UBS 12 X 12: New Artists New Work October 16, 2009

'12 x 12: New Artists/New Work' is a series of monthly exhibitions featuring emerging Chicago artists. Maria Gaspar's performance, 'Oblation for a Parade,' is inspired by how the artist feels her Mexican heritage has become commodified. She, along with other circus-like performers and musicians, lead a funerary procession throughout the museum during the October First Fridays, collecting people to join them along the way. During the collaborative march, the artist parades a brown, sculptural shell, reminiscent of a burial mound. This shell, which the artist feels represents the draining of authentic culture from society, particularly from persons who are brown, remains in the gallery for the month. Other remnants of the parade, including flowers and confetti, are left in the gallery and naturally decompose to brown, exposing and challenging the ability of symbols to signify a culture.