The Santa Paula Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition, De Colores Art Show: Portraits of the Past, will be the public’s first glimpse into the Museum’s exceptional De Colores Art Collection. The interactive exhibit will unveil works by groundbreaking Latino artists, including Carlos Almaraz, Judy Baca, Sergio Hernández, Gilbert “Magú” Luján, Sylvia Raz, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Eloy Torrez and more. The show opens with a premiere party on Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will feature music by Xavier Montes and his De Colores music students. Admission to the premiere is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, and free for students and museum members.
The De Colores Art Collection is part of the Santa Paula Art Museum’s larger permanent art collection and serves as a visual record of the history and contributions of Latino people and culture in our local region. The collection was established under the leadership of local artist Xavier Montes. The centerpiece of the collection – and the exhibition – is Miguel Angel González’ artist-themed “Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life).” The four-feet-tall clay sculpture borrows from the traditional Mexican Tree of Life craft to illustrate some of the most famous works created by Latino artists in Southern California. The sculpture will be accompanied by a digital guide to allow visitors to explore the tree in detail.
Portraits of the Past is presented as a brief survey of Latino art and history in relation to California. The story and significance of each artwork will be described alongside each image. While all of the artworks are portraits, the subjects vary from farmworkers and families to religious figures and surrealist self-images. Together, the images celebrate an enduring theme within Latino art: It is art for the people and about the people. The exhibition further embraces this sense of social and collaborative art-making by inviting visitors to contribute to a community-made Tree of Life while considering themes of heritage, identity, and the traditions that connect us all. The exhibit is made possible by the support of sponsors Calavo, Clinicas del Camino Real, and La Cabaña.
Image: "Untitled" by Gilbert “Magu” Luján, pastel on paper, Collection of the Santa Paula Art Museum - De Colores, © The Gilbert Luján Estate