77 bold fine art screen prints on display make statements about politics, culture and history in Puerto Rico.
(Nov. 8, 2017) -- Puerto Rico’s history and culture come alive in a new exhibition at the Centro de Artes San Antonio curated by Teresa Eckmann, associate professor of modern and contemporary Latin American art history at The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Status: Prints from Puerto Rico to San Antonio, is made up of serigraphs, or fine art screen prints, from Puerto Rico produced from the 1950s to present day alongside contemporary prints from UTSA faculty, alumni and well-known San Antonio artists.
The exhibition’s first section, “Puerto Rican Letrismo: Text and Form” showcases an innovative approach to text in cultural prints by such artists as Lorenzo Homar, Rafael Tufiño, and José Rosa Castellanos.
The second section, “Antonio Martorell and the Taller Alacrán: Experimentation and Innovation” includes prints from the independent workshop of a well-known master printmaker from Puerto Rico, Antonio Martorell, and his students who used text to make bold political and cultural statements in the 1960s and 1970s.
The exhibit’s third section, “San Antonio Prints: Text and the Power of Punch” includes prints from UTSA faculty and alumni Richard Armendariz, Juan de Dios Mora, Joe Harjo and Andrei Renteria who incorporate text in their work while addressing difficult subject-matter with humor.
These local artists use text to make statements on topics such as immigration, violence, politics, culture and heritage just like Martorell and his students used art to make political statements around the time of the Vietnam War and Hippie Movement.
“The 77 bold prints on display are meant to spark dialogue amongst visitors about themes such as politics, immigration, gun culture, mental health, gender expectations, cultural appropriation and more,” said Eckmann.
The exhibition is made possible by the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, the Puerto Rican Heritage Society and UTSA. Lending institutions include the University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research, the Museo de Historia, Arte y Antropología Universidad Puerto Rico Recinto Rio Piedras, and Antonio Martorell’s personal collection.
Status: Prints from Puerto Rico to San Antonio is free and open to the public at the Centro de Artes through December 17, 2017. There will be an artist reception with Antonio Martorell from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, that is free and open to the public.
Eckmann has curated several exhibitions in her field. Her research, teaching and curatorial projects focus on art and visual culture of Latin America—principally, on cultural nationalism and identity in 20th century Mexico and the Caribbean. She teaches contemporary and modern Latin American art courses in the Department of Art & Art History at UTSA.
Learn more about the exhibit Status: Prints from Puerto Rico to San Antonio.
Learn more about Teresa Eckmann.
Learn more about UTSA Department of Art & Art History.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
The 2025 edition of the Symposium will take place March 14 – 16 in the beautiful city of San Antonio, hosted by UTSA. We are thrilled to bring a variety of programming and performances by distinguished concert artists from around the world.
UTSA Recital Hall, Main CampusThis beginner-friendly workshop teaches basic sewing and quilting skills along with the history of the craft.
Santikos Building, Hall 150, UTSA Southwest CampusJoin UTSA Libraries for a virtual workshop for EndNote users who have mastered the basics but would like to learn about more advanced features the program can offer.
Virtual Event (Zoom)Join UTSA Libraries for a virtual workshop for EndNote users who have mastered the basics but would like to learn about more advanced features the program can offer.
Group Spot B, John Peace LibraryStudents, faculty and staff are invited to join UTSA's delegation at the annual César E. Chávez March for Justice in downtown San Antonio. Free transportation will be provided from the Main and Downtown Campuses, and all university community participants will receive a complimentary commemorative t-shirt (while supplies last)
1310 Guadalupe Street, San Antonio, TexasJoin UTSA Libraries and Museums to learn more about the publishing discounts available for UTSA researchers.
Virtual Event (Zoom)PubMed is an essential database for anyone conducting biomedical or health-related research. This workshop will teach attendees how to effectively navigate this free resource and locate peer-reviewed articles using advanced search features, MeSH subject headings, and Boolean operators.
Virtual Event (Zoom)The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
