"Neo-Latino is a visual dialogue that shines the spotlight on the cultural and socio-political Latino experience," said Fonseca. His three works that are part of this exhibit, like much of his art, explore the timely issue of immigration, and integrate elements of identity and the meaning of citizenship.
Dr. José Rodeiro, Professor of Art at New Jersey City University and one of the contributing artists of Neo-Latino, maintains that "Neo-Latinoism" stands as the 21st Century's first Hispanic art movement. "Raul Villarreal, the acclaimed Cuban American painter and curator of Neo-Latino, has led an enlightened revival of 'Neo-Latino Art' which further advances the development of an artistic community linked by cultural solidarity," Rodeiro said. "Under Villarreal's curatorial leadership, this 'second wave' of the Neo-Latino art movement features cutting-edge images of social significance, imaginative visions, and strong visual vitality that are both archetypal and intrinsic to contemporary Latino communities within NYC/NJ's greater metropolitan area."
"Neo-Latinoism," Barreiro added, "represents the future of Hispanic art and culture in urban America, because Neo-Latino artists maintain that 21st Century visual art must express the 'visual,' the 'visceral,' the 'emotional, and the 'imaginative.'"
Other artists featured in the Neo-Latino exhibition include: Olga Mercedes Bautista, Monica S. Camin, Christie Devereaux, Nicola Stewart Fonseca, Fermin Mendoza, Lisette Morel, Angélica Muñoz Castaño, Gabriel Navar, Isabel Nazario, Julio Nazario, Marisol Ross, Sergio Villamizar and Raúl Villarreal. The Latin American and Iberian countries represented in the exhibition are Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Portugal and Spain.
"The themes explored in this exhibition, like the varied artists whose works are represented, speak not only to the Latino experience, but to the experiences of all artists and viewers who comprise our great 'Nation of Immigrants,'" added Fonseca.
PHOTO: Kean University Graphic Designer Ricardo Fonseca's "Green Card" is one of the pieces of art included in the Neo-Latino art exhibition, on display now through January at the CCM Visual Arts Gallery.
