Celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions: FRÁGIL MANEJE CON CUIDADO: Bienvenido a los puertorriqueños a nuestra comunidad and Dressed in Shadow: Joan Ryan.

FRÁGIL MANEJE CON CUIDADO, organized by independent curator Ben Ortiz, uses contemporary Puerto Rican artwork, Santos figures, Taíno artifacts, historical postcards and videos of the island during and after Hurricane Maria, to explore sense of place, culture and the human experience of natural disasters. Among the artists presented are Nayda A. Cuevas, Rafael Ferrer, Wichie Torres, Connecticut’s Imna Arroyo and Waterbury’s own Ernesto Lopez. Approximately 200 picture postcards showings colorful images of Puerto Rico from 1890-1940 will be on view in the Monteiro Family Community Gallery, all from the collection of Cheshire resident, collector José Luis Rodriguez. //Organizada por curador independiente Ben Ortiz, esta exhibición usa arte contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, santos, artefactos taínos, tarjetas postales históricas y videos de la isla durante y después de Huracán María para explorar sentido de lugar, cultura y la experiencia humana de desastres naturales. Artistas presentados incluyen Imna Arroyo, Rafael Ferrer, Wichie Torres y Ernesto López, de Waterbury. Aproximadamente 200 tarjetas postales mostrando imágenes de Puerto Rico de 1890-1940 son presentadas en el Monteiro Family Community Gallery; todas son de la colección de José Luis Rodriguez, un residente de Cheshire.

Exhibition literature and labels will be displayed in Spanish and English. Supported in part through a gift from Brass Axe Capital to underwrite exhibitions in the Munger Room and a gift from Connecticut Humanities to support this special exhibition. Family programs supported in part by American Savings Foundation. Opening reception supported in part by Ben Ortiz and Victor Torchia, with food provided by Milagro’s Spanish Restaurant.//La literatura y las etiquetas de la exposición se mostrarán en español e inglés. Apoyada en parte a través de una donación de Brass Axe Capital para apoyar exposiciones en el Munger Room y un donativo de Connecticut Humanities para apoyar esta exposición especial. Programas de familia apoyados en parte a través de American Savings Foundation. Recepción apoyada en parte a través de una donación de Ben Ortiz y Victor Torchia, con comida provista por Milagro’s Spanish Restaurant.

Dressed in Shadow is a solo exhibition featuring the work of Joan Ryan. As the winner of the 2018 MIXMASTER Juried Members Exhibition, Joan Ryan was selected for a solo show in The Lab. This Boston artist creates lushly colored paintings that are narratives about gender, race, violence and class. She is an Associate Professor of Drawing at the Art Institute at Lesley University and is affiliated with A.I.R. Gallery and The Drawing Center in New York, NY.

Supported in part through a gift from Raymond Learsy to underwrite exhibitions in The Lab.

Before the opening reception, join Joan Ryan for an artist talk at noon. Community Free Day will also be taking place all day!