HEBER — Local queer artists and community members gathered together to enjoy fashion, art, drag performances, great music, food and drinks, and raffles at the Colors of Inclusion, Fashion and Art Show on Friday, May 17 in the Prestige Event Center in Heber.
Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center collaborated with Jayson Hisel, one of the owners of the Prestige Event Center, as well as Betty Bangs, a queer Chicana artist from San Diego, to put together the fashion and art show.
Betty Bangs was awarded a grant from Far South Border North this past year to help her journey in supporting queer artists from low-income areas.
“Because of this grant that I got from Far South Border North, I’m able to do something with social justice, and I chose to work with the Imperial Valley and also with San Ysidro to highlight queer spaces and the artists that are there, so I was lucky enough to work with IV LGBT,” Bangs said.
Although Bangs has been an artist for 15-plus years, it took her almost a decade to be able to consider herself an artist.
“My first showing was at the Front Gallery in San Ysidro. I submitted my art anonymously because I was afraid to showcase as an artist, over the years I’ve adopted the name Betty Bangs and I know my work is known for that,” said Betty.
“When I first started painting, I painted body positive art, which really was just women of real sizes, with real curves and extra little love handles which is me, and I didn’t really see art like that, I saw very model very vogue art, and I don’t fit in those sizes, it doesn’t seem real to me. To be able to do it out here and represent who I am and find people with like minds, I feel like I won the prize,” Bangs said proudly.
“The people I’ve met along the way have supported, and definitely made this journey come full circle,” she said, describing the surreal feeling of being on the flip side of things and now being able to be a mentor for young, queer artists.
The fashion show was an opportunity for the artists to showcase/model their artistic skills on denim jackets. “The jackets are something that if you don’t have a regular canvas, anything can be your canvas, so that’s what I wanted to encourage,” Bangs said.
“It’s beautiful to see what people came up with, and even more for me, it’s like the cherry on the pie to see someone who doesn’t call themselves an artist say, ‘I’m an artist,’ which is beautiful and even more so for the queer community,” she said.
Angel Martinez is a queer Chicano artist from San Diego who has been residing in the Imperial Valley since 2018.
He decided to design his jacket in honor of his Mexican culture. “I put a statement that says, “Mexican, the children of the sun, a rich cultural heritage of proud indigenous people, the culture of our choosing because we refuse to be anything else because it feels so good to be Mexican,” Martinez said.
Martinez describes this statement as something he heard quite frequently in his home, as his dad was very involved in the Chicano Power Movement and his mom marched with Cesar Chavez. “I grew up really knowing my Mexican roots, my identity,” he said.
Similar to Betty Bangs, he only recently started calling himself an artist. Joining the fashion and art show was a way for Martinez to break out of his shell and show the world who he is as an artist.
“Tonight’s event is my first exposition, it’s a pretty big deal, I’m really looking forward to it, and I’m excited to see the other artists’ work and showcase mine,” he said.
Valentina Cantina was one of the drag queens who performed at the fashion and art show this past Friday.
Cantina is an Imperial Valley native, and she has been doing drag for 10 years.
Her stage name is derived from her Mexican culture, in which she said, “I wanted something Latin, something unique, so I named it Valentina like the hot sauce and Cantina because I’m Mexican and I embrace that a lot.”
See also
When asked how she felt about the fashion and art show, she said, “Tonight means a lot to me because I was born and raised here. Coming back to the Valley and seeing that there’s so much diversity and so much acceptance now and love, it means a lot.”
Valentina has worked closely with the IV LGBT Resource Center for years. “Whenever they need anything that I can help with, I don’t mind it, I’m always here,” she said.
Galaxia Octavia Venus, also known as Jason Juarez, is another drag queen that performed at Friday’s event.
Galaxia was born and raised in the Imperial Valley, and they have been doing drag for about five years.
Her stage name came from a song. “One day I dressed up when I was 16, I had a pink wig and red gloves and I gave a show at my sister’s birthday. I performed the song ‘Galactica’ by ZOE, the song sounded like Galaxia so I chose that,” said Galaxia.
“The first time I performed as a drag queen was at a talent show for the IV LGBT center like five years ago. I was such a little baby, I had hardly any makeup on, I didn’t have any padding, but I made it work girl and I had such a fun time,” said Galaxia.
Similar to Valentina, Galaxia is also very close to the IV LGBT center.
“Anytime Rosa (Diaz, founder and CEO of IV LGBT Resource Center) calls I always say yes I’m gonna do it girl, I’m here for you. I love to make people smile and represent our community and be a voice for the LGBT community,” Galaxia said.
Galaxia is proud to be representing the queer community in the Imperial Valley, she said. “Even something as simple as dressing up can make a huge impact for the Imperial Valley, like we’re here and we aren’t ashamed. We’re proud of being queer.”
