A través del papel: arte y pensamiento comunitario de Puerto Rico 1950-1999

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The exhibition, A través del papel: arte y pensamiento comunitario de Puerto Rico 1950-1999, presents a selection of books, portfolios, drawings, and prints from the museum’s permanent collection, corresponding to the second half of the XX century. This selection celebrates the fundamental usage of paper as a medium for art relating to the education of the people and the diffusion of ideologies of social justice in Puerto Rico during the past century. The image and written word promoted literacy, an improved quality of life, and served to strengthen the Puerto Rican identity, defend citizens’ rights and encourage social awareness in a much needed context. The artists played a distinguished role as their illustrations were the primary pedagogical tool; paper became their faithful ally; and printmaking the medium par excellence.

The exposition is centered in the 1950’s with books by the Community Education Division, known as the DIVEDCO, a government program of the Department of Public Instruction which operated from 1949 to 1989- that had the objective of generating jobs, achieving stability and progress, and launching an economic and industrial base for the population. This social transformation project was initially directed by Edwin Rosskam, while the Graphic Workshop was led by artist Irene Delano. She instructed and formed artists that were later known as the Generation of the 50’s. These artists organized in groups and workshops, creating a legacy for graphic tradition that led tothe creation of portfolios and prints. This legacy was continued by other artists in posterior generations and is represented in part in this exposition until the end of the 1990’s

We invite you to get to know, reflect, and contribute to the communal thought that we hope to continue to build through words, image, and paper.