¡Printing the Revolution! Exhibition Opening (week 4)

 

    The Smithsonian Institute's online opening reception for ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics: 1965 to Now hosted a range of artists, collectors, and art historians who gathered to celebrate and discuss the inspiring graphic work led by Chicanx activists in the exhibition. The artwork was introduced as a "catalyst for change," and a medium through which revolutions prospered and won the hearts of thousands through visual language.

By Malaquías Montoya

    Notable among the speakers was E. Carmen Ramos, the co-curator and author of ¡Printing the Revolution!. In her introductory speech, she explained the organization of the exhibit and its themes. Carmen Ramos pointed out the similar approaches to protest found in the Cuban Revolution and Vietnam War, which informed much of Chicanx artwork in the following decades. For Carmen Ramos, each of these cultural movements are bound by the bold artwork and aesthetics which they produced and inspired.

    As Juan Fuentes beautifully articulates during his time speaking, raising his "social consciousness" was a large part of his development as an artist. I believe this speaks directly to the concept of unity that permeates throughout the exhibit and the greater scope of Chicanx art – through these communal art spaces and creative outlets, different communities are able to come together in resistance to oppressive systems of prejudice and violence. The precision of marrying image and message is crucial in this endeavor, and the skilled artists who breathe life into these movements are to be celebrated.