Viva la Vida — A Celebration of Life and Community

Friday, June 4th to Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Viva la Vida – A Celebration of Life & Community is a large group exhibition curated by Jenny Mendez, Director of Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery and Chairperson of the Guild of Latino Fine Arts (Azteca de Grater Kansas City). The show opens with a celebration on Friday, June 4, 6-10pm at la Esquina, 1000 West 25th Street, featuring music, performance, food, and drink. It features many dozens of artworks of far-ranging media, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, textile-based and mixed media pieces, all of which represent responses to and interpretations of the exhibition’s title. Many works reflect participating artists’ connections to the Latino community in Kansas City and elsewhere.

Featured artists include Rodolfo Marron, Juan Moya, Jessica Manco, John Hernandez, Miriam Feingold, Israel Garcia, Adolfo Martinez, Alisha Gambino, Arzie Umali, Jason Sierra, Thomas Woodward, Dominic Murillo, Robert Tapley Bustamante, Sammy Persons, Darwin Arevalo, Luke Rocha, Susan Moveno, Elaina Wendt Michalski, Anthony Oropeza, Monique Salazar and many others.

The exhibition runs through July 10, with hours Thursdays & Saturdays, 12-5pm.

Additional events: June 18, 7pm: Chicano Film Night, with feature film La Vida Loca. The evening includes “Best Dressed Chola Contest.” $5 donation covers one drink and all you can eat popcorn. Other snacks and drinks will also be available.

June 30, 5:30: Viva la Vida Artist/Curator Talk.

Read full press release.

Read front page June 27 Kansas City Star Sunday Arts feature by Alice Thorson, “Latino Artists Celebrate Culture and Community at la Esquina and All Around Town.”

Read front page June 27 Kansas City Star Sunday Arts feature by Alice Thorson, “Recognition Flows in for Adolfo Martinez.”

For photos of the event, check out our flickr.