La Guadalupana December 12, 2009

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, and 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.

La Peña is an interdisciplinary cultural and educational organization dedicated to the enhancement of art in all its forms. La Peña's mission is to support artistic development, provide exposure for emerging local visual artists, musicians, poets and other performing artists, and offer Austin’s visitors and residents the full spectrum of traditional and contemporary Latino art. More information can be found at http://www.lapena-austin.org.

Official Website: http://www.lapena-austin.org