Springfield’s art gallery highlights Latinx artists for Heritage Month
SPRINGFIELD: As visitors walk into Art for the Soul Gallery in Springfield this month they will see the work of Latinx artists presenting their culture and history through a variety of mediums.
“We have a litle bit of everything from digital pieces to masks and paintings,” said Rosemary Tracy Woods, the executive director of Art for the Soul Gallery located on the second floor of the Tower Square building on Main Street.
The exhibition, titled “Roots/ Races: The Diversity of the Latinx Community,” opened on Sept. 15 and will run through October 15 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. It was a collaboration between Woods and guest curator Ashley Zurc Pereira, who is a member of the gallery’s Board of Directors.
“She wanted to do this exhibition and while we were hesitant because of COVID-19, we knew we still wanted to do something, especially with the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Mater movement highlighting the struggle of Black people and people of color in general including Latinx people,” she said.
The primary goal of Art for the Soul Gallery has always been to showcase the work of underrepresented artists including people of colour and female artists.
“We exhibit artists of diverse backgrounds whose work addresses social injustices and community issues,” Woods said. “While we have featured many Latinx artists over the years, we have never had an exhibit dedicated solely to Latinx, particularly Puerto Rican, artists.”
Woods said she participates in the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade every year and is saddened that the parade had to be virtual this year, but understands the importance of keeping people safe during the pandemic.
On Sunday, Sept. 20, several hours ater the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade will host its first ever virtual parade, the gallery will host a free, in-person event from 2-4pm where the community can meet some of the artists whose work is on display.
“We will also have a virtual poetry reading from poet Magdalena Gomez and several other cultural activities,” she said.
Due to COVID-19, everyone will be asked to wear masks and only 20 people will be allowed in the gallery at one time, but the reception area is in the upper level of Tower Square which can accommodate social distancing.
“We wanted to do something celebratory, but also safe,” she said.
Woods said the adjoining photo gallery The Valley Photo Center featuring the work of photographer Richard Bulda will also be open for visitors.
“His work right now is focused on the Black Lives Mater movement and we feel both of these communities face similar issues and even share some common ancestry so we wanted to have the space open for people to view as well,” she said. Featured artists at Art for the Soul will include: Elizabeth Erazo Baez, a Puerto Rican visual artist and art teacher based in Miami, Florida. Her paintings capture tropical scenes, the art of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and tell visual stories of Latino culture.
Ellis Echevarria, an Afro-puerto Rican artist whose work includes the digital medium and fine art pieces. His work is inspired by his experiences growing up in Harford, Connecticut.
Jason R. Montgomery, is a Chicano/indigenous Californian writer, painter, and playwright from El Centro, California. In 2016, along with Poet Alexandra Woolner, and illustrator Jen Wagner, Montgomery founded Atack Bear Press in Easthampton. His work is a cross-section of Chicano/ Indigenous identity, cultural hybridization, postcolonial reconstruction, and political agency.
Raymond Escribano is a painter and muralist from Puerto Rico and is featured in the artist archives of the Museo del Barrio in New York City. Through his art he seeks to vividly illustrate traditional and/or contemporary cultural expressions in the Puerto Rican community. He currently lives in Springfield. Alexx Diaz is a Puerto Rican artist based in Springfield who creates work focused on her Taino and African ancestry. She works with canvas, paints, pencils, Papier-mu00e2ché, and especially recycled materials when creating her artwork such as the Vejigante masks which are on display at the gallery.
Those who cannot atend the Sunday event, but would like to view the exhibition can go anytime during the gallery’s operating hours: Tuesday-friday. from 11am-5pm, Saturdays 12pm5pm and Sundays by appointment only.