New exhibit at Racine Art Museum aims to show the vibrant culture behind lowrider vehicles
RACINE, Wis (CBS 58) – A new exhibit has made its way to the Racine Art Museum, and it’s visible from the windows outside of the gallery, making it an accessible way for the artist behind the display to introduce his culture to people in Wisconsin.
Racine-based René Amado showcases lowrider cars and bicycles through his photography made visible through the windows of the Racine Art Museum since August 2, 2024.
The exhibit Low: René Amado showcases his still images with custom bicycles and other small vehicles from various builders, including himself.
“So much craftsmanship goes into these,” Amado said. “So much time and just thought. There’s really a lot with them if you really look at some of these vehicles.”
According to the Racine Art Museum’s guide, Lowriders have been appearing globally since the 1980s and early 1990s but are rooted in Mexican American cultural tradition. The practice and culture have grown over the years, connecting families and friends of all demographics and showcasing cultural pride, personal creativity, and individual skills.
Francisco ‘Paco’ Rubio is a contributor to the exhibit by displaying his bike. He spent hours working toward making sure the bike reflected his culture.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to be at the museum and display my work of art, as far as how I feel my bike is,” Rubio said.
Rubio explained how placing his beloved bike out for people to see is helping him reclaim part of himself that was once persecuted.
“This is me actually defining myself as Chicano in my culture, where I kind of suffered with that as a youth in inner city Chicago and it was kinda rough to be like ‘I’m not wanted here or there,’” Rubio said. “This is like my reintroduction to Chicano culture so it’s pretty awesome.”
Representatives with the Racine Art Museum said the response from the public was positive in its opening days.
“We wanted to kinda bring something that’s different from what you normally see in the museum,” said Madison Zapata, the Chief Exhibition Preparator at the Racine Art Museum. “People can see themselves reflected in a museum that doesn’t typically represent them.”
RAM is organizing three different exhibitions and multiple community outreach programs that feature Mexican American artists like René Amado. The artists use their work to address cultural identity, often centering a multidisciplinary approach that highlights their perspectives as artists of color and offers a platform to examine and reframe personal, social, and cultural issues.
The exhibitions were given a $75 thousand grant from the Equity Innovation Fund grant from the United Way of Racine County.
“They aimed to lift up the voices and the talents of people of color,” said Katie Tuttle with the United Way of Racine County. “We’re constantly supporting projects that are creating equity within our community.”
Amado’s installation, on display in RAM’s Windows on Fifth Gallery, will be available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making the work accessible to anyone on the street, not just those who go into the museum building.
The windows will be up until July 19, 2025.