The Long Beach City College Art Gallery had a closing reception and featured artists panel for its “Battle of the Saints” exhibition, giving the campus community one last chance to celebrate and enjoy various pieces featuring Chicano/Latino, African American, and Khmer artists and culture.
Art pieces were made from various forms, including prints, wood panels, an altar installation reminiscent of sidewalk memorials, and art memorial displayed in video form.
Liliana Acedo-Siordia, a first-year Art major, visited the exhibition for inspiration and appreciated the strong representation and connection to Chicano/Latino culture.
“It’s a lot of culture,” said Acedo-Sirodia, “It’s pride, unity of community. It makes you feel a sense of belonging when you see what would be the Virgin Mary or the luchadores, and mariachis (in art form).”
Acedo-Sirodia was particularly drawn to the Siempre Protegida sidewalk altar display, a piece made to represent the many sidewalk vigils made for those that have passed, complete with candles, pictures, and other items hung on a metal chain link fence. She grew excited as she pointed to one particular picture hanging from the fencing, which featured a family.
“I have an identical picture like that with me and my parents. The Primera Communion (First Communion) is something that I identify with,” said Acedo-Siordia.
Alumna Jennifer Araujo returned to LBCC to visit the exhibition to support a long-time friend of hers, whose art was on display.
“I studied art history, where the majority is Western-based European culture. When I learned more of pre-Columbian history and art, how it ties to Chicano/Chicana history and our experiences is when it really hit me, so I gravitated toward all of that. I just think it’s something that you relate to. I obviously couldn’t relate entirely to European art and history. I can appreciate it. It’s beautiful… but it wasn’t my history and it wasn’t my culture,” said Araujo.
Ernesto Vasquez, one of the event’s featured artists and panelists, created the piece Musica En la Lucha!, a black and white ink illustration that combines iconic symbols from Chicano, Latino and Mexican culture: the luchador and the mariachi.
Vasquez shared his family history, telling the origins and evolution of the art piece and the symbolism behind his work.
“My father, my uncles were mariachis, my brothers trained to be mariachis. My father passed away, yet he showed me what it meant to carry that culture and heritage and to be proud of it. I created that image to honor him, and to also honor the families and people that continue to struggle…the fighting spirit of the luchador, along with the mariachi relating to things of joy, happiness, and celebration,” said Vasquez.
While the exhibition is now closed, it has been memorialized in booklet form and is available for purchase from the LBCC Art Gallery for $15. A future, undisclosed exhibition will be taking place in the Art Gallery shortly.