Syracuse NY-based Puerto Rican artist Manuel Matias offered a guided tour of the Fall 2024 exhibit, Weird Barrio / Por mi barrio at La Casita Cultural Center in Syracuse NY, on the occasion of the show's inaugural event.
Weird Barrio depicts the Latino barrio experience in intricate detail. At its core, it is a testament to the power of storytelling and visual representation in shaping collective identity and fostering a sense of belonging within marginalized communities. By intricately depicting familiar settings, Westside neighborhood streets, community buildings, home environments, and conceptual representations of a unique and distinctive character, Matías invites viewers to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of life in the barrios, capturing the essence of kinship and cultural pride that define these neighborhoods.
La Casita is a Syracuse University Program established by Syracuse University in 2011 to advance an agenda of empowerment through civic engagement, education, and the arts, bridging the Latino communities on and off the SU campus.
The Weird Barrio exhibit and opening event are part of the 2024-25 Syracuse Symposium on "Community", in partnership with the Syracuse University Humanities Center. Additional support comes from the Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation.