TRENDING TUESDAY | BROADENING THE EXPERIENCE

Chicano and Latino Art has been a mainstay feature of the southwest since the 1960's and '70s. Back then, rife with political injustice, artists depicted protest and rebuttal against farm working conditions and social abuses. Today, those injustices have been invigorated with a surge of anger and confusion, but also a renewed pride and affirmation of a culture. Although these southern states have continued their focus on these border country, interest has gained a new national and even international level.

An unfortunately renewed aura of racism and inclusion has created an environment that consequently produces politically charged artwork. However, instead of these art forms taking shape in a underground space, Mexican and Latino artists are being more readily recognized for their historically significant work as well as their contemporary continuance. Multiple exhibits this year alone featured a wide spectrum of famous Mexican and Latino artists, such as Philadelphia Museum of Art's Paint The Revolution: Mexican Modernism., 1910-1950 which physically brought high-tech projections of some of Mexico's most famous murals to the United States for the very first time along with other historical greats.

Exhibitions are not however shying away from featuring the contemporary subject matter of Chicano art. In avid response to the United States' administration and their efforts on immigration, artists are responding with a valid, sharply critical opinion. Some of these exhibitions highlight this anger and frustration, but there is also a renewed sense of self coming from these shows. Pride and affirmation of the Chicano and Latino culture is being showcased around the world. A rich and ancient society has been given a greater platform in which to present.

Perhaps the largest this year however, will still be in Southern California. Organized by the Getty, sixty plus institutions from Santa Barbara to San Diego are all coalescing to create individual exhibitions dedicated to Chicano and Latino art. Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA will feature the old and new, all exploring a variety of themes and mediums, working together to form a more comprehensive perspective of the histories and culture of the Chicano and Latino tradition.