring, Garza taught art classes for eight years at the Brownsville Museum of Art and dedicated herself full-time to painting and drawing. In addition to her art practice, she regularly attends museum exhibitions and engages with other artists in her community.
Image: Nora Garza, Personal Sedona UFO Tour, 2022. Courtesy The Artist.