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A colorful, futuristic three-dimensional display of flowers and animals reminiscent of a traditional ofrenda greets visitors to La Casita Cultural Center. Flowers, hanging water droplets and outlines of butterflies adorn a table at the center’s entrance.

“(The art) is all connected. It’s not just pictures on the wall,” said Tere Paniagua, executive director of the Office of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community.

On Friday, the center hosted “Futurismo Latino: Cultural Memory and Imagined Worlds,” an art exhibition featuring works from artists Cayetano Valenzuela and Zeke Peña. The local art exhibition at La Casita showcases the work of Chicano artists, or people with Mexican heritage born in the United states, and local Syracuse children in celebration of Latine Heritage Month.

The gallery contains art that reimagines the future of Chicano people, as well as their connection to Earth’s resources through complex paintings, illustrations and 3D pieces, Paniagua said.

Valenzuela, who grew up in Syracuse, owns Black Rabbit Studio and tells stories through his oil and acrylic paintings. In addition to painting, he is an illustrator and comic book artist. Over the summer, Valenzuela worked at La Casita and created art pieces with children from Syracuse that are featured in the exhibit.

“Cayetano (Valenzuela) is very passionate about using art as a way to imagine all of the possible futures that could exist in which Chicano and Latino individuals are centered in the narrative of the future,” said Bryce Preston, the office and communications coordinator for OCEHC.

One of Valenzuela’s pieces features a starry purple night sky with accents of magenta and fuschia. The main characters of the piece appear to be astronauts who have just touched down from outer space. The illustration gives a glimpse into the future where the next generation takes center stage.

Hailing from El Paso, Texas, Peña mainly creates cartoon-like art that focuses on themes scuh as self-reflection, politics and human rights, Paniagua said. Peña’s work in the exhibit is from his comic set “Funkterra.” This set of comics highlights the importance of the El Paso del Norte region of Texas and the river that runs through it, the Rio Grande. Like Valenzuela, Peña’s art includes themes of the future and what it might look like, Preston said.

Pena’s illustration is filled with detailed linework and a colorful backdrop. The human subject in one of his illustrations is depicted in a desert filled with sharp cacti. The character is pictured with his head in a history book while actively thinking about the present.

Sidney Mejia, program coordinator and member of the Dominican Student Association, found similarities between her own Dominican culture and the Chicano art showcased in “Futurismo Latino.”

“Latino representation is important — even if it’s not my particular culture,” Mejia said. “(Valenzuela’s work) shows representation of Black and Brown bodies in the future.”

The exhibit is just one of many events taking place at SU this month for Latine Heritage Month.
The Center for International Services will host Latine Game Night on Sept. 28 and Fiesta Latina will be held in Goldstein Auditorium at the Schine Student Center on Oct. 6.

From youth summer programs to community discussions, La Casita aims to address the problems and needs of the local community. Throughout the year, the center provides music, dance and art education programming to children in Syracuse.

“The intention (is) to engage with the community and bring something positive,” Paniagua said.
“(La Casita works to) bring together the Latino communities of Syracuse University and the region.”

Published on September 19, 2023 at 10:51 pm