FOCUS ON PUERTO RICO: GALLERY 221 EXHIBITS
Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico last year brought the island and U.S. territory to the top of many people’s minds. Two exhibits by Puerto Rican artists at Gallery 221 at Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus explore heritage, the island’s political strife and history of colonization. Opening Monday, “Fabrication of Self” is Jezabeth Roca Gonzalez’s community-engaged sculptural installation influenced by the impact of Maria. The ongoing project, pictured, layers fabricated narratives and a growing house structure, touching on themes of displacement, trauma, family dynamics and healing. Roberto Marquez’s “Antigua Colonia: Chistes Viejos,” open now, is an exploration of humor in a socio-political context, expressed through clay and paint. The title translates to Old Colony, Old Jokes and presents objects that question the canon of art.
A panel discussion with both artists moderated by fellow Puerto Rican artist Edgar Sanchez Cumbas is at 6 p.m. Wednesday during a reception that runs from 5-8 p.m. at 4001 W Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa. hccfl.edu/gallery221.