It's in the cards
On January 18, Carousel Fine Art hosted the exhibition, "It's in the Cards" unveiling Cayla Birk’s recent series, “Take the Lot.”
"Take the Lot" by cayla birk
This series depicts Lotería cards, a Mexican bingo-like game, stemming from the popular Tarot game that has pervaded most parts of the world since the early 15th century.
Through historical diaspora, the people of Mexico also adopted their own version of the gambling game: with the cards being used as the “call numbers” found on differing “tablas” held by each player - quite similar to bingo. Lotería in Spanish translates to lottery meaning it is a game of chance/luck.
With this context in mind, the body of work boasts objects that are not so easily earned. The juxtaposition of a lottery versus the monetary success needed to acquire such high-end assets is prevalent throughout the series.
In essence, you don’t accept the fate of luck, but instead make your own - you take the lot.
About Cayla Birk
Cayla is an outstanding young artist whose creative and intelligent mind thrive on a contemporary style. Through travel and an eclectic upbringing, she has gained a vast amount of culture and world experiences.
Her influences come from a wide array of writers, musicians, and epistemologists. A large portion of Cayla's works merge traditional acrylic paints with other unique materials; she transcends the confines of mixed media art to create a style all her own. A signature approach of intricate designs pervade all of Birk's body of work - her instantly recognizable gestures and marks boast austere verbiage and shroud depictions.
