This article by Felipe Perez originated from Sol del Valle, and has been translated for our English readers.
The healing powers of art and education converged in the Valley last Friday, Dec. 13. This unique blend created a stage for courageous young people who emerged as warriors of words and brushes at The Art Base in Basalt.
For the seventh consecutive year, The Art Base opened its doors to this exhibit, “Home: Art Across Borders / Un hogar: Arte a través de las fronteras,” providing a space for Basalt High School (BHS) students to share the stories of their long journeys from their countries of origin. The goal of this exhibition is to spotlight a communal voice of Latino youth through art and cultural leadership.
The first thing that stood out was a room filled with young artists — migrants from Latin America — alongside their families and teachers. Their works, displayed on the walls, elevated them to the status of creators. Dr. Leticia Ingram, a teacher at BHS, is the pioneer of the project, which began as an initiative in 2017. She opened the door, and has worked tirelessly over the years, to give visibility to the Hispanic community — which often has to navigate the borders of solitude, a second language and adapting to a new culture.
Local artist and the artistic mentor of the project, Gabriela Mejía, dedicated herself to help shape this initiative. She worked to “ground” ideas, extract profound emotions and translate them into color, space and themes for the artworks.
“It was an honor for me. The students faced challenges, and we wanted to make them visible,” Mejía shared. She has been a key figure, leading this project through all its stages with dedication and effort.
Barbara Glass, president of The Art Base’s board of directors, began by thanking its staff and the exhibition sponsors who made the project possible by providing resources and infrastructure.
The young artists were also supported by their English teacher, Rebekah Julian, who incorporated the project into her curriculum. Julian’s support was significant, as she included this project in her teaching, helping students learn English through art, visual expression and writing development.
BHS Assistant Principal Jesús Ríos was among the attendees. Committed to student events and educational causes, Ríos remarked, “Your identity matters. Adapting to a new culture doesn’t mean giving up your own. They are here for a purpose. No one comes here without reason.”
At the heart of the project: the students. Johana Berenice Rivera Lemus, originally from El Salvador, created a work filled with symbolism.
“My piece is about my journey to the United States … it was something that marked my life,” she said. “The symbols in my work represent the things I saw in the desert … I wanted to show how I felt, the emotions that haunted me, as well as the things that represent my country,” Rivera continued. She was accompanied by her parents.
María Fernanda Vargas Medina,
originally from Mexico, presented a piece full of contrasts. She explained, “I wanted to represent the different things that describe us as a country … I feel proud of myself for moving forward despite adversity.”
Sofía Mejía contributed a beautiful portrait. She explained that it represents herself, using colors that speak of solitude, hope and strength.
These are just a few examples of the many works created by students, including Ademary Cuevas, Nohemey Amaya Romero, Daniel Perez, Nancy Melissa Chical Tocay, Merlin Santos Romero, Marbelin Erazo Osorto, Fátima Villarreal Bermejo, Selvin Isai Romero, Madison Ramos, Melvin Fabricio Trejos Granado and Sergio. This year, some of these works will be available for purchase.
The Art Base invites you to join the journey taken by BHS students. “A Home: Art Across Borders” will be open to the public until Jan. 7. If you wish to experience the strength and sensitivity conveyed through portraits, drawings, three-dimensional works, suitcases filled with artifacts and symbols, collections of details related to Mexico and Central America, wonderful murals and vibrant collages, you can visit The Art Base at 174 Midland Ave in Basalt, Tuesday through Friday, from 11am. to 5pm.
