Start off at the Nicholson Venture, a group yard and gallery situated east of the Anacostia River in D.C.’s Ward 7. The juxtaposition among shade and content is the initially thing that will get viewers in the artist’s work. Vivid tapestries alongside the windows showcase scenes from performances staged by the artist. In these photographs, elegant figures dressed in head-to-toe onesies and allover masks don flowing wigs of bouquets. Corona’s people could be runway products for the French luxurious property Margiela. Still they are saddled with have-ons, duffels and trash baggage, as if they’ve packed every little thing they have on their backs.
Corona made considerably of the do the job on see across his suite of solos as an artist-in-home at the nonprofit Nicholson Undertaking in the tumble of 2021. The outcome, “Wayfaring,” involves tapestries, as very well as vinyl ponchos, moreover ceramic-like sculpted objects. The migrants on his textiles confront absent from the viewer, staring out at partitions and around rivers — borders each pure and man-designed.
The artist, who identifies as queer, is of Mexican descent folkloric motifs show up in his tapestries and ponchos. While the compositions on Corona’s “climate ponchos” in particular may remind viewers of Matisse’s cutouts, they position (also) to Mexican crafts and graphic arts, even as his elements defy the traditions he references.
“Wayfaring” is a companion show to “Weathering,” on look at throughout city — geographically and socioeconomically — at the Kreeger Museum. Below, Corona’s do the job occupies what employed to be the museum director’s place of work, repurposed throughout lockdown as a area for showcasing neighborhood artists and curators. A Do it yourself backyard garden in disadvantaged Fairlawn and a Philip Johnson — built gem in tony Foxhall: The venues couldn’t be far more dissimilar.
Corona works by using this distinction to his gain. At the Kreeger, his vase-like sculpted heads are the focus. “Plant Individuals,” as they are recognised, depict environmental stewards in Corona’s fictional mythos. In another context, these heads might honor drag queens or ceremonial totems. Framed in pride of location by a window seeking out around the museum grounds, they give a intelligent comment on the way establishments absorb cultural artifacts, at occasions divorcing them from their context or information.
Corona has it the two strategies with his operate: His ponchos depict scenes of migration and deprivation compelled by local climate change, for instance, when the artificial plastics he takes advantage of to make them point out the industrial motorists of world wide warming. If he’s indicting capitalism, he’s charging himself alongside with it.
The artist’s 3rd solo display adds one more layer to his critique: trend. At Close friends Artspace, an artwork and structure gallery in a tailor made-crafted garage-design and style place in Northern Virginia, Corona’s work is presented as collectible couture. A web-site-specific artwork on the garage door offers the area a pop-up really feel. Archival-good quality functions these as “Wayfaring with Child” and “Moon Rest” (each 2021-2022) definitely come to feel like layout objects in this article. In this white cube — fashion presentation, Corona’s reflections on the lousy and dispossessed look completely ready for a jog down to the Art Basel artwork reasonable in Miami Seashore.
The pieces in Mates Artspace’s “Earth Mother Bloom” resemble those at the Nicholson Challenge and the Kreeger, but each display has its individual distinct sensibility. In an elliptical perception, these parallel sights come jointly as a meta-exhibition about the romance among art and commerce. The complete existence cycle of creative production as it progresses from neighborhood craft to cultural artifact to industrial commodity is obtainable.
The interior tensions in Corona’s get the job done under no circumstances completely take care of in excess of these 3 reveals. How could they? He’s grappling with large ideas, like the disparate impact of climate modify, migrant actions spurred by inequality and competing impulses to promote and defend craft traditions.
And although there is some span in the quality of execution across these is effective, Corona is equally prolific and consistent. In 1 of his prototype local weather ponchos at the Nicholson Undertaking, a figure in a purple outfit laden with baggage stares at a fire in the length. It could be Corona, generating his way by going for walks.
Prices: $10 instructed donation $8 for college students, seniors and armed service personnel. Timed-entry passes necessary.
Dates: By way of March 12, by appointment.
Dates: As a result of March 12, by appointment.
