Escaramuza, the Poetics of Home

Now – JANUARY 4, 2026

Escaramuza, the Poetics of Home is a collaborative work by photographer Constance Jaeggi and poets Angelina Sáenz and ire’ne lara silva. Together they tell the story of escaramuza in the United States, addressing complicated themes of identity, family, and gender with a lush combination of poetry and photography. The exhibition at the Poetry Foundation showcases Jaeggi’s portraits alongside Sáenz’s and Silva’s poems.

The Poetry Foundation invited Nick Adam’s team at Span to design a public installation that extends the work of Escaramuza through a satellite exhibition at Navy Pier.

Location: Festival Lower level near door 11 (indoor)

Learn More

Escaramuza, translated from Spanish as “skirmish” is a team sport of women’s precision horse riding with charreria – the Mexican national sport of roping, equestrian activities and working with cattle. Inspired by the soldaderas (women soldiers) of the Mexican Revolution, teams rise sidesaddle during intricately choreographed dances set to music while wearing vivid, traditional Mexican dresses.

Constance Jaeggi is a Swiss photographic artist based in Fort Worth, Texas. Jaeggi’s work focuses on the relationship between horse and human, in particular women. She uses horses as a backdrop for exploring themes of intimacy and identity, connection, and power dynamics.

Angelina Sáenz is an award-winning educator and poet. She is a UCLA Writing Project fellow, an alumna of the VONA/Voices Workshop for Writers of Color, and a Macondo Writer’s Workshop Fellow. She is the author of two collections of poetry, Edgecliff and Maestra, both with FlowerSong Press, and a children’s book, Waiting for Luna.

ire’ne lara silva, the 2023 Texas State Poet Laureate, is the author of five poetry collections, furia, Blood Sugar Canto, CUICACALLI/House of Song, FirstPoems, and the eater of flowers; two chapbooks, Enduring Azucares and Hibiscus Tacos; a comic book, VENDAVAL; and a short story collection, flesh to bone, which won the Premio Aztlán.

Span is a studio crossing the boundaries of communication design in all mediums. Span has been featured by the international media including Wired Magazine, The Economist, Smithsonian Magazine, US News and World Report, and the Associated Press. The studio has also received recognition from the design profession in Communication Arts, Brand New, the Society of Typographic Arts, and the Type Directors Club, among others.

Image Gallery

Navy Pier exhibit Escaramuza traditional themes 5

Navy Pier exhibit Escaramuza traditional themes 4

Navy Pier exhibit Escaramuza traditional themes 3

Navy Pier exhibit Escaramuza traditional themes 6

Time

11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Price

Free

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Escaramuza, the Poetics of Home Exhibit

Escaramuza, the Poetics of Home

Image Gallery

Time

Price

Explore Things To Do at Navy Pier

Explore Chicago by Land, Water, or Air

Fun Things To Do in Chicago

Experience More Than You Imagine…

A Not-For-Profit Landmark

Escaramuza, the Poetics of Home Exhibit

Escaramuza, the Poetics of Home

Image Gallery

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