Adelina Ruvalcaba, a recent MFA graduate from Pacific Northwest College of Arts, has transformed her thesis project into a striking solo exhibition at Portland’s One Grand Gallery.
The show, titled “I Am de Mis Antepasadas,” establishes a deep connection to her maternal lineage by feminizing the term “antepasados,” which refers to forefathers in Spanish.
I first encountered Ruvalcaba’s work during a group MFA exhibition at Building Five, where her installation, featuring a dinner table adorned with a serape table runner, captivated me.
The handmade fake food items—chips, conchas, cookies, and hot sauce—evoked vivid memories of childhood, drawing me into a sensory experience.
At the center of the table, a vase of dried sunflowers added to the scene, prompting questions about who had gathered around this table and the stories left untold.
At the opening of her exhibit at One Grand, Ruvalcaba expressed that her work represents the most vulnerable part of herself.
The exhibition expands upon her initial installation, featuring a long, low table showcasing foods that celebrate her Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage.
The table appears to transcend time, inviting viewers into a gathering space that honors generations of ancestors.
One side of the table is filled with contemporary food items like totopos (tortilla chips) and pink pan dulce conchas, while the other side is dedicated to traditional ingredients with deeper historical roots.
Notably, the dry ingredients, such as kernels of hominy resting in a molcajete, suggest both a reflection on the past as well as a possibility for future nourishment.
Artfully crafted by hand with clay, glaze, and acrylic paint, each food item blurs the line between reality and art, inviting a second glance.
A particular standout is the Puerto Rican-style coffee bag, which, upon closer inspection, reveals that the coffee beans spilling from it are also expertly created by Ruvalcaba.
Gallery Director Luiza Lukova mentioned that Ruvalcaba’s intention was to use the end of the table nearest the entrance to present more contemporary food items, while the opposite end showcases items rich in heritage.
In addition to the vibrant food layout, the table features stoneware infused with culturally significant food staples, including chilis, garlic, and coffee grounds.
These items, embedded into the clay before firing, leave distinctive imprints and are emblematic of Ruvalcaba’s fascination with how textures and elements of nature can be preserved within stone.
The pieces are uniquely glazed, allowing colors to interact and pool within the surface, enhancing their tactile qualities.
Surrounding this central table, additional stoneware plates adorn the walls, while distinct pedestals fill the gallery with creations that echo themes of antiquity and sacredness.
Ruvalcaba’s work with ceramics speaks to the materiality of the human body, touching on the connections between flesh, spirit, and the imprint of past experiences.
Her meticulous craftsmanship allows viewers to engage with the dualities of absence and presence, represented through food that recalls memories and cultural ties.
The inclusion of hominy—a key ingredient treated through the ancient process of nixtamalization—symbolizes indigenous wisdom that continues to resonate today.
Through her artistic prowess in ceramics, Ruvalcaba beautifully “fossilizes” her heritage, offering a tableau that nourishes the soul and mind.
Her exhibition stands as a compassionate trickery that invites viewers to engage with a larger narrative within her family’s history and the shared experience of food.
‘I Am de Mis Antepasadas’ is on display at One Grand Gallery until July 15, with gallery hours from Monday to Sunday, 12 PM to 5 PM, and by appointment.
Those interested in scheduling an appointment can reach out via email to [email protected].
image source from：orartswatch
