The Grass is Greener

Thai American Chanika Svetvilas is a curator and artist. Her latest exhibit, Journeys to Intersections at the Brooklyn Library has transformed the space covering the walls with ubiquitous plastic plaid tote bags made in China known by various names including the Guyanese Samsonite in Trinidad, Tuekenkoffer or Turkish suitcase in Germany, Bangladeshi bags in England, “Ghana must go bag” in Nigeria, “Efiewura Sua Me” or “help me carry my bag” in Ghana, Chinatown tote, and refugee bag. The picture above is titled “The Grass is Greener” which is also in the exhibit. The exhibit runs June 17 – “ August 30. Come hear her speak.

She has received grants from the Brooklyn Arts Council and the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and has held residencies at BCAT/Brooklyn Community Access Television, Rotunda Gallery and Up-Set Press. She received her B.S. in studio art from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Chanika will be speaking about her work on June 18 at 7:30pm. For more information visit www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org