New York City’s El Museo del Barrio has reopened after a well-deserved multi-million dollar renovation.
The museum was started 40 years ago by performance artist Rafael Montañez 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.
![Osorio_La Cama (The Bed)[5]](http://studio360.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/osorio_la-cama-the-bed5.jpg?w=300&h=234 "Osorio_La Cama (The Bed)[5]")
El Museo del Barrio will celebrate it’s 40th 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!
- Susie Karlowski
Pepón 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
