Archivos Vivos by Adrián Viajero Román

Join us for the opening of our new exhibition: Archivos Vivos by Adrián Viajero Román. This family-friendly event is perfect for all ages and will include a special Memory Box-making station.

MESSAGE FROM THE ARTIST:

"I am overwhelmed with emotion as I invite you to my first museum solo exhibition, Archivos Vivos, at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago.

This isn’t just any museum. It’s the only one in the U.S. dedicated to honoring our history, our art, and our voices. For someone like me, who has spent a lifetime preserving and celebrating our stories, this is more than an exhibition - it’s a homecoming.

To stand here, surrounded by the stories of our people, is a full-circle moment. It’s a space built for us, by us - a place where our struggles, triumphs, and dreams are celebrated unapologetically.

I invite you to join me on March 8th from 10 am - 1:30 pm at NMPRAC. Together, let’s share stories, honor our past, and imagine the future we’re building together.”

- Adrián Viajero Román

Saturday, March 8, 2025 Itinerary:

• 10:00 - 11:30 AM: Enjoy making cajitas de memoria inspired by the exhbit
• 10:00 - 11:30 AM: Meet and Greet the Artist, Adrián Viajero Román (Gallery Walk)
• 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Artist's Talk
• 1:00 - 1:45 PM: Meet and Greet

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT:

"Archivos Vivos" is an immersive exhibition that explores the emotional, historical, and cultural layers of Puerto Rican identity, migration, and resilience. Through personal, familial, and collective narratives, the exhibition reflects on the themes of memory, loss, survival, and cultural preservation, focusing on the experiences of Puerto Rican communities both on the island and in the diaspora.

Key to the exhibition is the use of archival materials—vintage photographs, historical documents, and found objects—that serve as tangible links to the past. These materials deepen the connection to the Puerto Rican experience, emphasizing the importance of memory in understanding the present and future.

The exhibition honors the resilience of Puerto Rican people, celebrating their triumphs and struggles. Through a blend of visual art, installation, and poetry, "Archivos Vivos" invites viewers to reflect on identity, belonging, and the collective journey of Puerto Rican communities, while highlighting the ongoing process of rebuilding, healing, and preserving culture and heritage.

This exhibition will inaugurate our Oral History Project: Voices of Resilience: Puerto Rican Migration and Identity in Chicago

Host or Publisher National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture