Discover ‘Uncovered Spaces’

“Uncovered Spaces,” a community-based art exhibit that aims to expand people’s understanding of the power of art, is underway at the International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS) in McAllen.

The exhibit, which focuses on female and LGBTQIA+ artists, was created in collaboration with the UTRGV Center for Latin American Arts.

The show is directed by Katherine Moore McAllen, director of the Center for Latin American Arts and assistant professor of art history in the School of Art & Design, and curated by Raheleh Filsoofi, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University.

The 14 artists participating in the exhibition are interdisciplinary artist Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, artist Wendy Red Star, Mexican American artist Margarita Cabrera, Associate Professor of Art at Vanderbilt University Vensa Pavlović, mixed media and video performance artist Jana Harper, multimedia artist Melissa Potter, multidisciplinary artist Daisy Patton, textile-focused visual artist Erika Diamond, ceramic artist Lauren Sandler, visual artist Linda Behar, interdisciplinary artist Zac Thompson, Colombian American artist Natalia Arbelaez, Mexican artist María Fernanda Barrero and Assistant Professor of African and African American Art at Vanderbilt University Rebecca VanDiver.

“Uncovered Spaces” opened on March 26 and continues through July 10 at IMAS.

“The purpose of the exhibition is to bring leading contemporary artists from the U.S. and Latin America to McAllen,” McAllen said.

She said students and the community can enjoy “contemporary art with a message of empowering women and providing a safe space for young LGBTQ artists.”

“Art lovers [can] enjoy art and appreciate the creative expression of identity through the medium of painting, sculpture, video art, mixed media, art, printmaking and photography,” McAllen said.

She said the expectations she has for the exhibition are concentrated in the community.

“The expectations are to create a community-based art exhibition where our community engages with the art and helps to expand our understanding of the power of art to inspire and also help rethink stereotypes and create more diversity and inclusion,” McAllen said.

English junior Karina Martínez said it is important for exhibits to showcase a variety of artists.

“I think it’s important because it showcases, you know, people who aren’t seen all the time,” Martínez said. “They are able to not necessarily have a voice but [they are] able to showcase who they are through their art.”

She said art is a form of communication that helps artists share their own story. 

“Art has a way with its own words using, you know, like, the strokes of a brush, you know, or even the colors that an artist uses,” Martínez said. “So, it’s definitely a form of communication through, like, their own language.”

Curatorial Assistant Rajaa Yeazji-Ayoubi said the exhibition is a great opportunity to learn more about the artists.

“This would create an environment to, like, communicate, and share thoughts, share artistic art techniques and ways of how they use their art to to express or grow awareness on these issues,” Yeazji-Ayoubi said. 

McAllen encourages students and the community to become involved in the making of art. 

“Uncovered Spaces” is inviting high school art students from the Brownsville Independent School District and IDEA Public Schools to come to the IMAS and put together an art exhibition, McAllen said. 

“So, our alumni, who used to study at UTRGV and receive their degrees, are now teachers in the school system in the Brownsville ISD and also IDEA schools,” she said. “Our teachers are working with their students now to invite the high school students to come and have an art exhibition at the IMAS, and that will be opening May 19.”

The Center for Latin American Arts YouTube channel will feature a talk by Harper, associate professor of the practice of art at Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science, about her artwork and experiences.

Yeazji-Ayoubi said “Uncovered Spaces” offered different workshops to the students and community.

“There [was] actually a workshop in Brownsville,” she said.  “It [was] a painting workshop … with the artist Daisy Patton. There was also a … roundtable with the artists from the exhibition to share thoughts on their art and then also give feedback [to] other students’ work from UTRGV.”

The painting workshop will also be available on the Center for Latin American Arts YouTube channel.

From May 19 to July 10, “Uncovered Spaces” will host “Student Crossroads: Contemplating Uncovered Spaces,” curated by UTRGV Master of Fine Arts alumni Cristina Correa and Fatima Lai, which presents works by high school art students from Weslaco, San Juan and Brownsville at the IMAS.

The museum, located at 1900 W. Nolana Ave. in McAllen, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $3, and $1 for children ages 4 through 12. Tickets can be purchased online or in person.

For more information, visit its website or call 681-2800.