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Thursday, August 30, 2001
Cultural expression
Art exhibits, performances and readings highlight Hispanic Heritage Month
By Brendan Walsh
Caller-Times

Photo Illustration by Ashley Ream

Author Michele Serros will give a reading at Del Mar College Sept. 21.

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, local arts organizations are selecting September programming that not only entertains, but also informs audiences about Hispanic culture. Local educators say studying Hispanic art is an engaging way to learn about the people, history and values of the culture.
   Upcoming events utilize everything from the myths of ancient civilizations to the experience of growing up Hispanic in Oxnard, Calif. - a touristy enclave near Santa Barbara.
   "I think that if you look at past civilizations, the only things to have survived are its art and architecture," said Santa Barraza, chairwoman of the art department at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. By studying a culture's art, Barraza says, its religion, ideals, values and morals all become evident.

Hispanic Heritage Month events
What: Carmen Lomas Garza exhibit When: Sept. 14 - Dec. 9 Where: Art Museum of South Texas, 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd. Cost: $3 More Info: 825-3500
What: Santa Barraza art exhibit When: Sept. 20 - Nov. 1 Where: Weil Gallery, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Cost: Free More Info: 825-5523
What: Michele Serros reading When: Sept. 21, 10 a.m. Where: Wolfe Recital Hall, Del Mar College Cost: $1 More Info: 698-1279
What: “Bailando al Aire Libre” When: Sept. 28 - 29 Where: Cole Park Cost: Free More Info: 854-7969

   Barraza hopes that's just what visitors to her exhibition at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi understand when they look at her narrative paintings. Among Barraza's methods is using stories and characters from pre-Columbian, Meso-American art and myth. She melds the ancient with the modern, placing those ancient images in paintings about contemporary subjects like feminism and immigration.
   Her colorful paintings typically feature scenes with women in various poses, surrounded by surrealistic symbols and totems. The bottom of her paintings often include several boxes which also contain meaningful symbols.
   "I'm combining ancient ideology with what is happening today," she said.
   Chicana role model

Contributed Photo

Carmen Lomas Garza’s painting ‘Sandia’ is among those featured at her exhibit starting Sept. 14 at the Art Museum of South Texas.

   Revered young author Michele Serros will provide a literary take on Hispanic culture when she reads from her works at Del Mar College on Sept. 21. The author of "How To Be a Chicana Role Model" and "Chicana Falsa and Other Stories of Death, Identity, and Oxnard," Serros was hailed by Newsweek as "one of the top young women to watch for in the new century."
   Serros, a native of Oxnard, Calif., is also a commentator for National Public Radio, toured with Lollapalooza as a "road poet," and released a CD of her poetry on Mercury Records.
   What Serros represents is the voice of a younger generation of Hispanics, particularly Hispanic women, says Eva Muniz, an assistant professor of English at Del Mar. While older writers such as Denise Chavez or Sandra Cisneros based their work on the experiences of their parents and grandparents and were often very political in nature, Serros "comes in with a new angle. She talks about (singer and actress) Jennifer Lopez and has more of a connection to the next generation of Chicanas," Muniz said.
   Serros's writings are full of humor and apparently so are her public appearances. Muniz says Serros is known to give out door prizes at her speaking engagements and keeps a light-hearted tone throughout.
   Other fine arts
   Other Hispanic-related fine arts events include an exhibit of Kingsville

Contributed Photo

‘La Guadalupana with Lydia Mendoza’ is a painting by Texas A&M University-Kingsville professor Santa Barraza. Her work will be featured at A&M-Corpus Christi.

native Carmen Lomas Garza's work at the Art Museum of South Texas, which opens Sept. 14.
   Garza often depicts family life - birthday parties, harvesting cactuses, making tortillas - as she remembers it.
   "Mostly I depict the positive, because there are so many negative stereotypes about the Mexican-American community - so much ignorance. I wanted to not just make our community feel proud, but for other people to see who we are," Garza has said. "If you have familiarity you have acceptance and tolerance and even mutual celebration."
   And the Corpus Christi Concert Ballet will perform "Bailando al Aire Libre," a multi-cultural dance performance to be staged in Cole Park Sept. 28 and 29.


Contact Brendan Walsh at 886-3763 or walshb@caller.com

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