LMC exhibit celebrates Latino culture

By Roni Gehlke

Los Medanos College Art Gallery is hosting a special exhibit honoring the "Day of the Dead" celebration called "Unforgettable/Inolvidable." The show, which runs through Nov. 5, features various art representing the Latino culture, including the work of four well-known local artists: Gary Duarte, Socorro Nunez, Enrique Martinez and the late John Acosta.

"We wanted to demonstrate what great local talent we had in the Latino community," said Carmen Aguilar-Ochoa, the guest curator for the event. Aguilar-Ochoa, who is also the executive director of Give Always to Others & Co., the organization that is sponsoring the exhibit, said that the show was held in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which was Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. The art show opened Oct. 6, but recently added Day of the Dead altars in preparation for the upcoming holiday.

The Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos is widely celebrated throughout Mexico and by the Latino communities in the United States and Canada. The holiday takes place Nov. 1 (All Saints' Day) and Nov. 2 (All Souls' Day) and generally features parades, family celebrations and special church functions that honor and give prayer to those who have died.

"A lot of people think that Day of the Dead is about bad things," Gary Duarte said. "For me it is about happy memories with loved ones who are now dead."

Duarte noted that visitors would see a lot of skeleton scenes, which have recently become
popular in the art world, in his art now on exhibit at LMC. His scenes are generally happy with the skeletons dancing and embracing, he said.

Duarte has been painting these scenes in oil for several years and it is just one of his styles of painting that depicts his Latino background. Duarte was a steelworker for 32 years. As he was nearing the end of his career in 1995, he decided to change his usual swing shift to allow for time to take art classes at Los Medanos College. Painting was always something he had wanted to do, but he needed to work full time. After receiving his degree and retiring, Duarte went to work full time on his art. Now he has been displaying his work and enjoying his retirement.

Aguilar-Ochoa said that there are several varieties of art represented at the gallery for this show, including a pre-Columbian, Mexican art called "papel picado." She said that Antioch artist Enrique Martinez is an expert in this art form. Panel picado is a popular form of art for creating banners for the "Day of the Dead" celebration in Mexico. The art is made by creating pictures on stacked tissue paper and then pricking tiny holes through the paper with a metal rod. Each picture can take up to 16 hours to complete. Aguilar-Ochoa said the art form reminded her of American art that uses copper sheets and poke holes to create pictures.

Aguilar-Ochoa also said she was honored to have Acosta's paintings on display. The Pittsburg artist died earlier this year. Acosta was a popular artist who exhibited in many local art shows and painted the mural that is on display at the New Mecca Restaurant in Pittsburg.

Other artists exhibiting their work include Hermelinda Jimenez, a Mexican native who now lives in Antioch. Jimenez works in "repujado," which is the traditional Mexican metal relief craft.

Armando Jimenez, from Queretaro, Mexico, is a painter who draws inspiration from plants and planting.

Also on display is work from local photographer and teacher Mary Negrete who takes photographs while traveling the country and the world.

For the last two weeks of the exhibition, "Day of the Dead" altars will be on display. These will be created by several LMC student groups, including La Puente, Raza Club, and faculty from Los Medanos College. The exhibit will culminate with a "Day of the Dead" celebration on Nov. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
If you go

WHAT: "Unforgettable/Inolvidable" exhibit
WHEN: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Nov. 5; a Day of the Dead artists reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 5
WHERE: Los Medanos College Gallery, 2700 E. Leland Road, Pittsburg
INFO: 925-439-2181, ext. 3463
COST: admission is free; parking is $2