(December, 2009—Los Angeles, CA) The Los Angeles Art Show’s new Guest Country Program highlights major contributions to contemporary art across the world.  By invitation-only and launching in 2010, the Los Angeles Art Show welcomes Uruguay, as its first Guest Country.  The Guest Country Program is comprised of specially curated exhibitions, lecture programming and special project space and has a goal to showcase nations with strong visual arts traditions that demonstrate a keen understanding of the international climate.

The second smallest country in the world, Uruguay has a population of 3.3 million people.  Yet, the country’s rich heritage, steeped in a diaspora and mixing of cultures, has led to a unique visual arts tradition.  Born of many ethnicities, the Uruguayan arts reflect the global melting pot of its people.

The inaugural Guest Country exhibit, 34° 53’ 0” S - 56° 10’ 0” W will showcase contemporary paintings and mixed media installations as well as performance video.  Curated by Gustavo Tabares, Coordinator of the Visual Arts Program at the Direccion Nacional de Cultura, the Guest Country exhibition features works by Uruguay’s most celebrated artists including Raquel Bessio, Juan Burgos, Lacy Duarte, Nelson Ramos, Pablo Uribe Wilfredo Dia Valdes and Ernesto Vila.  Each of the participating artists has exhibited at the Venice Biennale.  This exhibition was made possible by the diligent efforts of the former Ambassador to Uruguay, Frank Baxter.  The Los Angeles Art Show takes place on January 20-24, 2010 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Ambassador Baxter states, “Art is a universal language.  It unites people and illustrates our commonalities.  The artists in this Uruguay exhibition resonate on an international level.  In viewing the works—you can truly see that art transcends cultural divides.”

34° 53’ 0” S - 56° 10’ 0” W showcases seven important Uruguayan artists. Four of the selected artists, Ernesto Vilas, Lacy Duarte, Nelson Ramos and Wifredo Días Valdez, are viewed as “Maestros” (Masters), each winning a prestigious Figari Prize. Paired alongside Raquel Bessio, Pablo Uribe and Jan Burgos, each of the artists participated in the Uruguay Pavilion of the 53rd International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.  The 34° 53’ 0” S - 56° 10’ 0” W exhibition at the Los Angeles Art Show reflects the diversity of the contemporary arts production in Uruguay and the significance of issues such as identity, globalization, memory and critical reflection in Uruguayan fine arts.

Gustavo Tabares will lead the accompanying lecture titled Contemporary Art of Uruguay. The lecture will discuss Uruguay’s cutting-edge Latin American art including artists Raquel Bessio, Juan Burgos, Wilfredo Diaz Valdez, Lacy Duarte, Pablo Uribe, Ernesto Vila, and Nelson Ramos. The lecture will take place on Thursday, January 21 at 2pm.

The Los Angeles Art Show Guest Country Program is by invitation-only.  For additional information about the Guest Country Program, including nomination requests, please call KR Martindale Show Management at [310] 822-9145.

Presented by the Fine Art Dealers Association (www.fada.com), the Los Angeles Art Show takes place on January 20-24, 2010 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015.   Los Angeles Art Show programming is included with show admission. For additional information about the Los Angeles Art Show, to register for a lecture or purchase online tickets, please visit www.laartshow.com.   General admission to the Los Angeles Art Show is $20.  General Show Dates:  Thursday-Sunday, January 21-24, 2010.  Opening Night Preview and Gala:  Wednesday, January 20, 2010.  For additional information about the Opening Night Preview or to purchase tickets, please call the Los Angeles County Museum of Art 323-857-6501.    Media inquiries please contact Agnes Gomes-Koizumi at agnes@agkmedia.com or call 323-937-5488. 

About the Fine Art Dealers Association:

The Fine Art Dealers Association was founded in 1990 as a non-profit membership organization of respected and established dealers from across the United States. Its members are dedicated to promoting and maintaining the highest degree of professionalism, scholarship and integrity in all business conducted with colleagues, institutions and the art buying public. Membership in FADA is highly selective and by invitation only. Each member has expert knowledge of the artist or periods in which he or she specializes and maintains a corresponding inventory. In addition to demonstrating a commitment to enriching the cultural lives of their communities, members share their expertise through significant exhibitions, informative catalogs, and by offering quality works of art whose authenticity is unconditionally guaranteed.  For additional information on the Fine Art Dealers Association, please visit http://www.fada.com.