by Amanda Egan
News Editor
A unique element of diversity has been introduced to downtown Claremont in recent months with the addition of a new museum of Latino art.
The Latino Art Museum opened in Pomona in July 2001 but relocated to Claremont in October 2003 to attract interest among people who visit the Village area.
“It was a great decision for us to move to the Village. We have improved our classes, memberships and sponsors with our new location,” museum director Graciela Nardi said.
The museum constantly changes its exhibits and explores various types of art. Throughout the month of February a project titled “Envisioning the Future” is being shown. This is the first project that does not attribute any Latin American artists.
Judy Chicago, professor of art at Cal Poly Pomona, organized the project and selected the featured artists.
The project officially began last September.
Nine facilitators trained by Chicago and husband Donald Woodman worked directly with the 70 participants. The focus of the project is the creation of art in a variety of media.
The project is being exhibited in several places in the surrounding area each containing a different element of art.
The LAC is featuring the digital media and video portion of the project. Matt Jackson, facilitator of digital media and video, has several energizing pieces of art on display.
“The digital images displayed were very different and I was excited to see such interactive art,” said senior photojournalism major Amy Babin.
Other artists being featured in the video portion at the LAC include Sonia Angulo of Whittier, Shirley Harlan of San Bernardino, Franz Keller of Claremont and Motoichi Okawa of Covina.
Babin said that she was impressed with the work being shown in the Museum.
During the month of March, the museum will welcome 14 Latin American artists in the “Grand Salon of the Latin American Artists.”
“It will be a fantastic show with many colorful pieces,” Nardi said.
Nardi, a native of Buenos Aries, welcomes a variety of artists to display their work in the LAM. The museum has featured art from around the world, including Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Honduras, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela. She hopes to eventually have all countries featured.
The LAM has plenty more to offer than the tangible art inside. Drawing and painting classes for children are available Wednesdays and Saturdays.
“I like it when students come and get the opportunity to be exposed to the art,” Nardi said.
Spanish classes are available on Thursdays for children and adults. Argentine tango is taught every Wednesday night.
“It is a quaint place. I like the things that the museum has to offer to the community,” Babin said.
A potluck, music and poetry event tonight will give people a chance to share a dish, a song or a poem to share with the group.
“We want to give the community a Latino background through many forms of art including literature, painting and music,” Nardi said.
For more information call (909) 447-6699.
Amanda Egan
