By: Ashmar Mandou

Scores of people lined up to meet award-winning novelist and Chicago-native Sandra Cisneros on Friday, April 17th as the doors of the National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsen neighborhood opened to showcase its latest exhibition, The House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community. It was the first time Cisneros as worked with an art organization to bring her acclaimed hit to life.

“I would not be here if it hadn’t been for public institutions like the museum and like the library. We need art to nourish our heart if we’re afraid, or if we’re angry, or if we’re moving through situations that are violent and destroying our spirit. Art is a way of transforming that darkness and composting it into light.” said Sandra Cisneros.

The House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community is now open to the general public and will run through August 23rd. Admission is free. The House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community includes works from 55 contemporary artists displaying their interpretation of the novel by using various mediums. For more information, visit www.NMMArt.org.