Artepaño: Exhibition Reception and Special Film Screening at NEHMA

“Artepaño: Chicano Prisoner Kerchief Art,” featuring over 70 artworks by Latinx artists working in the context of the American penal system, will open Saturday, Aug. 24, in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art.

On Saturday, Sept. 7 a special film screening of the 1996 documentary “Paño Arte: Images From the Inside” will start at 5 p.m. at the Wanlass/Russell Performance Hall and will be followed by a conversation with:

• The film’s director & producer, Evangeline Griego.
• Exhibition curator Álvaro Ibarra, Ph.D.
• Scholar Ben Olguín, Ph.D.
• Art Collector Reno Laplat-Torti.
• Moderator Felipe Valencia, Ph.D.

Their discussion will shed light on the longstanding tradition of art-making within prisons in the U.S. Southwest. A reception at the museum will follow from 5:30-8:00 PM. The reception, film screening and conversation are free and open to the public.

A paño is a standard 15 by 15-inch cotton handkerchief transformed into a work of art by prisoners who self-identify as Chicano, Mexican-American, Latino, and/or Hispanic. These artists, who also self-identify as inmates, convicts, and/or Pintos, create artworks that range from saccharine valentines to chilling threats and grand biographical narratives.

The exhibition brings this group of Latinx artists to the forefront, sharing their stories thoughtfully and respectfully. Artepaño: Chicano Prisoner Kerchief Art will be on view until February 2025. NEHMA invites all to visit the exhibition and explore the artists’ stories.

The film is shown courtesy of About Time Productions, directed and produced by Evangeline E. Griego, and co-produced by A. Rudy Padilla. This event is made possible with the generous support of the Terra Foundation of American Art.

About Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art: The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University fosters engagement with modern and contemporary art to facilitate learning and promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah and the mission of Utah State University. This mission, which is at the heart of our exhibition, will inspire you to explore and engage with the art. Admission is free and open to all. Parking is available in the free museum parking stalls and at the Gateway Terrace. For more information, visit usu.edu/artmuseum or contact Shaylee Briones. shaylee.briones@usu.edu, 435-797-0227.