CLUES unveiled the CLUES Latino Art Gallery, an innovative exhibition space dedicated to presenting multidisciplinary art, performance and public programming by Latino artists. The gallery’s inaugural exhibition, VisualizArte, opens September 12 and runs through December 12. Danza Mexica CITLACOATL and Palabristas poetry group participated at the opening reception.

“Our new programs are designed to empower Latinos and youth in our community. By providing them with access to resources and opportunities, they can realize their own American Dream,” said Ruby Lee, CLUES President and CEO. “Our art gallery reaffirms our commitment to amplify cultural engagement and community healing while improving social and economic odds for the people we serve.”

“For our first-ever art exhibit, VisualizArte, we called upon MN-based Latino/a/x artists to build community with us, co-imagine our collective future, and co-create our new casa (home) for Latino arts and culture in Minnesota,” said Aaron Johnson, CLUES Latino Arts & Cultural Engagement Liaison.

Thirty-one local visual artists responded to the call – with work ranging from folk art to fine art – in a wide variety of media, including painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

“While Latinos have some of the lowest rates of attendance at traditional art galleries and museums, we know that our communities are rich in culture and artistic expression,” said Johnson. “Our new exhibit space will address this gap by meeting Latino communities where they already are, and by orienting all of our programming, planning and curatorial work around the needs, desires and aspirations of our community.”

Through their submissions, VizualizArte artists offered unique responses to questions faced by the Latino/a/x community in Minnesota:

- What are the hopes and aspirations of MN-based Latino/a/x artists?
- How can we build community through art?
- How can artists heal historical and ongoing traumas, and foster resilience?
- How do we create art spaces that are welcoming and joyful for all community members, especially the most marginalized?

Now CLUES welcomes the public, and especially Minnesota’s Latino/a/x community, to co-engage with them through this work, and help them envision and co-create a loving community -- full of life, abundance, and joy.

Learn about CLUES new gallery and the VizualizArte exhibit and events here: clues.org/latino-art-events/