Discover the vibrant spirit of Mexican culture at the Sing, Don’t Cry exhibition by Angie Quintanilla Coates. Inspired by the anthem “Cielito Lindo,” this showcase explores the persistent optimism of Mexican life through bold geometric forms and vivid colours. The exhibition reflects a journey from hardship to joy, embodying the mantra “Canta y no llores” (Sing and don’t cry). Join us for an inspiring guided walkthrough of the exhibition with Miret Rodriguez, celebrating the resilience and transformative power of hope through art.

Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: THIS Gallery (268 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X5)
Free Event

Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sing-dont-cry-exhibition-visit-with-angie-quintanilla-and-miret-rodriguez-tickets-1007953765847?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sing, Don’t Cry

Porque cantando se alegran… los corazones (Because by singing, hearts get happy) -“Cielito Lindo” (Lovely Sweet One)

Mexican people, my people, are some of the most grateful and joyful people I know. Growing up, however, I didn’t always relate to this. It wasn’t until I moved to Canada and found sobriety that I began to reclaim a number of aspects of Mexican culture, including its stubborn optimism.

Having a positive outlook on life seems counterintuitive when in Mexico; things can be quite challenging for a lot of people, and if they aren’t, just wait a second, and your luck might run out! Faced with consistent hardship, focusing on the good that persists is not only a matter of survival but also one of Mexico’s greatest strengths.

The work that makes up ‘Sing Don’t Cry’ reflects this spirit of persistent joyfulness. By centring colour and geometric forms in all their boldness and purity but in combinations that offer a more subtle aesthetic, I want to affirm an unapologetic, relentless optimism.

This is a mindset I share with Mexico’s unofficial anthem, “Cielito Lindo”, a powerful song that frequently unites the country in celebration (at the World Cup, for example) but also in times of real tragedy and mourning. In September 2017, when a catastrophic earthquake in Mexico City left hundreds dead, volunteers collected food and medical equipment while singing a profoundly moving rendition of “Cielito Lindo.”

The chorus of this spirit-lifting anthem-“Canta y no llores”- is where I take my show title. To sing rather than cry: this isn’t a toxic optimism; instead, it’s a choice made from strength and a brave hopefulness, a reminder not to bury negative feelings, but rather to not spend so much time in the dark that we forget to see the light. This body of work is my way of singing with colour and shape and an invitation for anyone who needs it, to get a dose of what I like to call dopamina mexicana.

About the artist

Angie Quintanilla (keen-tah-knee-yah) Coates is a Mexican visual artist based in Port Moody, BC. Angie didn’t discover her art practice until later in life. Growing up in Mexico, art seemed like a luxury and not a viable vocation. Not until coming to Canada and finding sobriety did Angie return to art, realizing that creating had never been a luxury. It’s a necessity.

A deeply curious artist, Angie is inspired by everything, and her practice is always evolving. A constant thread in her work is her bold and enthusiastic use of colour. Angie’s palette is both a nod to her Mexican heritage and a reflection of the joy and gratitude she feels in her practice. These are the feelings she most wants to ignite in the viewer.

Website: https://www.angieqcoates.com/

Instagram: @thefive15

About the Facilitator

Miret Rodriguez is the creative director of Curated Tastes and is the former VP of VLACC. She holds an MBA in art and culture management from the Superior School of Commerce in Paris and a BA Major in Art History from UBC. Miret relies on art and the artists that make it to navigate through cultural dislocation and hybridity. Since 2020,

Miret has been interviewing Latinx artists in Canada about their immigration stories and their ways of expressing their experiences through art. This led her to curate Volver (to return, to become) in 2022 at Cityscape Community Artspace in North Vancouver.

Instagram: @curatedtastes / @miretrodriguez

In Partnership with Curated Tastes