The Women of The Hispanic Society
Curated by Noemi Espinosa

The exhibition presented here introduces the history of the many women who worked at the Hispanic Society of America (HSA) from 1918 to the late 1970s. Group photos and portraits of the female staff, together with their biographies and personal testimonies, tell the story of what it was like to work at the Hispanic Society. Most of these women began their careers as librarians, and many of them went on to become curators and experts in the art or literature of a culture that was initially unfamiliar to them. Their achievements were in great part driven by the founder of the Society, Archer M. Huntington, who was in many ways responsible for changing the lives and expectations of many of these women.“Píntame Angelitos Negros” is the recipient of the 2024 open call for Art on Audubon Terrace, a joint effort between the Hispanic Society Museum & Library and the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) in which local artists are invited to submit an original work to be installed on the Hispanic Society’s public Audubon Terrace.

Píntame Angelitos Negros
by artist Rose Deler

“Píntame Angelitos Negros” is the recipient of the 2024 open call for Art on Audubon Terrace, a joint effort between the Hispanic Society Museum & Library and the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) in which local artists are invited to submit an original work to be installed on the Hispanic Society’s public Audubon Terrace.

This installation, “Píntame Angelitos Negros” is inspired by the poem of the same name written by the Venezuelan poet Andrés Eloy Blanco, made famous by Mexican singer Pedro Infante. Deler grew up listening to his records, which her dad frequently played on his record player. She immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a baby, and growing up, she did not feel Dominican or American. Listening to this song as a child made her aware that she was not alone in questioning where she was in this American life. This installation will consist of 999 white ceramic angels and a single black ceramic angel, all evenly spaced and attached by wire to the gate on Audubon Terrace. She will also include the poem in Spanish and English for context. Deler hopes viewers take the time to find that one black angel.