Week 4 - ¡Printing the Revolution! Exhibition Preview

 On January 21st, the Smithsonian Institute held a preview of ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics: 1965. The exhibition is co-curated by Carmen Ramos, who also wrote ¡Printing the Revolution!. She has been with the Smithsonian for ten years and in this time, its collection of art from Latinx artists has greatly increased. It is important to see that institutions like the Smithsonian are highlighting the art of Latinxs.

This exhibitionis important for the same reasons. This exhibit is a way to highlight the work of Chicanx and Latinx artists who are left out of the history of printmaking within the United States, despite their impact on printmaking and on society or their communities in general being significant.

In this preview, Ramos delved into the ties that Chicanx art has had to social movements. The impact of Chicanx graphic art continues to be seen in much of today’s Chicanx art which has often been used to convey social and political messages relevant to Chicanx and Latinx communities. As discussed by some of the featured speakers, Chicanx graphic art practices are rooted in community as Chicanx artists are speaking out about issues that are important to their communities through their art in order to help create positive change for their communities. Some of the main shifts in Chicanx art have been changes in technology which has led to expansion in the way artists can create as well as spread their work and messages.