Artist Pablo Marcano Visits UIUC

Internationally-known artist Pablo Marcano García visited campus in mid-June following the opening of an exhibit of his work in Chicago at the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) http://www.iprac.org/, entitled Luz y Color/Light and Color. UIUC Chancellor Richard Herman and Vice-Chancellor for Public Engagement Steve Sonka helped support the event at IPRAC by bringing Marcano to Illinois. Pablo Marcano is the artist in residence at the Universidad del Turabo in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. Marcano's visit and his exhibit at IPRAC was also made possible with support from Turabo's Chancellor, Dr. Dennis Alicea Rodriguez. Marcano’s art filled two galleries at the newly-opened IPRAC, which is the only institution in the continental U.S. dedicated to Puerto Rican art and culture. Following the opening reception in IPRAC’s historic building in Humboldt Park, Marcano and other participants in the Community as Intellectual Space symposium returned to the conference several blocks away. After three stimulating days at the symposium, Marcano came to Champaign with Prof. Ann Bishop and stayed overnight to confer about creating an artwork on this campus.  While on campus, he met with members of the Community Informatics Initiative at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, architects on the staff of the campus-wide Division of Facilities and Services, and various students and community members interested in contributing ideas for an art project that Marcano would lead. Marcano then walked around campus considering various possible locations for a mural or mosaic installation. While this initial visit was quick, we expect to develop ideas over the summer and finalize plans for an artwork by Marcano in the fall of 2009. To find out more about Marcano’s art, visit www.marcanogarcia.com and search his name on YouTube where there are several wonderful videos.