In the SMAC Gallery:

John Salgado Maldonado

A collage of photographs of the diverse people of Willmar, MN
John Salgado Maldonado with State Representative Mary Frances Clardy
John Salgado Maldonado with State Representative Mary Frances Clardy.

Exhibit Dates

May 7 to June 26, 2026

SMAC Gallery

509 W Main Street, Marshall, MN 56258
(Mailing address: PO Box 55)

 

Regular office hours are:
Monday-Friday 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm

 

If you would like to schedule a private viewing or coordinate a visit outside regular office hours, please contact us via email at: info@swmnarts.org

Virtual Opportunities to Experience:

Virtual Gallery Tour

 

Virtual Artist Talk & Tour Video

This event happened on Thursday, June 11th, 2026.

 

View Slides from Virtual Video Tour

Willmar...What Comes to Your Mind?1

John Salgado Maldonado received a SMAC Quick Support for Organizations grant through the non-profit he’s a part of, Purpose Artisans. This art project included a photography exhibit titled “Willmar…What comes to your mind?!”, which was featured at the Minnesota State Capitol! In the words of Capitol & MNHS Sites Art Program Specialist, Lindsey Rulon-Miller, “John Salgado Maldonado’s Willmar: What Comes to Your Mind?! was an energetic and personal exhibition that truly spoke to today’s American experience of relocation, community, and an exploration of how we perceive (and embrace) diversity. Maldonado’s photographs presented the warmth and colorful personality of Willmar. It was an honor to host this exhibit at the Minnesota State Capitol and share the photographs with visitors and legislators.”  

 

Artist Bio

John Salgado Maldonado : Afrolatin Artivist 

I was born in Arica, Chile, into a humble, hardworking family. In search of better opportunities, my parents moved us to Santiago when I was very young. During my school years, I experienced the tension and fear of living under a dictatorship. I remember the silence in my community, shaped by social repression and the disappearance of many people at the hands of the military. 
 
Later, I moved to Valparaíso—a vibrant, multicultural, and bohemian city where art is deeply embedded in everyday life. There, I studied occupational therapy and, together with my family, co-founded the non-governmental organization ONG Oro Negro in 2000. Our mission was to promote and defend human rights and to advocate for the visibility of our Afro-descendant heritage—an identity that the Chilean government officially recognized only in 2019. 
 
During my professional years in Chile (2004–2016), I earned a Master’s degree from the University of Valencia in Spain. My work has consistently focused on improving quality of life, particularly among Indigenous communities and marginalized populations, across diverse roles and organizations. 
 
Today, I identify as an Afro-descendant ARTivist, percussionist, and photographer. I use art as a tool for social reflection, community engagement, and awareness. I believe art is not separate from life—it is what gives life meaning. 
 
I currently work as a Community Impact Specialist in a mental health organization and am the co-founder and director of Purpose Artisans, a nonprofit organization. I also serve as an international speaker on social justice and community-based practices. My local engagement includes serving on the Human Rights Commission, the Community Education Council, and the Willmar Area Arts Council in Willmar, Minnesota. 
 
“Willmar, What Comes to Your Mind?!” is an exhibition that challenges dominant narratives about diversity and belonging. Through the lens of cognitive dissonance, it invites viewers to question assumptions and engage in deep self-reflection—reconsidering their values, beliefs, and actions. 
 

About this exhibit: “Willmar, What Comes to Your Mind?!”

Willmar, What comes to your mind?! This exhibition is a critical view to our society, to our way of thinking about variety, and diversity, a sort of awareness of what we have been taught to value and what’s not. This exhibition calls out the viewer to a self reflection through a “cognitive dissonance”.

Willmar, ¡¿Qué se te viene a la mente?! Esta exposición es una mirada crítica a nuestra sociedad, a nuestra forma de pensar sobre la variedad y la diversidad, una especie de toma de conciencia sobre lo que nos han enseñado a valorar y lo que no. Esta exposición llama al espectador a una autorreflexión a través de una «disonancia cognitiva».

 

Gallery /Galería

How important is it to have different options, perspectives, and experiences as a human being? Have you thought about how much you value diversity or variety in your daily life?

 

Truth is we do value diversity in different measures, on a daily basis, and it seems that we enjoy life like this; the more diverse, the richer experiences we have.

 

¿Hasta qué punto es importante tener diferentes opciones, perspectivas y experiencias como ser humano? ¿Has pensado cuánto valoras la diversidad o la variedad en tu vida cotidiana?

 

La verdad es que valoramos la diversidad en diferentes medidas, a diario, y parece que disfrutamos así de la vida; cuanto más diversos, más ricas son nuestras experiencias.

~

When we look at gardens, creativity gives way to diversity and vice versa. When we experiences on our bodies and skin the nature and all seasons, when in simple activities, like going to the grocery store, finding colors and shapes (options) in most of the items, we experience diversity…and we appreciate it.

 

So the question – reflection comes to the mind…Why is so hard with human beings? To embrace the otherness? Not just tolerating, or accepting, but even furthermore, seeking it, because as we experience in our daily life, this is richer in that way. And therein lies the cognitive dissonance.

 

Cuando vemos los jardines, la creatividad da paso a la diversidad y viceversa. Cuando experimentamos en nuestros cuerpos y piel la naturaleza y todas las estaciones, cuando en actividades sencillas, como ir al supermercado, encontramos colores y formas (opciones) en la mayoría de los artículos, experimentamos la diversidad… y la apreciamos.

 

Así que la pregunta – reflexión viene a la mente… ¿Por qué es tan difícil con los seres humanos? ¿Aceptar la alteridad? No sólo tolerarla, o aceptarla, sino más aún, buscarla, porque asi como experimentamos en nuestra vida cotidiana, ésta es más rica de ese modo. Y ahí radica la disonancia cognitiva.

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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.

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