The image of the Virgin Mary looms large in Latino heritage, and the new exhibit at the Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center, La Virgen de Guadalupe , is a stirring salute to both faith and culture.
La Virgen de Guadalupe features a series of art creations depicting the Virgin Mary in different parts of Latino culture. The exhibit opened on Thursday and that day was chosen because Dec. 12 is a big day for Latinos and the Virgin Mary.
“The exciting idea for this exhibit came about because Dec. 12 is the feast day of the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” said Jessica Vallejo, marketing and community outreach coordinator at the Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center. “On this special day, there’s a special Catholic Mass, schools will celebrate, and the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is told.”
IF YOU GO
What: La Virgen de Guadalupe art exhibit
When: Now through Jan. 24
Where: Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center, 1225 Broadway St., Toledo
Cost: Free
Information: sqacc.org
That story has its roots nearly 500 years ago, when Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, made a series of appearances before Mexican peasant Juan Diego and his uncle in 1531, near Tepeyac Hill in what is now Mexico City.
The modern basilica that sits near the site is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world.
The South Toledo based Quintero Center said that the collection of artwork in the exhibit ranges from traditional to contemporary, and it hopes to invite viewers to explore the connection between the Virgin and the community and how that resonates today.
Vallejo emphasized that in Latino culture, the image of Mary is both an artistic and a religious symbol.
“It’s not just about the religious aspect, but also about the imagery and how it’s been recreated over time many different ways and used as a symbol now in the United States — not just in Mexican culture — but really unifying Latino culture as an art form,” she said. “The image is one thing because it celebrates so much of the resilience of life that we can find hope in religion. This story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is told annually so we are celebrating that in the gallery.”
The curator of the exhibit, Lorenzo Flores, has worked as the art director of the Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center for 10 years and he is an artist himself. Flores said the exhibit celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe just made sense.
“Even if you’re not Catholic in Mexico, you still have a lot of reverence for the Virgin Mary,” said Flores. “She’s even more popular than Jesus. It’s a part of every day life. She’s on the side of buildings, everything. It’s not just about religion. It’s just about how her image has permeated the culture. So we are kind of celebrating that aspect because it is such a big part of the culture.”
One of the local artists participating in the exhibit is Robert Garcia, who hails from Texas and has been painting since 1967. In Garcia’s contribution to La Virgen de Guadalupe, the sky has opened up and Our Lady of Guadalupe appears in a more modern scene.
“In my version, the lady is appearing to rich affluent golfers,” said Garcia. “This is a crowd around the green of the British Open and everybody is aghast at the spectacle. There’s about 30 figures surrounding the green. I never painted that many figures. I wanted to illustrate that she appeared to a big crowd. It’s kind of an ambitious idea.”
“The point of the exhibit is twofold,” said Flores. “It’s to share art with the Latino culture itself, but also to share Latino art with the Toledo community. We’re trying to share Latino culture with the area.”