Edra Soto

Edra Soto (b. Puerto Rico) is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, curator, and co-director of the outdoor project space THE FRANKLIN. She is invested in creating and providing visual and educational models propelled by empathy and generosity. Her recent projects, which are motivated by civic and social actions, focus on fostering relationships with a wide range of communities. Soto holds an MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a bachelors degree from Escuela de Artes Plastics de Puerto Rico. She teaches Introduction to Social Engagement at University of Illinois in Chicago and is a Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

https://edrasoto.com/home.html

Edra Soto, Artists,

Portrait by Abbi Chase

Edra Soto & George Westinghouse College Prep

Click photo to enlarge

Click photo to enlarge

The work, titled ‘Present’, is a collection of drawings that memorializes my brief conversations with art students from Lisa Pennell’s art class at George Westinghouse College Prep. Having worked as a high school teacher for 10 years; living steps away from this College Prep and my perpetual interest in connecting with diverse communities lead me to finally engage with this group of students.  

Our conversations were more about my curiosity to get to know them, where they came form, and how they felt about East Garfield Park, our neighborhood.

The ‘Present’ collection is based on an archival project I created 15 years ago titled ‘A Year in Review’. This project consisted on the documentation of the year 2004 by sourcing photographs published in the Chicago Sun Times. The photographs are traced to a piece of soft metal resembling a contemporary version of a Mexican milagro. Traditional milagros are small charms used  as a votive offerings or for healing purposes. The powerful significance attached to these soft pieces of pushed metal prompted me to respond in a contemporary context, enduring their sincere sentimental value.

 

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Artists in Public Schools creates artist residencies in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), providing expansive art making experiences for students, educators, and professional Chicago-based artists. Working together with a collaborative, community-focused mindset, we celebrate and widely share the unique stories of CPS students and schools through art and creativity. When the arts and aesthetics are integrated into education, work, and life, we strengthen our capacity to learn. Creating something is at the core of learning.