Curatorial Statement
Recordando tracks the contemporary pathways of seven Hispanic artists with roots in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Spain, whose lives have, for a time, converged in south central Indiana. This pop-up exhibition was organized in anticipation of Hispanic Heritage Month, a national recognition of the contributions of Hispanic Americans in the United States, celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15.
To record something implies a thoughtful engagement with whatever has captivated one’s attention; it is a simultaneous listening and preservation of information for future reference. Sometimes, a recording happens instantaneously, such as the street photography of Silvina Ferradal. Other records are retrospective, grasping at a moment already passed, as seen in paintings by Gloria Colom Braña, Samuel Penaloza and Gloria Manzanares. Records are also layered, reviewing traditions with contemporary perspectives, as in Liliana Guzmán’s images, Angiee Liliana Rocha Parra’s embroidered maps and the documentary photography printed on handmade paper by Alexandra McNichols-Torroledo.
The second part of this title, “ando,” means “I walk” in Spanish. It is also a suffix in Spanish that transforms the English verb “record” into the gerund “recordando,” which translates to “retaining” and “remembering.” By combining English and Spanish meanings in the exhibition’s title, we stress that recording is an ongoing exercise that necessitates the transfer of one form of communication to another, such as verbal storytelling to photography, or precise cartography to abstraction. Artists and viewers might consider this preserved knowledge as they continue along their path, repeating the back-and-forth practice.
- Claudia González-Díaz
Exhibiting Artists
Alexandra McNichols-Torroledo
Gloria Manzanares
Gloria M. Colom Braña
Liliana Guzman
Liliana Rocha Parra
Samuel Penaloza
Silvina Ferradal
Curated by: Claudia Gonzalez-Diaz + Daniela Panigada Cook
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Closing Reception + Celebration
The Record(ando) exhibition closed with a reception during Gallery Walk on Friday, September 1st, 2023. The community joined together in celebration with live music by Palonegro & Sergio Ospina-Romero Latin Jazz Quartet and a performance by IU’s Ballet Folklorico. There were Colombian empanadas and Venezuelan desserts for sale. It was such a beautiful and lively gathering of art and culture and we can’t wait to celebrate again next year!