The Evanston Art Center is a cornerstone of the Evanston art scene, highlighting budding curators and artists, hosting visual arts classes for all age groups and partnering with community organizations to expand arts education.
Starting March 11, Azul Alberto Nogueron will be one such curator with their new exhibit “La Jaula de Oro,” which pushes featured artists to reflect on their idea of the American Dream and surrounding disillusionment.
“There’s a story for immigrants that’s sold to them that coming to the States will save them from all their problems,” Alberto Nogueron said. “Seeing that that isn’t true, especially after what happened with (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the disillusionment of the American Dream started becoming more of a reality.”
Alberto Nogueron is an artist themself and said part of curating the exhibit was learning how to leave their perspective and experiences out of the equation. Instead, they focused on cultivating room for the featured artists Taly Inkz, Lily Guillen, Mark Nelson and Gnat Rosa Madrid to tell their stories.
Madrid, who is a Latina artist and business owner based in Chicago, said that her personal disillusionment started with U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas war and has continued with ICE raids across U.S. cities, which have terrorized members of her community.
She said her featured piece is meant to look like a window framed by two braids decorated with bows and charms. Madrid’s chosen medium is particularly unique — her own blood.
“I had my blood drawn, combined it with an acrylic medium and used that to make monotype prints,” Madrid said. “It’s really a human feeling. It’s crafted by my hands, and it can’t be replicated.”
The braids are a tribute to her Mexican heritage, where they are a strong sculptural element and symbol of warrior women throughout Mexican history, such as Adelitas and soldiers within the revolution.
Despite its important role for local artists, the EAC is not always on Northwestern students’ radar, even for those studying art history, like first-year Weinberg student Camille Mendez.
“I would love to go see this exhibit; it seems like it would be very interesting,” Mendez said. “I have also never been to the Evanston Art Center, so I am also curious to see what that looks like.”
While the EAC is an ally in showcasing important works for marginalized artists, Madrid said, Evanston itself is a predominantly white, wealthy suburb, which makes it all the more important that exhibits like “La Jaula de Oro” exist.
Ultimately, Alberto Nogueron hopes the exhibition encourages viewers to confront their own vulnerability in the context of the nation’s current moment while also recognizing the strength, resilience and power embodied in the showcased work.
“There is power in numbers and in community care, and art is one way people show up for their communities,” they said. “Doing the show here allows me to understand more about the community and how people support each other.”
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