Marta Pérez García: Bearing Witness Exhibition Opening

Marta Pérez García’s *Bearing Witness* exhibition opening launches an installation presented by UMD’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center in celebration of Latine Heritage Month. The exhibition features works from García’s *Restos-Traces* series, a collection of sculptural female torsos created in response to the rise in domestic violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The amorphous and skeletal, militant and maternal figures honor victims and survivors of gender-based violence, with particular attention to Puerto Rico’s persistently high rates of femicide. Made from handmade paper and incorporating materials such as metal wire, bones, and nails, the torsos evoke the physical and psychological scars of abuse while also suggesting survival, self-empowerment, and new narratives written on the body. The exhibition remains on view through October 15, 2026.

When: Tuesday, September 15, 2026, with the exhibition on display from September 15 through October 15, 2026

Showtime: 4:00 p.m.

Tickets: Free

Venue: H. J. Patterson Hall, Atrium, University of Maryland

Admission: General admission

Artist: Marta Pérez García

Exhibition: *Bearing Witness*, featuring García’s *Restos-Traces* sculptural torso series

Festival: The opening is part of NextNOW Fest, The Clarice’s multi-day arts festival of performances and arts experiences by artists from across the country and the University of Maryland community. The festival is open to the general public.

Livestream: Not available

Run time: Not specified

Ages: Not specified

Accessibility: Available upon request are wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning may be available for select events or by request at least six weeks in advance.