Artistic expression is not always free. This was made evident on our visit to the Catalonian National Museum of Art. Each room of the modern art section contained a detailed description of the artistic movement of the pieces that followed. However, to fully understand these art pieces, the descriptions gave explicit detail on the historical … Continue reading Catalonia and the Politics of Art
Much like the other spaces we have thus had the opportunity to explore and visit, I noted the local environment as we approached the Museu d’Història de Barcelona (MUHBA). As a native of Nashville, I was instantly recognized the general feel of the neighborhood MUHBA was situated: urban revival. Like those of the United States, … Continue reading Labor, Migration, and Spaces: The Influence of Migrant-Driven Labor Movements in Barcelona
Perched atop the rugged peaks of Catalonia, the Montserrat Monastery stands as a testament to the rich cultural and religious fabric of Barcelona and Catalonia more broadly. As I ascended the mountain, tightly packed into one of the two yellow gondola lifts, the Monastery slowly emerged from the distance, its gorgeous details appearing from the … Continue reading Montserrat Monastery: An Icon Shaped by and Shaping Barcelona
Over the last couple of weeks, I had the opportunity to visit two powerful exhibits: the Musée national de l’histoire de l’immigration in Paris and the Mémorial des Déportations in Marseille. Both museums provided harrowing insights into France’s dark history of deportations during the 1940s and a reflective lens on the country’s current struggles with … Continue reading Unveiling the Past: Stories of Deportations in France and Reflections on Modern-Day Discrimination
As I walked through the Museu d’Història de Barcelona Olivia Artés I could not help but notice the striking metal beams dividing each section of the exhibit. The museum was situated inside a hollowed-out factory building from the 1920s, a remnant of Barcelona’s industrial legacy. The focus of the museum was on the development of … Continue reading An Industrial Legacy: Cleveland to Barcelona
Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, where I immersed myself in the world of Jorge Longarón, the Spanish cartoonist whose work left an indelible mark on the Black community worldwide. The exhibit, focused on his renowned comic strip Friday Foster, was both enlightening and … Continue reading Friday Foster Exhibit at Museu Nacional d’Art: A Beacon of Hope for Future Representation
During the Civil War in Barcelona, immigration was at its lowest, but as the automotive and industrial industries expanded, they attracted immigrants from all over Spain due to job opportunities. This influx encouraged people to become more engaged in their communities, leading immigrants to embrace the Catalonian language and culture. Staying right in the city, … Continue reading Immigration in Barcelona + Industrialization
After watching the first episode of the Netflix series “Transatlantic” I was immediately captivated by the show. I was even more interested when I learned that the show is based on a true story. The work of Varian Fry, Mary Jayne Gold, and others is simply not talked about (or maybe I’m just unaware). Regardless, … Continue reading The Walter Benjamin Trail: A Testament to Refugee Courage and Determination
As France was being taken over by Nazi germany, Jews who lived in France began searching for options to leave the country. However, due to the difficulty of getting a travel visa approved as a Jew, most had to flee the country illegally. One of the methods was to travel along the transatlantic passage through … Continue reading Beyond the Pyrenees: the Symbolic Journey of Trans-Atlantic Hike
Something I thought was interesting at the museums we visited recently was learning about how the Olympic Games in Barcelona were very beneficial to the city, as the stadiums are still in use and continue to bring revenue to the city. In contrast, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio led to abandoned stadiums and significant … Continue reading Olympic Games/Strikes
Revolutionary Cities 