Truck and bus drivers in many parts of Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and other Latin American countries take great delight in inscribing artistic dichos—a saying, proverb, or amusing phrase—on the bumpers and other surfaces of their vehicles as a way of conveying their personal feelings and worldviews to a broad audience. Dichos, hand painted by amateurs or professionals in an endless variety of graphic styles and colors, address subjects ranging from religion and love, to puns and earthy humor. The lively quality of the lettering and bright colors combined with the messages themselves present a wonderful form of folk art.

Dichos: Words to Live, Love and Laugh By in Latin America offers an engaging look at this folk art tradition. The exhibition draws from the private collection of Grant La Farge, MD, of Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more than a decade, La Farge braved encounters with suspicious drivers at truck stops across Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Panama to document the many variations of the dichos tradition.

This story is told through 46 color photographs accompanied by select miniature dichos-laden vehicles, including one painted by well-known Latin American artist Arturo Sosa Perez. In addition, full-sized metal bumpers featuring dichos appear with the four thematic text panels: Love; Faith and Devotion; Wit; Commentary, and Egotism; and Buses of Panama. This exhibition is a colorful exploration of a Latin American folk art tradition that was meant to be seen and read on the road.