"La Guadalupana"
artwork of La Virgen de Guadalupe
December 12, 2009 - January 6, 2010
Reception: Saturday, December 12, 6-8 pm
La Peña presents “La Guadalupana” an exhibit of artwork celebrating the Virgen de Guadalupe at its gallery space in Downtown Austin. The show features work created by elders from the Conley-Guerrerro Senior Activity Center, Heritage Park Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center, Maggie Johnson Nursing Center, South Austin Multi-Purpose Center, South Congress Care & Rehab Center, and St. Ignatius Church. It opens on Saturday, December 12th with a reception from 6 – 8 pm and runs through January 6th.
La Virgen of Guadalupe is one of the most popular symbols of the Americas, especially in Mexico where she is the best known and most loved of all saints. Annually, some ten million people visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Like so many elements of Mexican culture, her image is found throughout the Southwest. The “Queen of the Americas” transcends borders: historic, territorial, cultural, and political. Within an artistic framework, portrayals of the Virgen de Guadalupe take many shapes and include murals, paintings, sculptures, and much more. Communities celebrate her with colorful altars, processions and dance, especially on her feast day December 12th.
For “La Guadalupana” La Peña has collaborated with the Mobile Art Program to present the artwork of many elders from area senior activity centers and nursing homes. The participating artists are ladies of Mexican and Latina heritage that have created their own portrayals of the Virgen de Guadalupe. The artists are:
Elizabeth Aniekwu
Rebecca Bonnett
Concepion Castillo
Dina Cazar
Rosie Cortez
Maria Enriquez
Zulema Esquivel
Baudelia Escobar
Delia Flores
Alvina Garcia
Eunice Hagert
Maria Ledesma
Mary Lou Ledesma
Agapita Limon
Irma Medrano
Elda Morales
Vera Rivera
Virgi Turner
Earline Webb
The Mobile Art Program (MAP) delivers art activities to seniors and disabled adults. When people find themselves secluded, suffer the loss of loved ones, have a change of residence, or face a diminishing physical and mental capacity they need something to keep them inspired. MAP participants learn how to draw still-lifes, create acrylic paintings, ceramic, paper-maché and found object sculpture, and take tours of local museums. The Mobile Art Program staff is made up of Michael Chen, Sienna Chu, Andrea Hyland, Maggie Schmitt, Theresa Bond Zelazny. For more information, please visit http://www.mobileartprogram.org.