Travesías

I went to see this exhibition today at the Loudoun house. This is what the website says about it:




Crossings \ Travesías | March 25 – May 14, 2011
Crossings is an exhibition focusing on Latino/a and Chicano/a artists living in America and the issues faced by this community. Artworks explore immigration and trans-border crossing experiences as well as the points at which gender, labor, race, class, sexuality and cultural identity intersect.

Guest curators, Marta Miranda, Andres Cruz and Diane Kahlo invited artists from Illinois, Florida, Texas, Missouri and Kentucky to create work for this exhibition that illuminates the expanding role Latino/a culture has in contemporary life.


I found the exhibition very interesting and thought-provoking. Immigration is obviously a major issue in this time and there are many strong opinions about it. No matter your point of view, this exhibition is definitely something to see. My past artwork has been influenced by the Hispanic culture so I was very excited to see work that explored that culture in a different light.  The artworks range from photography, paintings, installations, and sculptures.  Every one makes you think and ask yourself how you really feel about border control. One installation uses water bottles to represent lives lost in the desert. Each bottle has a tag including the person's name, age, hometown, and cause of death if known. It was hard for me to see how so many people risk their lives crossing the desert in pursuit of what they feel is a better life. 


Many things can be said about immigration issues but I think one thing I feel most passionate about is not labeling Hispanic people.  Not everyone who is Hispanic is Mexican, not everyone who is Hispanic is illegal or an immigrant.  And if they are, they don't deserve death or acts of prejudice. I think immigration laws and control are definitely something that can be worked on.  But the most important thing is bringing about awareness of the issue.


There was also an interesting public sculpture outside the Loudoun house:

The site says: Matthew Burke designed a site-specific interactive sculpture inspired by the Bur Oak tree branches found in Castlewood Park.  

Can I just say, I love public sculptures and art!