An artist’s ‘I.C.E. pop’ exhibition was shut down within days at a Texas university : NPR

An art exhibition by Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez, whose work comments on issues facing U.S. Latinos, seemed like a natural fit for the campus of the University of North Texas in Denton, north of Dallas. Nearly a quarter of the students are Hispanic and the show focused on Quiñonez’s dual cultural identity, as someone born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and raised in East Dallas, Texas.

Before it traveled to Texas, the show, called called “Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá — Neither from Here Nor from There,” had a successful run in Massachusetts at Boston University. But within a couple of days of its opening at UNT on Feb. 3, Quiñonez was being pinged on social media by students: The exhibition had been shut down.

‘I.C.E.’ pops

“Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá” incorporated pieces from a series Quiñonez calls “I.C.E. Scream,” which includes large resin sculptures in bright colors.

“They’re in the shape of a Mexican paleta, which is a Mexican popsicle that you would see the paleteros pushing around in their little carts,” the artist said in a recent interview at his studio in Queens, New York.

At first glance, those brightly-colored treats look like fun, nostalgic pop art. But there’s something else going on, too. Each one has an item encapsulated inside of it, including handcuffs, replica firearms and old rosaries.

“When you’re a child finishing your ice cream, there was sometimes a stamp or a joke that was put onto the popsicle stick,” Quiñonez said. But what’s stamped on these sticks is not a corny Dad joke, but a parody of the official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seal with text that reads: “U.S. Inhumane and Cruelty Enforcement.”

Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez holds portions of his sculpture from his “I.C.E. Scream” series in his studio.

Laila AnnMarie Stevens for NPR

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Laila AnnMarie Stevens for NPR

Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez, Mexican-born, Brooklyn-based visual artist holds the acrylic sculpture “Drippy Paleta Lime / Uva flavor” from his “I.C.E. Scream” series at his studio in Ridgewood, Queens.

Laila AnnMarie Stevens for NPR

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Laila AnnMarie Stevens for NPR

Quiñonez’ work has been presented around the country, including at The Shed, a cultural center in New York City. Shed curator Deja Belardo said people see themselves reflected in Quiñonez’s art.

“We immediately saw the value of Victor’s work and being responsive to what was happening around us,” Belardo said. “The way he was wanting to tell a story about immigrants and their labor, and all of the work that they do in the shadows.”