Many of the artists in Agitated Histories engage with events of the recent past that are a part of the lived experience of others and continue to have an effect on the present. Viewers bring different levels of familiarity with the events referenced in these works, which may impact their understanding of the artworks themselves. Focusing on the work of Yoshua Okón, Daniel Joseph Martinez, and Sam Durant, Janet Dees will explore the issue of the relative importance of extra-artistic context, especially as it relates to works that reference political struggles. As a case study, Professor William Stanley will discuss the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996), which is a significant reference for Yoshua Okón’s Octopus.

William D. Stanley, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of New Mexico. An expert in the field of 20th century political struggles in Central America, he has published widely on the subject and is currently at work on two books, MUNUGUA: A history of the United Nations Peace Mission to Guatemala and Liberalism and Peace in Central America.

Janet Dees is Assistant Curator at SITE Santa Fe.