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As part of my story on the proposed National Museum of the American Latino, I go through the receipts and have a look at the institutional track record on Latinos at various D.C. institutions. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-12-17/utah-senator-mike-lee-blocks-smithsonian-latino-museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is doing ok — namely because they hired E. Carmen Ramos, a curator of Latinx art in 2010.
But she can't make up for decades of neglect. I reviewed exhibitions since '58. A Latino artist hasn't had a solo show at SAAM since 1994.
But she can't make up for decades of neglect. I reviewed exhibitions since '58. A Latino artist hasn't had a solo show at SAAM since 1994.
And no Latina has EVER had a solo there.
In fact, the only artists who have gotten repeat exhibitions in the period I looked at are men. Women, in general, fare pretty poorly.
(Guess what Mike Lee also killed? A women's museum.)
In fact, the only artists who have gotten repeat exhibitions in the period I looked at are men. Women, in general, fare pretty poorly.
(Guess what Mike Lee also killed? A women's museum.)
The National Museum of American History has also shown much improvement in recent years, though for much of the Trump administration there hasn't been a dedicated exhibition about Latinos.
Moreover, of the half dozen shows on Latinos produced over the last 17 years, 2 of those have been about Celia Cruz.
I love me some Celia. (I've laid flowers on her tomb in the Bronx.) But given the historic issues Latinos have faced in this country, this strikes me as a copout.
I love me some Celia. (I've laid flowers on her tomb in the Bronx.) But given the historic issues Latinos have faced in this country, this strikes me as a copout.
I also reviewed the National Gallery of Art (not a Smithsonian) to see how they're engaging Latino narratives.
Short answer: they aren't.
In 49 years, they've had 5 shows of Latin American art. Four of those have been devoted to pre-Columbian work.
Short answer: they aren't.
In 49 years, they've had 5 shows of Latin American art. Four of those have been devoted to pre-Columbian work.
As I write: "To review [the National Gallery's] exhibition program is to see a museum so wedded to Europe it makes you wonder if the curators somehow never made it on the boat that brought everyone else to the New World."
