New York, NY, May 22, 2000--- El Museo del Barrio is pleased to announce the second presentation of The S-Files/Selected Files, summer showcase exhibition, initiated last year, featuring the most innovative contemporary artists who have submitted work to El Museo del Barrio. Inclusive in scope, The S-Files/Selected Files will present artists who are both U.S.-born Latinos, as well as New York City-based Latin Americans from South and Central America, Mexico, and The Caribbean. These artists represent a wide range of cultural backgrounds that include Chicano, Chilean, Colombian, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, and Puerto Rican. An opening reception will take place on Tuesday, June 13, from 6 to 9 PM.

This year, The S-Files will feature 27 artists (average age 34), none of who have shown at El Museo del Barrio before. The works highlight traditional genres (such as painting, drawing, and photography) that push the boundaries of the media, as well as site-specific installations that include special drawing projects, floor pieces and outdoor installations. For a complete list of participating artists, please see attached.

Responding to the most exciting and original materials submitted for review to El Museo each year, The S-Files encourages future submissions from artists and draws attention to El Museo's artists' archives files as an important resource of Latino and Latin American art. The S-Files actively engages El Museo with young Latino/Latina artists by presenting their work in the only New York museum dedicated to Latino and Latin American art, and by actively sponsoring the creation of new art.

The exhibition will be accompanied by THE SITE/STUDIO/STREET FESTIVAL, now also an annual event both at El Museo del Barrio and in East Harlem. Artists from The S-Files will generate and participate in the festival programming. Planning to date includes: a music series, book reading, performances and a panel discussion in El Museošs entrance courtyard; mural walks through El Barrio; and related satellite projects at other venues throughout the neighborhood and Brooklyn.

Curated by Deborah Cullen (Curator, El Museo del Barrio) and Yasmin Ramirez (Adjunct Curator, El Museo del Barrio) The S-Files will occupy the East and West galleries. A soft-cover catalogue will accompany the exhibition including essays by the two curators, and a full page devoted to each of the 27 artists, featuring a full-page color reproduction of their work, a bilingual artist's statement and a brief biography of each artist.

The S-Files is sponsored by Philip Morris Companies Inc. El Museo also acknowledges the generous support of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The New York Times, the New York State Council on the Arts, The Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and Anheuser-Busch Companies.

The mission of El Museo del Barrio is to establish a forum that will preserve and project the cultural heritage of Puerto Ricans and all Latin Americans in the United States.

In addition to supporting El Museo del Barrio, Philip Morris Companies Inc. has been involved with numerous Hispanic cultural activities in New York. Past and current sponsorships include the Repertorio Espanol, Ballet Hispanico of New York, and Pregones Traveling Puerto Rican Theatre. Philip Morris' cultural program focuses on contemporary and multi-cultural visual and performing arts, and is among the leading corporate arts support programs in the world. The qualities that guide the successful growth of it's business (innovation, creativity and diversity) have been the cornerstone of its giving program since 1958. The Philip Morris family of companies (Kraft Foods, Miller Brewing, Philip Morris International and Philip Morris USA) also supports programs in hunger relief, domestic violence prevention, the arts, education and the environment. For more information on Philip Morris' giving programs, visit the company's web site at www.philipmorris.com/pmcares.

Museum hours: Wed. through Sun. 11 to 5 p.m. Suggested contribution: $4 adults; $2 students and seniors; children under twelve accompanied by adults and members enter free.

El Museo del Barrio may be reached by subway: #6 to 103rd Street station; or by bus: M1, M3, M4 on Madison and Fifth Avenues to 104th Street; local cross-town service between Yorkville or East Harlem and the Upper West Side in Manhattan M96 and M106 or M2.