As Many Layers as There Are II

Marilu Flores Gruben

As Many Layers as There Are II

Screen Print

23 x 12 inches

Edition of 50

Published by Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Philadelphia.

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From the Artist

As I drive from Dallas south on Highway 35, visions of my relatives appear, but then something else pops up—high school, religious processions, altars, beds, the girls, the women, the ladies, the county jail.
_{—Excerpted from http://www.marilufloresgruben.com/index.html, accessed 2-8-2022}

For many artists who grow up along the Mexico-Texas border, inspiration often manifests itself in the form of vibrant appreciation for two countries. Marilu Flores Gruben was no exception.Much of Gruben’s work is a reflection of mystic and religious artifacts she found in Mexican homes. On several occasions, Gruben crossed the Rio Grande River to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and painted within homes to capture the raw essence of life across the river—a river that Gruben said does not separate, but rather, brings people together.

Gruben used a variety of materials in her work and came to find a preferred medium in fabric.She brought the texture of the fabric to As Many Layers as There Are II. Gruben anticipated the light that would fall on her pieces and believed a part of everyone can be glimpsed, but not quite revealed: “I wrap and cut gauze over chiffon to make collages. They are always sheer and translucent, but just how depends on the angle at which you see them, or the light. A color that screams at you from one angle hides itself at another. Women like to conceal things, but depending on the other party involved, not always the same thing. We all have our secrets.”
_{—Adapted from https://serieproject.org/product/marilu-flores-gruben-2/, accessed 2-8-2022}