Poder Latinx Debuts Virtual Votar Es Poder Art Gallery to Inspire Eligible Latinos to Vote in Upcoming Elections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 2, 2020
PRESS CONTACT:
Mynellies Negrón | (703) 585-6727 | mynellies@communicationsshop.us
Poder Latinx Debuts Virtual Votar Es Poder Art Gallery to Inspire Eligible Latinos to Vote in Upcoming Elections
The new mixed-media gallery features 60+ pieces by more than 15 acclaimed Latino artists and is the organization’s second digital media tool to increase Latino turnout
WASHINGTON — With the pandemic limiting large-scale, one-on-one, voter outreach operations before the November 3 election, Poder Latinx, a Latino civic engagement group, released its latest digital media tool to engage eligible voters today: Votar Es Poder Art Gallery, a digital media art gallery highlighting issues important to Latinos while reminding audiences to register to vote and vote early.
The mixed media art display features more than 60 pieces of art by more than 15 acclaimed Latino artists and is the second digital media tool being employed by the Poder Latinx’s Votar Es Poder campaign. It fuses culture with the call to action to vote in this critical election year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest, and Trump administration policies targeting the Latino community, immigrants, and people of color.
“The pandemic has created a new world for us. It has further highlighted the stark inequalities in our communities and the systemic racism that underpins our institutions and policies, as well as shown us the lack of empathy among many who call themselves leaders. The pandemic has also forced us to explore new, creative ways to engage with our communities and affect change. The virtual Votar Es Poder Art Gallery is one of the fruits of that labor,” said Yadira Sanchez, co-executive director of Poder Latinx. “The interactive art gallery was designed to let visitors engage and connect with visual art from members of our communities who have been in this fight for a long time, as well as amplify the amazing work of Latino artists across the nation. Our hope is that during this period of isolation, we are able to find connections through this virtual space, appreciate the talent and creativity of Latinos, and empower our community to participate in this year’s election and encourage their family and friends to do the same.”
The first digital tool released by the Votar Es Poder program was a webcomic series developed in collaboration with Somos Arte, the creators of La Borinqueña, an Afro-Boricua superhero, and the series’ protagonist. The webcomic features Rosario Dawson as the voice of the title character and a guest appearance by John Leguizamo.
In the new Votar Es Poder Art Gallery, curated by Steve Alfaro, creative and digital director of Poder Latinx, visitors are taken on a tour of the art gallery which includes works on the Black Lives Matter movement; 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary candidate Júlian Cástro; and Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Roman Catholic Virgin Mary who appeared in brown skin before an indigenous Mexican, Juan Diego, in a vision in the 16th century, and is a national symbol of Mexico.
Among the artists are Lalo Alcaraz, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his editorial cartoons, and whose consulting credits include Nickelodeon’s ‘The Casagrandes’ cartoon and the Academy Award-winning film Coco. “I'm a Chicano artist, and I try to apply a Ch-icano aesthetic and Chicano thought to my art. Even though I am working in an inherently political form known as editorial cartoons, which tackle the national headlines and issues of the day, I try to focus on the struggles facing immigrants and the Mexican/Chicano/Mexican-American and Latino community. By pointing my pencil at these problems, I hope to grow awareness of the issues facing us, and also I hope to inspire our community to action. I also hope my work inspires them to use the powerful tool for change they have at their disposal: their vote. Representation matters in media, in art, and in politics. We must also ensure that we are represented at the polls. Our representation and our vote is our power. I hope that all the images in this exhibit stay with the viewer long after this very crucial election,” said Alcaraz.
"Among the pillars of the campaign to create a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum is the importance of driving our narrative and lifting up our collective voice to embrace the legacy of our American story and identity. There is no clearer way to manifest that power of our voice than through our civic participation. With 32 million American Latinos eligible to vote in the coming election it is clear that our community has the power to make history," said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Friends of the American Latino Museum. "Amid a historic pandemic, the sharing of our art, culture and history can serve to connect us while we remain socially distant. We applaud Poder Latinx for their creativity to both inspire us to civic engagement as well as bring us closer together. This gallery underscores what our campaign for a Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino knows well: representation matters, and our stories are powerful catalysts for change."
The virtual gallery also features the work of Favianna Rodriguez, an internationally-renowned artist and community organizer whose work has been exhibited at the De Young Museum in San Francisco; Ernesto Yerena Montejano, an illustrator and activist who has collaborated with many artists including Zack de la Rocha, Shepard Fairey, and Ana Tijoux; and many other acclaimed Latino artists.
Tour the Votar Es Poder Art Gallery and find the full list of artists featured in exhibitions at www.poderlatinx.org/arte.
Access the digital toolkit at https://thesocialpresskit.com/poderlatinx.
###