YAKIMA, Wash. – October marks Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Yakima Valley Libraries are joining the celebration with a pop-up art gallery created by Mezcla Collective.
At the Yakima Central Library, Latinx artists shared their work and experiences as Hispanic artists. This artistic event, curated by the Mezcla Collective, includes various pieces from Hispanic artists with ties to the Yakima area. It showcases the unique life experiences and cultural influences of the artists.
Rosie Saldana, one of the artists, shared her feelings about the pop-up gallery. “The Latino community, we have specific style, specific things that relate to our culture and our people that we like to display,” she said.
Esmeralda Vasquez, another artist featured in the gallery, praised all the different styles of art displayed, ranging from canvas paintings to fabric art.
“All of us have completely different styles and we wanted to just showcase the hard work that goes into being a self-taught artist and also just an aspiring artist, emerging artists around the valley,” Vasquez said.
The gallery highlights the vibrant colors and cultural narratives embraced by the artists. With many people visiting the library throughout the day, artists like Saldana and Vasquez are thrilled to gain more exposure for their pieces. Some visitors even purchase art they cannot resist taking home.
“When we were setting up today, I was putting my piece up and a little girl really loved it,” said Vasquez. “Her mom bought it for her. So, I sold my piece today just to a little girl. It was so cute. So that meant a lot to me.”
The pop-up gallery’s aim is to highlight Hispanic artists who devote their lives to their passion. By showcasing their culture, the gallery provides insight into the individuals behind the brush.
One participant noted that people often associate artwork with big cities, but there’s a plethora of art throughout the Yakima Valley.
“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, artwork, that’s big city, Seattle or New York,’ but we have so much talent in the Valley Yakima area,” said Saldana. “I just hope people can see that and respect it like we’re hustling out here, you know, trying to make a living and also be artists and do what we love.”
