Muralist Francisco Letelier to Create Mural with Students from March 25 to 30
In collaboration with the “Sewn in Protest: Chilean Aprilleras from the 1970s and ‘80s” exhibit, world-renowned Chilean artist Francisco Letelier will visit SUNY Potsdam to undertake a mural project with 11 SUNY Potsdam students and one St. Lawrence University student, from March 25 to 30. The “Bridging Cultures Mural Project” has allowed students to work directly with Letelier on a mural that will connect three decades of solidarity and cultural actions in support of human rights and democracy in Chile and Latin America—as well as current issues throughout the Americas.
Francisco is the son of Orlando Letelier, an economist, politician, and diplomat who was exiled from Chile during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. A refugee in Washington D.C., Orlando worked to inform the world about the human rights violations and atrocities occurring in Chile under Pinochet. In 1976, Orlando was assassinated by the Chilean secret police in Washington, D.C., when Francisco was just a teenager. After his father was murdered, Francisco turned to art and founded the Orlando Letelier Brigade—creating murals to honor his late father, show Chile’s tumultuous history and share his hope for the future.
The unique, weeklong project will have public viewing hours at SUNY Potsdam’s Brainerd Hall (in the auditorium across the Gibson Gallery) on Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. Letelier will also make a presentation, “Blackboards of the People: Murals and Activism from the Americas,” at St. Lawrence University’s Griffiths Arts Center, room 123 on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
To wrap up the week, there will be a Fiesta back at SUNY Potsdam’s Brainerd Hall to celebrate the mural project. The party is scheduled on Friday, March 29 from 3 to 5 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend. SUNY Potsdam’s Crane Latin Ensemble will perform live music at the event.
The students involved in the mural project include:
- Maritza Angeles-Gonzalez ’19, double major in Spanish and psychology
- Scott Boyce ’19, double major in international studies and politics
- Grace Chesbro ’22, double major in Spanish and anthropology
- Passioly Coste ’19, double major in Spanish and biology
- Jennifer Darlak ’21, double major in history and creative writing
- Mara Frisbee ’22, art studio major
- Angelin Hernandez ’19, Spanish major
- Cristina Jimenez ’19, double major in Spanish and psychology
- Charina Medina ’19, double major in Spanish and speech communication
- Wilyendy Mir ’21, double major in Spanish and biology
- Emma Woolley ’19, history major
- Gabriela Alvarado '21, studio art major
- Allison Medley '20, art education major
- Abigail Tessier '20, studio art major
- Oscar Castillo ’19, anthropology major at St. Lawrence University
The mural project is running concurrently with the “Sewn in Protest: Chilean Aprilleras from the 1970s and ‘80s” exhibition, showcasing handmade Chilean patchwork tapestries called arpilleras, at SUNY Potsdam’s Gibson Gallery until March 30. Spearheaded by SUNY Potsdam History professor Dr. M.J. Heisey and Spanish professors Dr. Liliana Trevizán and Dr. Oscar Sarmiento, the exhibitions showcase arpilleras, Chilean patchwork tapestries from the 1970s and 1980s that depict protests against human rights violations in Chile but also the extraordinary efforts to care for families and communities and to celebrate the joy of life. Early arpilleristas, as the artists were known, sometimes sewed the tapestries from scraps of clothing from missing or abducted relatives.
North Country Public Radio is the media sponsor for “Sewn in Protest" and the “Bridging Cultures Mural Project.”
For more information about the Department of History, visit:
www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/history
For more information about the Department of Modern Languages, visit:
www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/lang
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,600 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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