The Cambridge Art Association (CAA) is saluting the new year by presenting the art of today and providing an opportunity for viewers to join a critical culture dialog about timeless issues that concern us all. Its first exhibition of 2022, “Vernacular Glamour,” is part of the Platform Curatorial Opportunity series launched in 2019 by the CAA for curators to explore new curatorial and exhibition concepts. It will be on view in its Kathryn Schultz Gallery from January 6 through February 5.

Curated by contemporary art curator Juan Omar Rodriguez, “Vernacular Glamour” presents works in painting, photography, new media, drawings and textile. Rodriguez, a Latinx born in Phoenix, Arizona, currently based in Philadelphia, is committed to making the art world more expansive by supporting artists of color, Latinx, and queer artists. He selected eight contemporary artists who have been shaping the art scene nationally by raising their voices through their practices. The artworks brought into the conversation at “Vernacular Glamour” boldly portray the experiences and desires of Black, brown, curvy, fat, feminine, nonbinary, and queer people. Rodriguez challenged artists to share their diverse perspectives and celebrate artistic practices by collectively responding to cultural identity, taboos and cultural norms. The exhibition is an invitation to reflect and engage with contemporary artists and take a deep dive into visual messages that translate their unique life experiences.

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