LOS ANGELES – Tierra del Sol is thrilled to present Catalina, a documentary short film about Tierra del Sol artist Catalina Ortega, whose practice is playfully entangled with the popular art of cosplay. Premiering May 4th, 2024 at Tierra del Sol’s West Hollywood gallery, the first screening of Catalina will take place at the opening reception of Ortega’s debut solo exhibition of the same name. The film will be available for regular viewing at the gallery through the run of Ortega’s show.
Catalina celebrates the popular costuming subculture and explores its significance from the perspective of a dedicated cosplayer. “I grew up with these characters; it’s like my twin and one day, I wanted to be a part of the story,” explains Ortega. The 5-minute short film features interviews with the artist, a comprehensive overview of her fine art practice at Tierra del Sol Studios, and cosplay performance footage shot by Ortega herself.
Catalina is not your typical documentary because Catalina Ortega is not your typical artist. Her practice traverses illustration, painting, ceramics, textiles, costume design, and performance. Deeply in tune with the larger subcultures of fandom, Ortega’s art is directly inspired by the characters in her favorite movies and video games—such as Coco from Crash Bandicoot, Corrin from Fire Emblem, Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy, and the Dark Magician Girl from Yu-Gi-Oh. Dressing up as these personifications is the ultimate form of expression for Ortega.
Ortega’s immersive practice highlights the innate power and joy of cosplay. It is an art form that allows you to explore who you really are by dressing up as somebody else—within an inclusive, supportive culture of artisans and lovers of story. Ortega’s debut solo exhibition examines her love for this community through paintings, works on paper, ceramics, punch-rug wall-hanging textiles, and costumes designed and sewn by the artist. Both Catalina the film and the exhibition illustrate how Ortega’s multimedia process begins with colored pencil drawings of her favorite characters. These drawings function as finished works as well as plans for Ortega’s intricate costumes—the nucleus of her performance work.
The film is produced by creative multi-hyphenate Darren Romanelli, a longtime collector and collaborator of Tierra del Sol. Over the last twenty years, Romanelli has been instrumental in bridging the gap between art, culture, and commerce in ways that have revolutionized how artists and brands work together to create moments that inspire on a global scale. Romanelli believes in Tierra del Sol’s mission and was adamant about bringing the energy and authenticity of the gallery’s programming to the big screen.
Romanelli was instrumental in assembling the superstar team behind Catalina, introducing Tierra to Executive Producer Cailin Shannon-Wunder, whose generous support made Catalina possible; Grammy-award-winning composer James Fauntleroy, who created an original score for the film; Interwoven Studios, who shot the footage; award-winning documentarian Parris Patton edited the final product together; and Aaron Michaelson and Maya Bernau from the renowned production studio Concept Arts, who provided invaluable creative direction for marketing. Romanelli described the process best: “We clicked together like one big super unit power with the same goal of creating the most magical project together.”
Be sure to attend the premiere of Catalina at Tierra del Sol Gallery on May 4th, with a reception from 6-8 pm. The film will screen alongside Catalina Ortega’s debut solo exhibition through June 29th, 2024. View the teaser here.
About Tierra del Sol
Tierra del Sol Foundation is a not-for-profit founded in 1971 that champions inclusion and value for all individuals with disabilities through creative pathways to employment, education, and the arts. Tierra’s vision is that all people live productive and personally meaningful lives, regardless of the notion of disability, as neighbors, co-workers, and contributors to the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the community.
