Baltimore City Wire

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is set to unveil a new installation titled "Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano" on May 17. This exhibition will feature 200 works spanning over four millennia, representing 40 cultures from across the Americas and the Caribbean. The museum aims to create a long-term space dedicated to exploring Indigenous art from its permanent collection, showcasing items made of ceramics, gold, paint, shells, silver, stone, and textiles.

Kate Burgin, Andrea B. and John H. Laporte Director and CEO of the Walters Art Museum, expressed enthusiasm about the project: “We are excited to present Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano, a dynamic platform to celebrate the varied and thriving cultures across North, Central, and South America and continue fostering connections with our Maryland Latino community and beyond.”

The installation will include works by ten contemporary Latino artists alongside historical pieces. It will also feature interactive elements such as touch and scent stations, reading nooks, video integrations centered on community perspectives, and bilingual materials in English and Spanish. The museum plans to mark the opening with a free two-day festival featuring an artisan market, performances, tours, art-making activities among other events.

Ellen Hoobler co-curated the installation along with Patricia Lagarde. Hoobler commented on the significance of their collection: “The Walters is fortunate to have a strong collection of art from Latin America... Latin America consists of hundreds of vibrant cultures with living traditions that are still in existence.”

To enhance visitor experience further for Baltimore's growing Latino population—up by 77% between 2010-2020—the museum established advisory groups focusing on community input. Renovations were carried out within their historic Italian Palazzo building including updates like constructing new walls & openings; installing new case designs; refurbishing original terrazzo flooring; adding scrims; painting cases eye-catching colors while ensuring accessibility through collaboration with Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD).

The gallery will also host video stations where visitors can explore five living Latin American traditions presented by prominent members of this community alongside scent/touch stations offering experiences such as smelling copal resin or feeling ancient glyph text plus children/young adult books available at benches sourced from Pura Belpré Award list among others.

A catalog titled "The Spirit Within: Art And Life In The Americas" accompanies this exhibit authored by Ellen Hoobler & Patricia Lagarde available both English-Spanish editions purchasable via museum store.

Major support comes courtesy John G Bourne Fund Exhibition Arts Ancient Americas alongside contributions Terra Foundation American Art among various others including major grant Institute Museum Library Services (MA-255902-OMS-24).