September is Hispanic Heritage Month. Did you know that the Phoenix Airport Museum has numerous artworks by Phoenix Hispanic artists?

Currently on display at Terminal 4, level 3 is an exhibition of artworks from members of a past non-profit visual arts organization founded in 1978 called Movimiento Artístico del Río Salado (Art Movement of the Salt River – MARS). MARS was a non-profit visual arts organization founded in 1978 by a group of artists and community leaders. Its mission was to promote and support Mexican American and Chicano artists who otherwise felt restricted by commercial galleries.

In 1981, the artist collective opened a gallery in central Phoenix called MARS Artspace. The gallery featured rotating art exhibitions, artist-in-residence programs and workshops - bridging the gap between the barrios and the rest of the city’s art community. During this time, MARS Artspace was the only Hispanic-operated gallery in Arizona. While the collective dismantled in 2002, it paved the way for the Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art which continues to help artists gain visibility and financial support.

This exhibition features artwork by four MARS artists. These fine art prints were created in collaboration with Self Help Graphics of Los Angles, another community-based arts center serving Chicana/o and Latina/o communities. The resulting print series helped create a lasting legacy for MARS and inspired the missions of numerous local art organizations today.

The Phoenix Airport Museum collection includes almost 900 works of art in all media. The collection includes permanent art installations and portable artworks. Visit the museum webpage for a free art guide that shows the various displays across the airport at skyharbor.com/museum.