Two Chicago Shows Pair Colonial Critique with Dancehall Liberation
Two exhibitions in Chicago explore themes of colonial critique and cultural liberation through art and dance. "Dispossessions in the Americas," located at Wrightwood 659, critiques European colonialism through over 40 works, featuring artists like Saskia Calderón and Ana Mendieta. Curated by Jonathan D. Katz and Eduardo Carrera, it runs until July 18. Meanwhile, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago hosts "Dancing the Revolution," which highlights the revolutionary nature of dancehall and reggaetón from Jamaica to Puerto Rico, with works by Radamés 'Juni' Figueroa and Lee 'Scratch' Perry, running through September 20.
Key facts
- Two exhibitions in Chicago: 'Dispossessions in the Americas' at Wrightwood 659 and 'Dancing the Revolution' at MCA Chicago.
- 'Dispossessions' critiques European colonialism since the 16th century with over 40 works.
- Includes Saskia Calderón's 'Coro de plantas extintas' (2020), Ana Mendieta's 'Burial Pyramid' (1974), Archivo de la Memoria Trans's 'Exilio' (1988–2007), Camilo Godoy's 'What did they actually see?' (2018), Joiri Minaya's 'The Cloaking' (2020), and Colectivo Ayllu / Migrantes Transgresorxs's 'No nos culpen por lo que pasó' (2020).
- 'Dispossessions' curated by Jonathan D. Katz and Eduardo Carrera, runs through July 18.
- 'Dancing the Revolution' traces dancehall and reggaetón from Jamaica through Panama to Puerto Rico.
- Features Radamés 'Juni' Figueroa's 'Karaoke El Nuevo Horizonte' (2014/25), Adrian Boot's photo of Lee 'Scratch' Perry (1979), Michael Richards's 'Swing Lo'' (1996), Garvin Sierra Vega's 'El perreo intenso' (2019), Juan Rivera's 'Amplified Panama' (2026), and Blue Curry's 'J Bar 2.0' (2026).
- 'Dancing the Revolution' curated by Carla Acevedo-Yates with Cecilia González Godino, Iris Colburn, Nolan Jimbo, and nibia pastrana santiago, runs through September 20.
- Both exhibitions frame dancehall and reggaetón as revolutionary practices for collective liberation.
Entities
Artists
- Saskia Calderón
- Ana Mendieta
- Archivo de la Memoria Trans
- Camilo Godoy
- Joiri Minaya
- Colectivo Ayllu / Migrantes Transgresorxs
- Radamés 'Juni' Figueroa
- Adrian Boot
- Lee 'Scratch' Perry
- Michael Richards
- Garvin Sierra Vega
- Juan Rivera
- Blue Curry
- Jonathan D. Katz
- Eduardo Carrera
- Carla Acevedo-Yates
- Cecilia González Godino
- Iris Colburn
- Nolan Jimbo
- nibia pastrana santiago
Institutions
- Wrightwood 659
- Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
- Black Ark Studios
Locations
- Chicago
- Illinois
- United States
- Oaxaca
- Mexico
- Jamaica
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Kingston
- Miami
- Florida