Photo credit: Lucy Gellman Photos
Maybe you’ve read the story of Frida Khalo, the Mexican painter whose forays into folk art sparked a worldwide following. Or the Columbian writer Gabriel Garca Ma¡rquez, whose One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad) has been published in 44 languages. Or proud Latina Sonia Sotomayor, the U.S. Supreme Court Justice who once almost threw out an invitation to Phi Beta Kappa because she thought it was a sorority.
But have you heard of The Borinqueneers, the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States, composed entirely of Puerto Rican soldiers? Can you name which major 20th century conflicts they fought in (spoiler: all of them)? What about Franklin Chang Diaz, the third Latin American astronaut to go into space? And golfer Juan Chi Chi Rodriguez, the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame?
Now, there’s a chance to learn about those figures and tens of other Latinos who have left their mark on the world at Heroes & Icons, an exhibition installed in the north lobby of the capitol building in Hartford. Devised and mounted by New Haven’s ARTE, Inc., the show runs through Oct. 29. It is supported in part by the Hispanic Federation and office of Democratic State Rep. Juan Candelaria.
Wednesday evening, ARTE, Inc. held an opening reception in the north lobby, feting 39 heroes and icons who are both living and deceased. Their legacies, memorialized with photos and text on banners, represent 14 countries and several centuries of history. Three years after the exhibition made its debut at the organization’s 10th birthday at New Haven City Hall, ARTE, Inc. co-founder and Executive Director David Greco called it â very exciting, and long overdue in the seat of Connecticut’s legislative body. It was a laborious undertaking, he added: The exhibition took about $5,000 for research, text production, images and installation.
Wednesday evening, ARTE, Inc. held an opening reception in the north lobby, feting 39 heroes and icons who are both living and deceased. Their legacies, memorialized with photos and text on banners, represent 14 countries and several centuries of history. Three years after the exhibition made its debut at the organization’s 10th birthday at New Haven City Hall, ARTE, Inc. co-founder and Executive Director David Greco called it â very exciting, and long overdue in the seat of Connecticut’s legislative body. It was a laborious undertaking, he added: The exhibition took about $5,000 for research, text production, images and installation.
To read full article: https://www.artspaper.org/articles/2017/10/12/heroes-icons-hits-the-capitol
