Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center will present the world premiere of “Without Goodbyes,” a film by Miami-based artist GeoVanna Gonzalez. The exhibition opens its doors on March 8 with a free and open to the public reception from 7 to 10 p.m., and will be on view until April 26.
Inspired by the artist’s great aunt’s battle with dementia, “Without Goodbyes” is a deeply personal exploration of family history, centered around Camuy, the artist’s familial origin on the northwestern coast of Puerto Rico. The narrative weaves through nontraditional memorial services, contemporary embalming practices, and the esoteric dimensions of espiritismo, providing a rich tapestry that explores the intersection of queer identity, spirituality and cultural resilience.
During the development of “Without Goodbyes,” Gonzalez draws inspiration from Francisco Oller’s painting “El Velorio,” creating a semiotic mirror reflecting the film’s culmination. The exhibition explores the dialectical tension between the personal and the collective, the transient and the eternal, as represented in Puerto Rican culture.
Gonzalez, a Los Angeles-born artist, has received numerous accolades and residencies, including awards from South Arts’ Southern Prize and State Fellowship, WaveMaker Grant, The Ellies Visual Arts Award, The South Florida Cultural Consortium, and more. Her work has been showcased in esteemed institutions, including The Institute of Contemporary Art and NSU Art Museum.
The production and world premiere gallery projection of “Without Goodbyes” were made possible by generous underwriting support from Doctors Amy & Julio Alvarez-Pérez and Dôme Art Advisory, with program support from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and M&T Bank. General operating support comes from The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Erie County.