Chicago’s Role in Puerto Rican Art and Activism Explored in MCA Exhibition
Chicago has played a vital role in the history of Puerto Rican art and activism, and this connection is now being explored in a new exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). Titled Entre Horizontes: Art and Activism Between Chicago and Puerto Rico, the exhibition highlights the significance of Chicago as a center for Puerto Rican activism and artistic development.
Curator Carla Acevedo-Yates, hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has spent four years working on this exhibition. She emphasizes that Puerto Rican artists often have to migrate to the United States to pursue their art education due to the lack of graduate programs in Puerto Rico. As a result, Chicago has become a hub for Puerto Rican artists attending the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. Notable Puerto Rican artists who have studied at the Art Institute include Bibiana Suárez, Arnaldo Roche Rabell, and Edra Soto.
The MCA also boasts the largest public collection of works by Rafael Ferrer, a renowned painter and multimedia artist from Santurce, Puerto Rico. Ferrer is known for his depictions of Caribbean life. Acevedo-Yates believes that Puerto Rican art is deeply ingrained in the DNA of both the MCA and the city of Chicago, and yet this history has not been adequately told in the institution until now.
The exhibition, Entre Horizontes, features 17 Puerto Rican artists who have a connection to Chicago, whether through their professional, educational, or familial ties to the city. The title of the exhibition, which translates to between horizons in English, signifies the interconnectedness of Chicago and Puerto Rico, symbolized by the horizon line that links the two over the waters of Lake Michigan and the Caribbean.
The exhibition is divided into three sections. The first section showcases artists who address social and political issues in their work, drawing on their connections to Chicago. The second section focuses on painters who utilize various printmaking techniques, which have significantly influenced contemporary art in Puerto Rico with their social and political commentary. The third section features archival material such as newspapers, posters, and pins that provide a glimpse into the migration from Puerto Rico to Chicago. It also depicts the activist-led efforts of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community.
One notable artist featured in the exhibition is Elizam Escobar, a member of the Puerto Rican liberation group Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (Armed Forces of National Liberation). In 1980, Escobar and several other FALN members were arrested in Evanston. They were later found guilty of seditious conspiracy and received long prison sentences. Despite his incarceration, Escobar continued to create art and was eventually released in 1999 thanks to an act of clemency by President Bill Clinton. The exhibition honors Escobar’s contributions alongside the work of other artists like Beatriz Santiago Muñoz, who documented the former safe houses for the FALN in her film installation.
While cities like New York and Los Angeles often dominate conversations about Puerto Rican diaspora, Acevedo-Yates hopes that this exhibition will shift the narrative and shed light on Chicago’s integral role in Puerto Rican activism and art. From the Division Street Riots in 1966 to the establishment of the Young Lords, Chicago has been at the forefront of the Puerto Rican community’s struggle for equality and justice. Entre Horizontes offers a historical perspective and celebrates the resilience and creativity of Puerto Rican artists who have found a home and platform in Chicago.
To experience this groundbreaking exhibition, visit the Sylvia Neil and Daniel Fischel Galleries at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago from now until May 5, 2024. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the rich history and vibrant artworks that highlight the entwined relationship between Puerto Rico and Chicago.
