November 10 through December 29, 2018
Extended through January 26!
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 10, 7-10PM
Bermudez Projects is delighted to present To the Moon and Back, Emmanuel Crespo’s latest exhibit and book launch party at Bermudez Projects | NELA/Cypress Park on Saturday, November 10 from 7-10 PM.
With his first-ever children’s book, Crespo takes us into a mythological wonderland filled with beautifully-rendered characters – some familiar; some new – as they guide a young girl on her journey to the moon. Throughout this adventure, our heroine finds herself being taken higher and higher into the heavens, as she explores her own magical realism.
“The moment my daughter Malia was born, I realized the responsibility of showing her a whole other way of seeing the world,” states Crespo in the book’s introduction. “At a very young age, Malia started to notice the moon in the sky. I realized that… [the Moon] was her first story, her first friend from the other side of the veil.”
In addition to the book, To the Moon and Back features 24 original graphite and watercolor paintings, which were used to illustrate the book; 6 ink studies; and three new paintings inspired by the story’s narrative.
“This book is about Malia’s first journey into this world of whispers,” adds Crespo. “My hope is that she will continue to see her place in the immense, yet hidden story that…connects us all.”
With this debut children’s book, Emmanuel Crespo demonstrates his prowess to capture our imagination, allowing ourselves to be swept away by our very own dreams.
Emmanuel Crespo’s fantastical imaginings are dreamlike apparitions of his own personal journey. Through his body of work, the artist uncovers and interprets symbolic meanings and narratives in his life and the world around him. Each painting presents a cast of recurring characters created to uncover these narratives, which according to the artist, center on metaphysical themes. Crespo’s paintings allow the viewer to peer into another world and experience these narratives.
Born in Quezon City, Philippines in 1977, Crespo moved to the United States at the age of 6. He received his MFA from Otis College of Art and Design in 2002. His work has been featured in group and solo shows throughout Southern California, including the Armory Center for the Arts, Sweeney Art Gallery, and The Brewery, as well as Paris, France. He is a full-time art instructor at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills. Crespo lives and works in Sylmar, CA.
