Necroarchivos de las Americas: The Unrelenting Search for Justice is an art exhibit currently being shown within the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. This exhibit displays the artwork of artists from the Latin and Native American communities, with an aim to begin conversations about wrongful violence, unfair government actions and the way that borders, in all senses of the word, can make life difficult and dangerous for many people.
This exhibition, on view until Dec. 8, 2024, occupies two of the largest galleries within the JSMA and features 16 contemporary artists whose work denounces state violence, which encompasses all versions of the word, from gender and racial categories to political and national instances.

“The fact that these issues are continuing is the main motive for bringing this exhibit to the JSMA,” Adriana Miramontes Olivas, curator of Academic Programs and Latin American and Caribbean Art at the JSMA, said. “How can we end violence against humans, and how can we advocate for justice within our communities? This exhibit is an invitation for students on campus and the Eugene community to do something about this so we can lead better lives, respect each other and protect each other.”
Miramontes Olivas has been researching this topic for over ten years. With her background in the Latin American community, this project is relatable for her. It also gives her the opportunity to explore and research more about a topic that affects not only her, but the people within her community.
Visitors will see an array of visual demonstrations including physical models, eclectic instruments and video projects. Some of the exhibits are even interactive, giving people the opportunity to truly immerse themselves in the experience.
“If I had to recommend one thing for visitors to see while they are exploring the exhibit, I would tell them to come and find the art that speaks to them,” Miramontes Olivas said. “It will always vary based on age or a person’s own lived experiences, or even something as simple as visual language. That’s the beauty of art; it can communicate to multiple different people on multiple different levels.”
This exhibit encourages and challenges viewers to question themselves, their reality and determine whether or not they understand the impact of the issues that these works of art are demonstrating. This exhibition has been curated for residents of Eugene to help answer this question for themselves, and in doing so, spread the word and awareness of the problems that plague communities all around the world.