AN AFRO-LATINX MIXTAPE, 2024

July 26th - September 13, 2024

Artists: Anthony Newton, Cameron St. Clair, Carlos Mateu, Catalina Baselli, Charlie Pastelle, Edgar Moza, Giancarlo Vargas, Gilly Lugo, Ingrid Mathurin, Irene Fernandez, Lisa Wilde, Sasha Lynn Roberts, Steven Luna, Teri Gandy-Richardson

Curatorial Text

“An Afro-LatinX Mixtape is a spirited group exhibition showcasing the African American and Latine experience through musical genres that carry on the traditions and essence of the diasporic journey, rooted inevitably to the African continent. The show, presented by Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning from July 26 to September 13, celebrates and highlights the themes and voices of pioneering genres and musicians who orbit across oceans, generations, and have influenced global culture despite marginalization and economic inequalities. These works, speaking on contemporary and ancestral imagery, are interpreted by emerging and established visual artists who embody the diasporic experience and multicultural lineage of New York City through painting, sculpture, collage, and videography.

With music serving as the foundation for this exhibition and universal language of storytelling, through genres such as Afrobeat, Blues, Salsa, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Reggaetón, Rumba, Bomba, Disco, Cumbia, Merengue, Soca and more; chronicling a shared history of migration, oppression, and the undeniable influential contributions to our global soundscape. These genres are not merely art forms but are permeated with the lessons of ancestors and the unyielding spirit of survival and progress. The 15 featured artists, all with significant ties to New York and the broader cultural diaspora, reinterpret and remix the vibrations of their heritage, weaving narratives to resonate with contemporary struggles and triumphs. Through their work, they honor their roots while forging paths that reflect current ideas and challenges many continue to face, both culturally and individually.

America's history is overshadowed by the glaring contradiction of embracing ideals of equality, liberty and justice for all, while simultaneously subjugating significant peoples of its population. Yet, from this paradoxical reality emerged musical genres that not only mirror the gravity of oppressed and misrepresented communities throughout the Caribbean and Americas, but also celebrate powerful depictions of resistance and musical influences embedded in earths main-stream music industry.

In reflection to the enduring power of music as a form of resistance, An Afro-LatinX Mixtape is a testament to hope for deeper human connections as we champion those who stand-in to represent lives who have endured colonization and segregation. It honors the musical artists and genres who, despite systemic efforts to silence them, have amplified their voices to inspire change and connect humanity across the globe. JCAL and curator Adrian Bermeo, invite visitors to experience the stories these artists tell through their expressive forms, celebrating an unbroken chain of creativity, resilience, and cultural assertion. And reminds us that even in a world rife with contradictions as to how we treat one another, the human spirit's capacity for creativity can resonate far and wide, fostering a more inclusive and just global culture that binds the African diaspora both spiritually and conventionally in our daily lives.

photos by Anthony Artis