It's In The Cards | Miami: Cayla Birk "Take the Lot"

18 January - 25 April 2024
  • It's in the Cards | Miami

    Cayla Birk
  • Two people viewing artworks by Cayla Birk.

    Take the Lot

    By Cayla Birk

    Carousel Fine Art invites guests to immerse themselves in the captivating world of "It's in the Cards," a thought-provoking evening featuring her latest series, "Take the Lot."

     

    This collection is a visual exploration of Mexican Lotería cards, a cultural phenomenon that traces its roots to the early history of playing cards, specifically the popular Tarot game that has transcended time and borders since the 15th century.

  • Example of Mexican Loteria (Bingo), cards

    LoterĂ­a Cards

    Take the Lot

    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. The imagery feels recognizable due to varying  cultures creating their own renditions of the game.

     

    Its early beginnings are rooted in Italian history with a  traditional deck of cards adjoining “face cards” having specific actions for each - as a predominantly gambling game,  the Church set out to create a less heretic version therefore spawning the “cards of divination” that allude to what  most people know as modern day Tarot. 

  • Through historical diaspora, the people of Mexico also adopted their own version of the infamous 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.

  • Artist Cayla Birk posing in front of her artworks at her art exhibition.

    Meet the Artist

    During the exhibition opening, Cayla Birk joined guests, conversating with atendees, describing her artistic process and life. 

     
    About Cayla Birk 

    Cayla Birk has spent nearly a decade honing her contemporary artistic style. An intellectual by nature, Birk's work takes us on a journey of culture, wit, music, literature, and everything in between. 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 modern day muse, the artist teaches us with every new body of work in her distinct signature style. Cayla's NeoDadaist playful designs pervade all of her varying series her instantly recognizable gestures and marks boast austere verbiage and shroud depictions.

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