Connected Diaspora: Central American Visuality in the Age of Social Media
Connected Diaspora: Central American Visuality in the Age of Social Media
The new exhibition, Connected Diaspora: Central American Visuality in the Age of Social Media casts light on a new generation of artists who visually reflect on U.S Central American lives and experiences in the era of social media. These new voices from the Central American diaspora have built a creative community that transcends state lines and borders.
Their practices range from delicate ceramic sculptures to large scale paintings to digital art—exploring images of displacement, war, and trauma. Contemplations on everyday life, nature, and architecture, coupled with insights on invisibility and empowerment, are all manifested in this visual assembly. Central Americans make up the third largest U.S Latinx group—a statistic that is not equally reflected when referencing Latinx art. Beyond news articles, Central Americans in the diaspora are a creative force leading the way to a more expansive discourse on Latinx Art.
This exhibition will be on display in the STAMP Gallery from September 22 - October 17, 2020, with additional programing online.
Curated by: Veronica Melendez
Featuring artwork by: Eddy Leonel Aldana, Galileo Gonzalez, Kim LaVonne, Glenda Lissette, Dennissé Carlota Nieto Zelaya, Jessy DeSantis, Xiomara Garay, Celea Guevara, Kimberly Benavides, Veronica Melendez, Elizabeth Fernanda Rodriguez, Kiara Machado, Julia Mata, Juan Madrid, Isidra Sabio, Paulino Celestino Mejia, Keith L Torres, Johanna Toruño
Co-sponsored by the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at UMD, as well as La Casa de la Cultura de El Salvador in Washington, DC
Additional Programming:
Opening Instagram Live curator's talk and Artist Panel 1: Featuring curator Veronica Melendez, Johana Toruño, Galileo Gonzalez and Paulino Mejia.
Tuesday, September 22, 5-6 PM. View on Instagram Live.
Keynote Speaker: Mauricio E. Ramírez, artist, curator and Ph.D Candidate in Latin American and Latino Studies Department at UC Santa Cruz with an emphasis in Visual Studies
Thursday, September 24, 5-6:15 PM. View livestream on Youtube.
Artist Panel 2: Featuring Jessy DeSantis, Celea Guevara and curator Veronica Melendez
Thursday, October 1, 5-6:15 PM. View livestream on Youtube.
Artist Panel 3: La Casa de la Cultura de El Salvador
featuring artists Beatriz Cortez , Muriel Hasbun, and Kiara Machado
Thursday, October 8, 5-7:00 PM. View livestream on Youtube and Facebook.
Zine Making Workshop with La Horchata Zine
Thursday, October 15, 5-6:15 PM
UMD Students Only - registration will be published soon on stamp.umd.edu/gallery
Virtual DJ Exhibition Closing Dance Party
Friday, October 16, 8-10 PM. View on Zoom.