On Feb. 7, the National Museum of Mexican of Art held its Anti-V Day Ball, a 25-and-under event filled with art, masquerade and food. The event , which was mainly aimed at teens and young adults, focused on LGBTQ+ sexual health and mental and physical wellness.
The multi-tiered event featured Valentine- and masquerade mask-making, free pizza, a hands-on art studio, and DJ La Colocha spinning music in the party room. There was also a wide range of health and wellness organizations on hand, including Howard Brown Health, Calor, Planned Parenthood, Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Chicago Abortion Fund, Midwest Access Coalition, ICAN4ALL, Cannabis Equity Coalition and the Praxis Institute.
Yollocali Arts Reach has been a youth initiative in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican art since 1997. The organization offers free arts and culture programming and serves as an open community center with studio spaces, a computer lab, a radio/audio studio, a large art history library and a large staff. Programs and classes include basic drawing and painting, comic and zine making, mural painting and graffiti and photography.
