An art exhibit at La Casita will run well beyond Hispanic Heritage Month into next year in Syracuse.
The exhibit entitled “Futurismo Latino: Cultural Memory and Imagined Worlds” features colorful paintings by three Chicano artists.
One of these artists, Cayetano Valenzuela, creates examples of “Chicano Futurism” to highlight what he missed as kid, when reading comic books.
“Chicano Futurism” or “Chicanafuturism” is a term coined by scholar, Catherine S. Ramírez, that explores the influence of technologies and scientific innovations on Mexican American life and culture from a Chicanx and decolonial perspective, according to Ramírez’s website.
Valenzuela said it’s important to create a space where children can see “Brown faces” in science fiction and fantasy stories.
“I'm not the only one doing this. I'm just one voice, adding one perspective and there's a lot of Latinos out there. A lot of black, brown, indigenous, LGBTQ voices that need to be heard that are envisioning ourselves in the future and censoring our voices in the future,” said Valenzuela.
Valenzuela said his art in this exhibit is about telling the story of what could be possible in the future. One of his pieces on display portrays a teacher showing a stalk of corn to two children, amidst spaceships and futuristic towers in the background. He said he hopes the colorful paintings will inspire children to also dream about their futures.
Valenzuela is originally from Texas near the New Mexico southern border and now lives in Oswego. He owns the Black Rabbit Studio.
The exhibit will run through next June at La Casita in Syracuse. National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15 to October 15.
