January 10 – 18, 2009
As artist, educator, arts reporter, world traveller, cultural celebrity and serious aficionado of historical and contemporary art, Lupe Rodriguez shared her extraordinary passion and remarkable insights with thousands of people in Toronto, the GTA, across Canada and around the world. Her vivacious personality and love of art and life was infectious. Many of those who have known her have remarked that her exuberant and colourful artwork directly reflected the radiance and passion of her character. On October 4, 2008, Lupe Rodriguez passed away after a courageous battle with leukemia, leaving a great void in the lives and hearts of many – but also leaving behind an astounding body of artwork that embodies the spirit of a great life lived.
To celebrate her life and her art, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art is pleased to present Lupe Rodriguez: Radiant Passion, a special tribute exhibition featuring a selection of Lupe’s paintings.
Beginning in 2005, Lupe developed and animated the popular MOCCA Inside/Out educational program. She led a dedicated following through the exhibitions at MOCCA, and out into the galleries, museums, studios, homes, and collections of the Toronto arts community. While Lupe provided insights into some of the most challenging, politically-charged and cutting-edge art of our times, in her own work she was committed to representing her deeply personal expressions and interpretations of the world as she saw it: landscapes and architectures full of light and colour, pulsating with the almost musical beats and rhythms that carried her through each and every day with the wide-eyed enthusiasm and freshness of a youth. Many consider it to be the role of the artist to provide us with observations and revelations about the mystery and wonder of life that are often beyond the grasp of ordinary consciousness and everyday reality. Lupe Rodriguez lived life with the soul of an artist, and possessed an unusually bright perspective on the function of culture in our lives. While her passing too soon is fraught with grief and sadness, her artwork stands as a legacy and celebration of her profound enchantment with the world. With the exhibition Lupe Rodriguez: Radiant Passion she will once again fulfill one of her foremost objectives: to share her radiance and passion for art and life with others.
Aside from her interests and activities in the visual arts, Lupe was also engaged with music and musicians. This aspect of her life will be celebrated with a musical tribute at University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall on January 31.
Installation Shots
Opening Reception
Saturday January 10, 7 – 10 pm
