Stop the Violence with Art

Eddie Bocanegra, one of the stars of the documentary, The Interrupters has collaborated with the National Museum of Mexican Art and its youth engagement organization, Yollocalli Arts Reach on a summer long initiative designed to teach young people how art can impact Chicago.  ‘Stop The Violence With Art’ is a summer-long collaboration between ‘violence interrupters’, teachers, filmmakers and artists of all ages that will celebrate young people’s talents and show how their artwork can connect to greater issues affecting their lives and communities.

Students from Chicago’s Hancock High School, Yollocalli Arts Reach, CASA programs along with LuchArte, a youth art project co-led by Bocanegra in collaboration with Northeastern Illinois University and Enlace Chicago and Kartemquin Films, will be challenged to create pieces that express their experiences and emotions pertaining to violence.  These student works will be unveiled July 6^th at a special two-month student exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art.  To celebrate the opening of the exhibit and to further examine the themes of violence, the Museum will host a special screening and community conversation of The Interrupters. The exhibit will close on September 3^rd with a special arts education panel and highlights from the exhibits two-month run.

TUESDAY, MAY 22^nd – 3 – 7PM

The events kick off Tuesday, May 22^nd  3PM at the Hancock High School Art Expo, where students will have the chance to showcase their talents and be part of a discussion panel with Eddie Bocanegra.  Organizers of the ‘Stop the Violence With Art’ campaign will challenge students in attendance to begin creating pieces for the two-month exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

FRIDAY, JULY 6^th - TIME 5PM – 9PM

The ‘Stop The Violence With Art’ Youth Exhibit opens at the National Museum of Mexican Art.  The July 6^th activities will include a special screening of The Interrupters with a Q&A panel with ‘violence interrupter’ Eddie Bocanegra.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3^rd – TIME TBA

The ‘Stop The Violence With Art’ Youth Exhibit will run through Monday, September 3^rd with a special closing ceremony honoring the students and featuring closing remarks by art teachers from Chicago area colleges and universities.

LOCATION:

Opening of Exhibit – Friday, July 6^th – TIME TBA
Closing of Exhibit – Monday, September 3^rd – TIME TBA

National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 West 19th Street  Chicago, IL 60608

www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org – (773) 535-2410