Sept. 15-Oct. 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, and several Tampa Bay galleries are exhibiting work by Latinx artists. Get details on the upcoming month below.
Constant Storm opens at the USF Contemporary Art Museum Sat. Sept 24 Remember when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in Sept. 2017 and mainland Americans argued over whether this U.S. Colony was worthy of our assistance or not? When “Puerto Ricans are Americans, too,” became the rallying cry of U.S. citizens seeking aid for Puerto Rico?
USFCAM takes us back with “Constant Storm: Art from Puerto Rico and the Diaspora.” The art exhibition, funded by a $25,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, displays artistic responses to Hurricane Maria by artists from Puerto Rico and the diaspora, including Tarpon Springs’ artist Gabriel Ramos.
So cast away the ugly cloud of politics and view this group of islands through the eyes of people who know and love them at USFCAM this fall.
“Constant Storm” features work by Rogelio Baez Vega (New York), Sofía Gallisá Muriente (San Juan), Jorge González Santos (San Juan), Karlo Andrei Ibarra (San Juan), Ivelisse Jiménez (New York), Miguel Luciano (New York), Natalia Lassalle Morillo (Los Angeles), Angel Otero (New York), Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz (Orlando), SkittLeZ-Ortiz (New York), Gabriel Ramos (Tarpon Springs), Jezabeth Roca González (Tampa-Añasco), Gamaliel Rodríguez (San Juan), and Yiyo Tirado Rivera (San Juan).
Constant Storm: Art from Puerto Rico and the Diaspora. Sept. 24-Dec. 4, 2021. USFCAM, 3821 USF Holly Drive, Tampa. usfcam.usf.edu
Gallery 221’s “Vision, Power, Axé” And have you had a chance to see Gallery 221’s “Vision, Power, Axé” yet? The Afro-Brazilian art show, up through Oct. 28, kicked off a series of art exhibitions throughout Tampa Bay featuring work by Latinx artists that coincides with National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Some of the exhibitions, like “Vision, Power, Axé” display work collected from contemporary artists working in Latin America. Others draw from Florida’s Latinx population, gathering art from Tampa and Miami-based artists. Together, they paint a picture of life in Latin America, Florida, and beyond.
Through Oct. 28. Gallery 221 at Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus. 4001 W Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa (find 221 on the second floor of Learning Resources Center (DLRC). hccfl.edu
Here’s what’s after that.
Pinellas Arts Village Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month at its 4th Saturday Block pARTy Sat. Sept 25 With Latinx Voices, an art show featuring creations by several local Latinx artists including Pedro Hernandez, M’ria’s Mezzanine, Van Der Luc, Arturo Romero, Robyn Crosa, Ketsy Ruiz, and Curator John Gascot. Latinx Voices. Sat. Sept. 25, 4-9 p.m. Pinellas Arts Village, 5663 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park.@pav727 on Facebook
Emiliano Settecasi’s “Por Todas Partes” opening Oct. 4 at HCC Ybor Features work from emerging artists Alejandra Gotera and Cesar Garcia/bujikimo. We first mentioned the show as an homage to “all over” painting in our Fall Arts Preview last month, but what we didn’t tell you is that Alejandra Gotera identifies as Latinx. Gallery 114 at Hillsborough Community College Ybor City. 1411 E 11th Ave., Ybor City. hccfl.edu
Tampa Museum of Art The TMA is proud to feature artwork from at least one contemporary Latinx artist in their installment of Skyway. The museum launched Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 by highlighting work by Tampa-based Ecuadorian-American artist Libbi Ponce on social media. Ponce contributed two sculptures, inspired by a rug in her Aunt’s house, to TMA’s Skyway. The two sculptures of dogs, Byron and Theresa, call to mind the many dogs who’ve wandered Ecuador’s streets through the years. Check them out at TMA’s Skyway exhibition through Oct. 10. And keep an eye on @tampamuseumofart on Facebook, where it will posting Hispanic artist highlights all month. 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa.
Crab Devil Tampa art collective Crab Devil is no stranger to diversity. The group plans to highlight work from one of their founding members and two of their artists to honor of Hispanic Heritage Month this September and October. Follow @crabdeviltampa on Facebook and or on @crab_devil on Instagram to find out who, and be on the lookout for more news on the developing Crab Devil compound in Ybor Heights.
Tempus Projects Although Latinx culture isn’t the theme of Tempus Projects’ “Home is Anywhere you Hang Your Head,” the show includes several pieces by Tampa-based Latinx artist Edgar Sanchez Cumbas. And they’re available for purchase for those who want to take some Latinx art home with them. Through Oct. 17, 2021. 4220 N Florida Ave., Tampa. tempus-projects.com
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