Returning to El Barrio

New York City’sEl Museo del Barriohas reopened after a well-deserved multi-million dollar renovation.

The museum was started 40 years ago by performance artist Rafael Montaez Ortiz in a public school classroom with the mission of highlighting Puerto Rican artists. Since then, it’s grown into an important cultural institution with a collection of more than “6,500 objects spanning more than 800 years of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino art.”

I have always loved this little museum, and am very excited to see the permanent collection, particularly the installations, in a space that allows the visitor more room to take in the exuberant work.

El Museo del Barrio will celebrate it’s 40^th Anniversary throughout the year with special programs and exhibitions. I’ll be spending my Halloween at the (free!) Dia de Los Muertos festival: calavera mask and retablos making workshops, with hot chocolate and Pan de Muerte!

Pepn Osorio
(b. 1955, Santurce, Puerto Rico)
La Cama (The Bed)
1987
Mixed Media installation, 75 x 57 1/2 x 81 1/2 inches (190.5 x 146.1 x 207 cm)
Collection El Museo del Barrio, NY
Museum purchase, S93.68