The exhibition, Identidad y Libertad, had been scheduled for the summer of 2020. As a consequence of the pandemic, the exhibition was postponed in the hope of being able to share it with the community and enjoy it in person once things got better. In good time and as a testament to the health of our valley, next Friday, June 4, the R2 gallery located inside the Launchpad in Carbondale will open its doors to the public. 

Gayle Embrey and I have curated the exhibit intending to engage in conversation regarding identity within the Latino community and its diverse experiences. Identity and freedom are two aspects of life that intertwine. For many Latino immigrants, cultural identity is something they commonly lose as they try to integrate into their new home. Similarly, freedom for many depends on dangerous treks across borders, legal documents, or the ability to disguise themselves and pass as “white”.  

As the years go by, more and more people of Latino descent are born in the United States. Like them, Mexican-American individuals from several generations ago continue to experience discrimination and racism based on their physical appearance and prejudice fueled by politicians. In the last year, our country has seen a division between races due to a lack of justice, knowledge, and empathy among other things. 

Beyond emphasizing the social injustices experienced by the Latino community, this exhibition is a celebration of Latino artists and their stories. Through art, they represent the experience of being Latino in the United States and across the border. They show us how rich our cultures are through the use of bright multi-colors that reminds us of the picturesque towns of Latin America. M/urals and engravings, whose images of agaves, pyramids, flowers, and people working the land, give us a sense of pride when we remember that our roots originate there. And finally, the donají clay pieces, a piece of land from the mountains of Oaxaca, made by hand and with the wisdom inherited from one potter to another for generations.

The artists that will be exhibiting in Identidad y Libertad are Claudia Bernardi from Argentina, Tony Ortega from Denver, José Lopez from Mexico City, Fanel Reyes from Oaxaca City along with young muralists detained in an immigration center. During the next week, Armando Silva, originally from Zacatecas, will also be painting a mural with the youth of the Stepping Stones in Carbondale.

To the non-artist and to our entire beautiful community, we invite you to be part of this experience! Feast your eyes on the great work these artists have created and learn a little more about them. We suggest you start your afternoon, Friday, June 4, at Stepping Stones located between Euclid Ave and HWY 133 streets at 4 pm for the mural exhibition. At 5 pm you will change your location to Launchpad on 4th Street. We will begin the exhibition, Identidad y Libertad, at 5:15 pm with a short speech by Tony Ortega followed by a brief introduction to international artists and we conclude with Armando Silva. The exhibition will be available from June 4 to June 24.