Back of the Yards Branch hosts a Hispanic Heritage Month art exhibit featuring the work of local artist Gloria "Gloe" Talamantes.
Pieces from Talamantes' collection will be on display from September 15 through October 15.
Artist Statement
I view art as my second language, as it enables me to express the symbols of healing and growth within me.
I spray paint graffiti letters, flowers, plants and designs. Mother Nature heavily influences my art; at a very young age, I discovered that it was the only thing that brought me inner peace.
Other influences stem from urban exploration, roses wrapped in banners from vintage Chicano Arte magazines, Old English graffiti styles I saw in and around my neighborhood of Little Village to the graffiti hieroglyphs of hip-hop culture. My heritage and culture molded me and gave me a voice; I honor it by elevating it, speaking on behalf of it and representing my hip-hop cultural roots.
My art shares a symbiotic relationship to my community work, where I share techniques and philosophy with youth that I work with on the South Side of Chicago. This relationship became the catalyst for an ongoing project that responds to the brown buffed walls of Chicago--The Brown Wall Project.
Hispanic Heritage Month Art Exhibits
More than 20 local artists are exhibiting at CPL during Hispanic Heritage Month.
