Motor House is thrilled to announce the opening of SPOTLIGHT, an exhibit that features three Latina Women Artists whose work is as bold and powerful as it is beautiful and intricate. Jessy DeSantis, Jaz Erenberg, and Rosa Leff employ precision in their work that tells a grand story. SPOTLIGHT is a reference to the space that artists with intersecting identities need in order to fully represent the diverse narratives of their personhood while showcasing the work that they create. Motor House is committed to giving platforms to artists who are members of the global majority. With SPOTLIGHT, we are specifically uplifting the work of our Latina Women artists who are creating bold, visionary work. Some of it is explicitly connected to the racial and gender identities of the artists. Some of the work is only tangentially connected. All of it is important. SPOTLIGHT will be on display September 16 – October 30, 2021. Gallery Hours are Monday and Tuesday from 12-2pm, Thursday from 4-6pm, and by appointment. An opening reception will be held on September 16 from 7-9pm. Artist talk will be held on October 12 at 7pm. Contact Camille Kashaka at camille@motorhousebaltimore.com for appointments.

Raised in a Nicaraguan household in Miami, FL and currently living in Baltimore City, Jessy DeSantis is a self-taught emerging artist creating meaningful, vibrant work. Her painting’s stark contrast of vibrant color and white space draws the viewer into her subjects. She is inspired by her connection to nature, family, and her Central American roots. Her paintings are more than just visually beautiful. They carry in them intention with a story to be told. She seeks to pass on these stories of heritage and truth with all of its complexities to her children and future generations.

Jaz Erenberg is an Afro-Latina Community Artist and Arts Educator in Baltimore City. Her projects aim to bridge the gaps that exist between communities, by focusing on resilience and joy. After earning a BFA in sculpture from MICA, Jaz joined the Home Artist Residency, which gave her the opportunity to create her first mural in Baltimore. Jaz has been teaching art in the city for 7 years. “I strive to create public spaces that are a reflection of the people that build, maintain and uphold our city. Valuing community engagement during the design and installation phases helps to reignite a sense of ownership and pride within those neighborhoods. It also ensures that, together, we are telling the unique story of each community.”

Between painting alongside her grandmother and watching her father build reproduction antique furniture, Rosa Leff grew up seeing no distinction between fine art and craft. What mattered was that things were made by hand and done well. It is with that in mind that she creates her hand cut paper pieces. Each of Leff’s papercuts is cut by hand from a single sheet of paper using a knife. Her cityscapes are based on photos she’s taken in her neighborhood and all over the world. While Leff is best known for her ability to capture thin tangles of power lines and intricate brickwork, she also enjoys experimenting with novel media such as paper plates and paper towels. Leff delights in bringing a modern, urban perspective to a traditional folk medium. Leff has served on the board of The Guild of American Papercutters (GAP). In addition to being a GAP member she is a member of The Paper Artist Collective. Leff has exhibited her work throughout the United States and in China. She resides in Baltimore with her husband and chihuahuas, Chalupa and Refrito.

About Motor House Motor House is a creative crossroads rooted in the culture of Baltimore. We are a non-profit arts hub, gallery, and performance space that encourages new visions, bold experiments, and emerging voices to celebrate the artistry of our city.