Melissa Barales-Lopez

Recognized as a national historic landmark in 2013, the Orozco Mural Rooms are a personal treasure of the school. These murals - which take up the entire wall space of the room - were painted by renowned Mexican muralist Jose Clemente Orozco from 1932 to 1934. Titled The Epic of American Civilization, these murals counter the common narrative of the history of the Americas and give voice to the indigenous people of Mexico who constructed great civilizations. This artwork is a sight to behold and is full of vibrant colors and great detail, showcasing the undeniable talent of Orozco. These frescos are a fine example of Mexican muralism and Latinx art representation at the College! The mural pictured above (not a part of the official Epic of American Civilization) was Orozco’s first mural ever painted at Dartmouth!

Dartmouth Hall serves as the center of the language department. The upper floors of the building are divided between different languages, and the common room for the Spanish department (located on the third floor) proudly displays a magnificent mural painted by Dartmouth’s very own Ernesto Cuevas (a member of the class of 1998). Additionally, Ernesto Cuevas has also completed several art projects which are currently displayed in the Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies (or LALACS) House. One painting in particular depicts a group of what is presumably recently-graduated students in the midst of a field of plants, a direct allusion to Cuevas’ own background as a son of migrant farm workers. His murals not only depict his personal Latino background, they further promote Latinx artistic representation at Dartmouth. The painting pictured above is yet another one of his incredible works depicting Latinx resiliency. 

As a leading college museum in the nation, the Hood Museum houses a vast collection of artwork that is accessible and free to the public. Through its countless galleries and rotating exhibitions, the Hood is able to display a diverse and wide collection of art. This past Tuesday, my classmates and I visited the Hood for an hour-long session and had the opportunity to analyze a curated array of Latinx and Latin American art. The Hood had such a variety of art pieces, some of which (like the artwork above) were purchased by the request of student interns, that nicely complemented our course themes, and all we had to do to see them was ask! I plan on visiting once again to tap into the Hood’s vast collection of Latinx art because there’s still so much I have yet to see. All in all, the Hood's depth in art undeniably highlights the diversity in art at Dartmouth.