Sobremesa (Karaoke Politics)

Daniela Rivera

September 18- October 28, 2019
48 Geneva Avenue in Grove Hall, Boston, MA, 02121

Envisioned for the Boston neighborhood of Grove Hall, artist Daniela Rivera has created a platform for community discourse that invites community members and the public to step onto a stage of connected tables in order to challenge and traverse the symbolic boundaries of social expectations. Sobremesa (Karaoke Politics) creates an open space for public vulnerability, expression and equity, while standing in recognition of the great value that lies in difference.

The word and concept of sobremesa refers to a Pan-Hispanic cultural practice that was brought to the Americas by Spanish colonizers. Essentially, sobremesa is the act of stretching the time at the table after a meal - it is the time and space for conversation, the sharing of memories, the unveiling of information, This outdoor installation features twenty repurposed dining room tables that have been altered to create a joined and singular platform. The table-tops have been stained in different colors to emphasize their place as territories that exist within a larger map.

About the Artist

Daniela Rivera was born in Santiago, Chile, Daniela received her BFA from Pontifcia Universidad Católica de Chile in 1996. She went on to earn an MFA from SMFA/Tufts University in 2006. She is currently an associate professor of Studio Art at Wellesley College and has directed the program since 2015. Breaking from the traditional mold of painting, she creates fully environmental and immersive experiences that draw from her personal history. Daniela’s work has also been shown around the United States and other locations in Latin America.