Visualizing Spaces of Empowerment in Chicanx/Mexicanx Chicago with Artist and Cultural Organizer Diana Solís

This article tracks the history of Chicago's culturally important Mexican neighborhood Pilsen since the 1970s through the life and work of artist and activist Diana Solís, and includes images from her early work and specific commentary by the artist. A documentary photographer and visual artist, Solís studies and reflects the process of community building in Pilsen—a key location of the Latino Midwest—and efforts to create and improvise cultural and artistic spaces despite limited resources, marginalization and discrimination, and recently, rapid gentrification. The discussion features spaces for Latina women and lesbians during the 1970s and 1980s.