Promoting and strengthening the artistic and cultural development of Orange County, North Carolina
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Connections Across Homelands: Una Exposición Sobre las Conexiones entre Carolina del Norte y México,
August 26, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Exhibition at Skylight Gallery in Hillsborough Celebrates Connections across Homelands, August 26-September 27, 2022
A group of North Carolina community arts organizers presents “Connections Across Homelands: Una Exposición Sobre las Conexiones entre Carolina del Norte y México,” an exhibition featuring five artists at the Skylight Gallery in Hillsborough, North Carolina, from Friday, August 26 through Tuesday, September 27, 2022, with an opening reception held during Hillsborough’s Last Fridays & the Art Walk from 6-9 p.m., Friday, August 26. Last Friday is hosted by the Hillsborough Arts Council.
The exhibition’s opening reception also features an outdoor dance performance by Ballet Folklorico Orgullo y Alma Latina dancers directed by Fabian Vargas from 6:30-7 p.m. in front of the Skylight Gallery, 102 West King Street, Hillsborough. The dance group celebrates Mexican culture and heritage, and regularly performs to both enjoy and share cultural traditions.
Hillsborough’s August 26 Last Friday & Art Walk Feature Special Theme on Arts Education
Last Fridays & the Art Walk, hosted by the Hillsborough Arts Council (HAC), occur on the last Friday of each month, March-November, in Hillsborough, NC. Last Fridays are free community events, focused around HAC’s mission of ensuring the arts, and opportunities for local artists, are accessible in Hillsborough and Northern Orange County. Monthly Last Fridays & the Art Walk feature a variety of rotating gallery exhibitions, Makers Markets, live music, dance, poetry, and more. On August 26, Last Fridays will be specially themed around Arts Education.
In addition to the dance performance and opening reception for Connection Across Homelands, the August 26 Last Friday will feature an ArtCycle Supply Drive, collaboration with the Orange County Public Library, a student performance by School of Rock Chapel Hill, a Youth Poetry Showcase, and other contributions by participating Art Walk venues.
Connections Across Homelands: Participating Artists& Programming
The exhibition and educational programming are part of a community-wide series of events celebrating Latino/x roots and connections; the exhibition builds upon “Building Bridges,” an exhibition of Latin American Artists in the Triangle, hosted by the Orange County Arts Commission at the Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough in July.
Featured artwork represents a range of topics and interests across mediums, produced by community members with connections to Mexico. Organizers include two visual artists, Cornelio Campos and Luis MacKinney; writers Martha Summerlin and Katie Bowler Young; and photographer Donn Young.
“Our goal is to include artists who each bring forward a theme for the work they present, with a goal of creating a tapestry that helps many exhibition visitors see themselves in the artwork,” said Summerlin.
“Our organizing group keeps finding ways to work on art projects together because we see firsthand how art helps us build connections and friendships,” said Katie Bowler Young. Young is the biographer of preeminent sculptor Enrique Alférez; she, Campos, and MacKinney have collaborated in a variety of ways to celebrate Alférez’s influence in the United States.
“It will be a wonderfully complex and multifaceted event perfect for summertime in Hillsborough!” said Tom Guthrie, Skylight Gallery member.
Generous support has been provided by the Orange County Arts Commission, Hillsborough Arts Council, Skylight Gallery and Artists Cooperative, Tom Stevens Gallery, and Studio 22 at the Eno Arts Mill.
Featured artists include Antonio Alanís, Cornelio Campos, Luis MacKinney, Ainara Navarro and Donn Young photographs of Enrique Alférez sculptures.
For media inquires, contact Katie Bowler Young or Donn Young 504.606.4254 donnyoung@gmail.com
