Devociones y Fe (Devotions and Faith)
May 1-31, 2014
El Tesoro Restaurant
Baltimore, MD
Curated by Michelle Ivette Gomez in collaboration with Baltimore's Latino communities for her MFA in Curatorial Practice Thesis at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Produced in partnership with Maryland Traditions, the Folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council, and the The Latino Providers Network, Inc. (LPN), Devociones y Fe (Devotions and Faith) was a series of programs and a co-creative exhibition featuring loaned objects, artworks, and oral histories that investigated how Latinos express faith and devotion through spiritual traditions, and how those spiritual traditions create a sense of belonging within the Upper Fells Point and Highlandtown neighborhoods—the centers of Baltimore’s growing Latino communities. This exhibition was a result of intensive fieldwork, one-on-one interviews, and surveys within the community.
On view May 1-31 st, 2014, this exhibition featured a collection of altars, devotional objects, newly created paintings, and sculptures loaned by a diverse group of Latino residents, businesses owners and community leaders. Devociones y Fe took place in the family-run El Tesoro Restaurant (The Treasure) located on South Broadway in the heart of the community, making it accessible to the people that informed it.
Listening stations featuring snippets of oral histories were located at each dining table alongside bilingual wall texts featuring quotes from the oral histories about each object. In addition, Devociones y Fe featured two short documentaries that Michelle produced about devotion and faith expressed through dance and processions, and one documentary preview produced by community artist Maria Gabriela Aldana Enriquez about the tradition and religious history of piñatas and posadas.
Devociones y Fe Programming included:
- An opening reception at the El Tesoro Restaurant, which included over 200 guests from the Latino community, MICA and the greater Baltimore community!
- “Neighborhood Walk: Altars on S. Broadway & Eastern Ave”, a tour and series of conversations with Latino business owners to learn about their histories, traditions and altars.
- “Discussing Latino Identity at MICA”, a private discussion with MICA Latino students to learn about their experiences, connect them to the Latino community outside of MICA, and figure out ways to advise MICA on how to better engage and support Latino students.
- “Working with Latino Communities in Baltimore”, a lecture and panel discussion in conjunction with the Latino Providers Network Inc., The Creative Alliance, Casa de Maryland, and MICA Graduate Students: Michelle Gomez, Tanya Garcia and Edgar Reyes to talk about best practices, resources and the importance of the Latino voice in creative community projects.
- “Closing Roundtable Discussion with Maryland Traditions”, a final celebration and discussion with exhibition participants in order to evaluate the project and connect Latino individuals to the Latino Providers Network Inc. and Maryland Traditions.
- A private tour and discussion with Powell Recovery patients who are recovering from addiction.
- A panel discussion about spiritual traditions at the Maryland Traditions Folklife Festival in The Creative Alliance featuring artist, Yesenia Mejia and dancer/musician, Carlos Gutierrez from Danza Guadalupana.

(Devotions and Faith)
Exhibition on view May 1-31, 2014 at El Tesoro Restaurant
219 S. Broadway Baltimore, MD
Design and Branding for "Devociones y Fe" by Julian Haddad.












"Neighborhood Walk" Program. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.







Opening Reception May 1, 2014. Photograph by Julian Haddad.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014 (Alexandra Gonzalez-Uroza giving a demonstration on her spiritual traditions). Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014 (Catering by El Tesoro Restaurant outside). Photograph by Julian Haddad.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014.

Opening Reception May 1, 2014. This is the family who owns El Tesoro Restaurant: Adiel Reyes, Adiel Reyes II, Jessica Reyes and Ashley Reyes

Opening Reception May 1, 2014 (Me with cascarones made by one of the participants- hollowed out eggs filled with confetti that are crushed over a recipients head during special Holidays.)


"Neighborhood Walk" Program May 4, 2014.

"Neighborhood Walk" Program May 4, 2014. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

"Neighborhood Walk" Program May 4, 2014. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

"Neighborhood Walk" Program May 4, 2014. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

"Closing Roundtable Discussion" Program with partners and collaborators of "Devociones y Fe" May 29, 2014.

"Working With Latino Communities in Baltimore" Program May 8, 2014 at MICA.

"Working With Latino Communities in Baltimore" Program May 8, 2014 at MICA. Photograph by Xiotian Yang.

"Working With Latino Communities in Baltimore" Program May 8, 2014 at MICA.

Maryland Traditions Folklife Festival Program, "Devociones y Fe Narrative Stage" June 14, 2014 at The Creative Alliance.

Maryland Traditions Folklife Festival Program, "Devociones y Fe Narrative Stage" June 14, 2014 featuring artists Carlos Gutierrez and Yesenia Mejia at The Creative Alliance.
Special Acknowledgements
Thank you to all those who made this project possible through their collaborative efforts, mentorship, guidance, and support during my time in the MFA Curatorial Practice program at MICA 2012-2014.
Thank you to the business owners, residents, artists, and community leaders who contributed their objects, artwork, and/or oral history to the exhibit:
Maria Gabriela Aldana
Bailes de Mi Tierra
Botanica Chango´
El Tesoro staff: Jessica Reyes, Adiel Reyes, Adiel Reyes II
Padre Orlando González
Carlos Gutierrez
Ignacio Herrera
Karla Joubert
Kate Learson
Francisco Loza
Macario Matias
Ronald Mejia
Yesenia Mejia
Norma Morales
Bishop Angel Nuñez
Aida Ramirez
Nico Ramos
Alexandra Gonzalez Uroza
Padre Roberto Wojtek
Project Assistants:
Julian Haddad, Graphic Design and Branding
Elizabeth Lily, Writing
Christopher Beer, Exhibition Design
MICA MFA Curatorial Practice:
George Ciscle, Director
Marcus Civin, Professor
MFA Curatorial Practice class of 2014 and 2015
My Thesis Review Committee:
Clifford Murphy, Former Director of Maryland Traditions
Michelle Stefano, Program Director of Maryland Traditions
Ashley Minner, Community artist and scholar
Angelo Solera, Former Director of The Latino Providers Network
My Thesis Advisors:
Emily Blumenthal
Jeremy Hoffman
John Lewis
Organizational Partners:
Maryland Traditions, Folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council
The Latino Providers Network, Inc.
The Creative Alliance
Casa de Maryland
Somos Baltimore Latino
MICA
Special thanks to:
Anthony Lee Summers