The Racine Art Museum (RAM) is pleased to debut Cristina Cordova's sculpture Tiempo sin Memoria (Time without Memory), which has just entered the museum's collection. RAM thanks long-time benefactor, Karen Johnson Boyd, for continuing to donate exciting works like this to the permanent contemporary craft collection. The museum is delighted to debut this new acquisition, honoring Mrs. Boyd's wishes to share this work with its guests.   

Cristina Cordova, Tiempo Sin Memoria, 2008 Glazed earthenware Racine Art Museum, Gift of Karen Johnson Boyd Photography: Sue Buhler-Maki

Cordova was a dancer throughout her youth and her figures demonstrate an understanding of stance, gesture, and body language that is almost theatrical. The artist remembers studying statues of saints in Catholic church, while attending services with her family as a child. She was struck by the emotions expressed by these figures but also their hand gestures, body positions, and the drape of their robes. Some of Cordova's sculptures recall the openness of devotional statuary as their glistening eyes and open faces invite one's gaze. At the same time, her works challenge the viewer, as if the subject has been interrupted in a moment of thought or reflection. 

Cordova was born in Boston to parents who were studying in medical school, but spent her childhood in their native Puerto Rico once her parents had completed their studies. She received her BA degree at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez in 1998 and her MFA in Ceramics at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2002. In 2003, she entered a three-year residency at the Penland School of Art in North Carolina and has remained in the community since then.