Lake Ontario Hall Wall Gallery, Allendale Campus
July 3 - December 12, 2025

Open During Building Hours.

La Voz de mi Gente is an exhibition of portraits and stories by Puerto Rican born artist and GVSU graduate, Luis Fernandez. Having moved away at a young age, he returned to Puerto Rico in 2023-25 to photograph, interview, and share with others the Puerto Rican artists who captured the spirit of the island. Through this project, Fernandez also began to reconnect with his home and culture, embracing his roots and identity.

He writes: "For me, La Voz de mi Gente (The Voice of My People) was an opportunity to come back home and reconnect with Mi Gente (my people). It began as a journey to document the stories of Puerto Rican artists - dancers swaying to bomba, musicians strumming the cuatro, and artists who turn our struggles against oppressors into a bold declaration: 'no somos pendejos' (We are not fools). Yet above all, it became a search for an answer to a question central to my identity: What does it mean to be Puerto Rican? This search, born from years of feeling the island fade yet never fully letting go, found its voice through the artists I documented, their resilience mirroring my own journey back to my roots."

Watch an interview with Luis Fernandez about this exhibition on the GVSU Art Museum YouTube Channel.

Shadiel "Shadi" O. Reyes Mojica is a professional dancer and choreographer from Puerto Rico, whose portrait was taken at the Rainbow Pier in San Juan - a vibrant public space that has become a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride and resilience. The location reflects Shadi's deep connection to both his queer identity and the community spaces that have shaped his journey.

Watch an interview with Luis Fernandez about Shadiel "Shadi" O. Reyes Mojica.

N. Alexander Frett is a fashion designer from Bayamón, Puerto Rico. His portrait was taken on the streets of Viejo San Juan - a place that's shaped the way he sees design. The way the buildings are structured, how the space is laid out - it all feeds into how he thinks about form and function. "I've always taken inspiration from my surroundings," he says, and San Juan continues to influence how he creates.

Edan Méndez is a multimedia artist from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, who uses they/them and he/him pronouns - something that, like their art, resists being confined to one box. Their portrait was taken in Paseo De Diego, Río Piedras - a stretch of street that pulses with murals, resistance, and everyday life. It's a space that reflects what matters most to Edan: art that lives with people, in the open, in community.

Watch an interview with Luis Fernandez about Edan Méndez.

Aura González is a professional dancer from Cayey, Puerto Rico, whose portrait was taken at Innovaciones Danzares - a beloved dance school in Cagus known for its tight-knit community and commitment to nurturing young talent. It's the same studio where she first trained as a student and later returned as a teacher, making it a significant marker in her artistic journey.

Location

Lake Ontario Hall Wall Gallery
Lake Ontario Hall, Allendale Campus
4023 Calder Dr
Allendale, MI 49401

For directions and parking information visit www.gvsu.edu/maps.

Contact

For special accommodation, please call:
(616) 331-3638

For exhibition details and media inquiries, please email:
Joel Zwart, Curator of Exhibitions and Collections
[email protected]

For learning and engagement opportunities, please email:
Jessica Sundstrom, Learning and Outreach Manager
[email protected]