A Virtual Portfolio of Works in Homage to Leopoldo Méndez
A Short History of the "Virtual Portfolio"
In conjunction with the present exhibition of prints by the Mexican artist Leopoldo Méndez -- almost a century after his birth -- it seemed appropriate to round up a clutch of artists in this country and abroad who admired his work and inquire if they would each pull a small edition of a print for a portfolio in homage to the "Goya" of Mexico.
Then we thought about our request -- seriously. Why a small edition? Must it be a print?
Whenever Méndez produced or helped produce a limited-edition portfolio of his own work or that of his colleagues in the internationally-respected print workshop, the Taller de Gráfica Popular, he also insisted that there be a mass produced version of the same work at a price within the means of the average citizen. On certain occasions, to make sure the print was visible to masses of people, original works in the form of posters, leaflets, etc. were either pasted on fences, poles or walls, or handed out to the populace on the move in myriad places in downtown Mexico City.
Were he alive today, I have little doubt he would use today's technology to create a "Virtual Portfolio" in cyberspace and speak to the world.
After some consultation with artist friends, we decided to follow his lead: we invited a small number of artists from several areas in the United States, Canada, England, and South America (and could have extended the list to many others were it not for the restraints of time) to select a work from their ouevre for inclusion in a "Tribute to Mendez" virtual portfolio - - a print, painting or whatever seemed fitting.
And so they did.
We are delighted with the result.
-Jules Heller
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