Students in TA’s Spanish 3, 4, and 5 classes recently took their learning beyond the classroom with a visit to the Hood Museum to experience La Mirada Boricua. The exhibition invited students to explore how artists tell stories of Puerto Rican identity, culture, and lived experiences both on the island and throughout the diaspora.
The visit brought classroom learning to life as students made connections between the artwork and the Dominican traditions Tía Lola brings to Vermont in Julia Álvarez’s Cuando Tía Lola vino de visita a quedarse (yes, “de visita” should be crossed out—Tía Lola was only supposed to visit, but she decided to stay!) and Marlene’s growing pride in her natural curls in Claribel Ortega’s graphic novel Rizos.
Through art and literature, students explored powerful questions about identity, family, cultural traditions, and beauty—and how these shape who we are and where we feel we belong. It was a wonderful opportunity to see how language, art, and culture connect across experiences and communities.
