CALEXICO – The Calexico Recreation Department hosted the opening night of the Black & White Art Exhibit on Feb. 11 at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center. The event, which lasted from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., started with speeches and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Recreation manager Norma Geraldo welcomed guests, recognized staff members who organized the exhibit, and thanked all of the artists who contributed their work to the gallery.
“This is an annual exhibit, and it’s one of the strongest ones that we have,” Geraldo said. “We see new faces, new artists, and that’s what we love here at the Arts Center.”
Cultural arts assistant Eduardo Quintero praised the diverse, talented artists and said they inspired viewers with their vision and creativity. He said that these creatives “seek to grow, experiment with new techniques, and explore new artistic paths. Their dedication and innovation make this event a celebration of artistic excellence.”
Quintero noted that the exhibit featured artists from a variety of local cities – Calexico, Brawley, El Centro, Heber, Holtville, Imperial, Ocotillo, and Mexicali. He highlighted one goal that all of these artists have: to bring awareness to the arts and celebrate unique art forms.
“Promoting arts and culture is essential,” Quintero said. “It builds community, fosters creativity, and transforms our environment. This exhibition is a wonderful example, and we are thrilled to showcase the incredible talent of 88 artists and 130 art pieces this year.”
After the ribbon cutting, guests explored the various black and white pieces displayed around the gallery. One painting by Hector Rodriguez, “Matryoshka,” was an acrylic on canvas portraying Russian nesting dolls beneath a “Calexico” header. “All Seeing,” a mixed media creation by Micah Mendoza, depicted a woman set against a background of planets and stars. “Nosferatu (1922)” by Jinx was a Lego design of a face, the left half appearing to be obscured by shadow.
Arlenne Renteria was one of the artists whose work was on display in the gallery. Renteria created three images of saguaros, two ink-on-paper drawings, and one photo. Renteria explained that she often goes hiking with her boyfriend and feels a “spiritual connection” to the saguaros, which take over 200 years to grow and must withstand very high temperatures.
Renteria, who has been connected with the Arts Center for two years, said she contributed to a Chinese New Year exhibit and also comes to the center’s paint nights.
The Arts Center is currently looking for artists to submit work to be displayed in the “Women in the Arts” exhibit. Registration is now open for participants, and the submission deadline is Feb. 28. The Arts Center will host the opening night of the International Women’s Day Art Exhibit on Tuesday, March 12 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. and the exhibit will be on display from that day until March 21.