TRADITIONAL ATTIRE — In addition to the curated art and novels, organizers also collected traditional outfits from Latin American countries alongside explanations of their historical uses. These intricate articles of clothing are every bit as rich in history as they are beautiful.
Each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, communities all over the U.S. find unique ways to uplift and acknowledge Hispanic voices during Hispanic Heritage Month. This year, the Hispanic Heritage Network of Orange County, which works in partnership with the Orange County mayor’s administration, is using an art exhibit to do so.
This exhibit, on display Oct. 2 through Oct. 31, is located at the Orange County Administration Center at 201 S. Rosalind Ave. in Orlando, and features paintings, books and sculpture by local Hispanic artists and authors, including some from Volusia County.
Many of these works tell important stories about the artist’s culture, their personal journey navigating through maintaining identity in a different country, or culturally significant memories from their childhood.
One such artist, Anduy J. Goliat from Venezuela, was selected to feature his mixed-media piece titled Anochecer del Catatumbo (Dusk of the Catatumbo).
“Since I decided to emigrate from Venezuela five years ago, I have kept with me many memories of my trips when I was a child to different regions of Venezuela. I transmit that same joy that I maintain when remembering those moments in my artwork because there is much of which we Venezuelans should feel proud,” Goliat said.
His painting depicts the Zulian region of Maracaibo in Venezuela, and features the patron saint of the city of Maracaibo, Miss Universe 1981 Irene Saez Conde, and even the artist himself holding the Venezuelan flag and wearing a Liqui Liqui, a traditional costume of the country. Each detail, from a famous Venezuelan bridge, the Puente Sobre el Lago de Maracaibo, to the very boat the subjects are seen in to represent the country’s main export industry, fishing, is thoughtfully representative of Goliat’s home country.
“It is good that other people in a country as diverse as the United States learn about different cultures so that we can understand each other and the variety of talents and contributions that can be given to the community,” Goliat said.
Artist Michelle Irizarry was also selected to feature her piece Earthly Paradise, which depicts her as a child dancing in a jíbara dress, a traditional Puerto Rican outfit that women wore up till the mid-1900s. On her shoulder is a critically endangered Puerto Rican Amazona bird, and tropical vegetation fills up the surrounding space.
An artist at work — Michelle Irizarry of Puerto Rico was a featured artist in the exhibit. She has spent a lifetime creating pieces that both bring her joy and add educational value to her community.
“The painting represents longing for what has been lost, both from a personal perspective and from an island perspective,” Irizarry said, noting that just as she has lost her childhood innocence and the magic of growing up on the island, so too have Puerto Ricans lost so much over the centuries, and yet they persist with pride and joy.
Irizarry often depicts environmental issues or cultural motifs both as a means of educating others and as a personal mental health practice.
Though she loves the life she’s built in the continental U.S., she still misses Puerto Rico greatly.
“I feel homesick sometimes,” Irizarry said, “and it helps me just to put it on a canvas or a piece of paper.”
Sixteen-year-old Deymar Hansen can relate to that feeling. Her painting Cultural Folklore can also be seen at the exhibit and features a girl dancing while wearing a traditional Venezuelan dress with the colors of the country’s flag. Like Irizarry, the idea of home to Hansen brought back vibrant images of dancing to music as a girl in Venezuela, which is what inspired her piece.
She leapt at the opportunity to showcase her work.
“I wanted to represent my culture. That’s why I started doing these exhibits, because I feel they made me represent my community and made me remember [my heritage]. I feel part of it, I feel like I’m contributing,” Hansen said.
A celebration of Hispanic culture — The Hispanic Heritage Network of Orange County put on several events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year. Their arts and culture reception, pictured here, was one such event. They also hosted their annual youth leadership awards ceremony, several mixers and lunches, as well as a festival.
Out of 100 applicants, only 33 artists were selected for the exhibit this year, making this annual event. All the art featured is also for sale, and the collective value at the exhibit is over $48,000.
As part of the event, traditional dresses from Mexico (a Tehuana from Oaxaca), Bolivia (a dress used for Caporales dancing or Carnival) and Venezuela (a style popularized in the 1920s) were also on display, complete with plaques including information in both English and Spanish.
This was the first year that authors were featured alongside visual artists. Two tables displayed 16 books of all genres written by Latinx local authors alongside their descriptions and purchasing information.
Special Assistant to the Orange County mayor and the vice chair of the Hispanic Heritage Network of Orange County Ilia Torres was an integral organizer for the Hispanic Heritage exhibit.
“We probably take it fo granted that Hispanics have been around Florida for so long, but a lot of people do not know the culture. It’s something that we want to highlight, and they [the artists] do so through their pieces,” Torres said.
The exhibit is free to the public, and will be running until Oct. 31.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Hispanic Heritage Network partners with the Florida governor’s administration instead of the Orange County mayor’s administration.
