The New Britain Museum of American Art (NBMAA) recently hosted a community reception for Pablo Delano’s exhibition, "The Museum of the Old Colony." This conceptual, site-specific installation utilizes archival imagery and objects to examine the enduring impact of U.S. colonial rule in Puerto Rico since 1898. The event was attended by local dignitaries, including Mayor Bobby Sanchez, marking a significant moment for the museum's engagement with the local Puerto Rican community.
This exhibition is a landmark for the NBMAA as it inaugurates "Puerto Rico In Focus," a multiyear initiative dedicated to integrating Puerto Rican art and history into the narrative of American art. By addressing the island's status as the world’s oldest colony through a personal and critical lens, the project challenges traditional museum representations and sets a new precedent for how regional institutions address complex geopolitical legacies.