Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

Washington, D.C.

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Exhibit Design: Museum Design Associates
Exhibit Graphics: Proun Design, LLC
Area: 2,000-3,000sf
Opened: 2002

Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta

“. . . all of a sudden there is a break, and the piano player goes into a muntuno,
people just explode.” Alfredo Cruz, radio host

A muntuno? How about clave? Welcome to the world of Latin Jazz—Son, Mambo, Tango, Samba, Salsa, Bosanova, and Cubop—where urban improvisation dances to the beat of a different drummer. Latin Jazz: A Combinación Perfecta is a traveling exhibit produced by the Smithsonian Institution which chronicles the growth of Latin Jazz, focusing on major styles and influential musicians.

Museum Design Associates designed a tube and fabric kiosk system that allows the entire exhibit to be dismantled and rolled up into easily transported cases. The graphic system, designed by proun, distinguishes the four major themes of the exhibit through the treatment of color, type, and image. Common fonts, colors, and grid provide unity and rhythm to the layouts while the improvisational arrangement of headlines and photos inspired by album cover art uniquely flavor each of the sections.

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