Stories from La Sala, Visual Arts

Pilar Agüero-Esparza

Artist Pilar Agüero-Esparza (IG: pilar.aguero.esparza) took over our Instagram page and shared her creative space from home and showed us a few paintings she’s been working on and the inspiration behind her work.

Did you miss her live talk? Catch the replay on our Vimeo profile MACLA San Jose.

“The skin tone palette is something that I've been working with for a little while in different capacities (..) I'm seeing even more and more the need to continue talking about race, whit skin tone I really see the connection to our relationship to each other (...)”
Pilar Agüero-Esparza

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We’re in full install mode for our new exhibitio

We’re in full install mode for our new exhibition, Breaking Bread, opening on Friday, June 2!
Breaking Bread explores the creation of safe spaces through community, and the ways through which marginalized communities seek refuge from moments of danger, destruction, and isolation. The artists’ work reimagines and recreates a world where women, children, immigrants, and refugees can thrive freely, both individually and as a community. This exhibition recognizes how this community’s physical and psychological experiences have affected their reality as well as their dreams. Featured artists include @mevaleymevale @bravocado._ @leppla.art @jcc_sculpture @tinyriot_ @hector_dionicio_mendoza @la_kristen_virgen @pfox35 !

We had an incredible group of volunteers for the a

We had an incredible group of volunteers for the auction supporting in all aspects of the event. We are so grateful for their time and for helping us make the event as successful as it was. The event would not have been as great without them.
It was special to see how well everyone came together in their roles, and to see some of our TTC members as art handlers!

Join us in welcoming MACLA’s first ever Performi

Join us in welcoming MACLA’s first ever Performing Artist in Residence (PAIR), Yosimar Reyes! As PAIR, Yosimar will curate MACLA’s performing arts programs by uplifting the work of contemporary Chicanx/Latinx artists and develop new work to be incubated, workshopped, and presented at MACLA.
Yosimar Reyes is a nationally-acclaimed poet and public speaker renowned for his powerful performances and thought-provoking messages. Born in Guerrero, Mexico, and raised in Eastside San Jose, Reyes draws inspiration from his personal experiences as an immigrant and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Reyes' talent has earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Lambda Literary Fellow and the recipient of the Undocu Poets Fellowship. He has toured and presented at university campuses across the United States, captivating audiences with his dynamic and engaging presentations.
Reyes holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, where he honed his craft and developed his unique voice.
With his inspiring words and powerful presence, Yosimar Reyes continues to be a leading voice in contemporary poetry and an important advocate for social justice.

We had so much fun with you all last night at our

We had so much fun with you all last night at our auction. We sold every single piece! We're grateful for a community supporting Latinx artists and our programming at MACLA. Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope today you're finding the special spots in your home for your beautiful new pieces. Our event would not have been as incredible as it was without our sponsors, and the best volunteer crew.

Stay tuned this week for continued recaps from the event.
📸: Pedro Arenas

Jess Gutierrez ⁠ El Pato y Mariposas, 2022, acry

Jess Gutierrez ⁠
El Pato y Mariposas, 2022, acrylic on canvas ⁠
BUY IT NOW! / RETAIL PRICE ⁠
$300 ⁠
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Jess is a graphic designer, educator, artist, and community connector. She believes everyone should have the ability and access to create and express through art and actively seeks ways that she can engage people in meaningful creative expression. They emphasize holding space and providing opportunities for BBIPOC artists, LGBTQ+ artists, and other folks of marginalized identities that are under-resourced, underrepresented, and not welcome to be their full selves in institutionalized spaces. ⁠
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The still life paintings represent items in Jess’ physical environment and, oftentimes, her home. As Gutierrez has grown older, she integrates these familiar items into her space in new ways and paints them through a lens of nostalgia. The can of El Pato is a symbol of home; El Pato y Mariposas is a reflection of the space Jess inhabits and memories that she holds. ⁠
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The 2023 MACLA Latinx Art Now! The Auction is Saturday May 20th, buy your tickets in our bio! See this piece in person! Our gallery hours are Wednesday - Friday 12-7pm, Saturday - Sunday 12-5pm, or by appointment.

Kimberly Navarrete ⁠ Las Mañanitas, 2023, oil o

Kimberly Navarrete ⁠
Las Mañanitas, 2023, oil on canvas ⁠
BUY IT NOW! / RETAIL PRICE ⁠
$300 ⁠
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Kimberly Navarrete is a first-generation student and artist born and raised in San José. They are in their 4th year at San José State University under the BFA Pictorial Art major and their work revolves around the experiences and challenges throughout their life. They use oil and acrylic paint, graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, and more. Recently they have been working more with oil to depict images of people in life doing their daily tasks to provide for their families and more specifically, the moments shared between family and coming together to celebrate accomplishments. Las Mañanitas depicts an image of Kimberly’s mom, sister, and themself celebrating their sister’s 2nd birthday. Coming from a low-income Latino immigrant family, they saw that their parents often sacrificed a lot for their families, working day and night to provide for them, so having that family time and saving up to celebrate birthdays together was a privilege.⁠
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The 2023 MACLA Latinx Art Now! The Auction is Saturday May 20th, buy your tickets in our bio! See this piece in person! Our gallery hours are Wednesday - Friday 12-7pm, Saturday - Sunday 12-5pm, or by appointment.

The MACLA Latinx Art Now! Auction is this Saturday

The MACLA Latinx Art Now! Auction is this Saturday and there's still time to get your tickets at the advance sale price before tomorrow at 3pm! We have incredible work by over 40 artists and a diverse range of mediums, sizes, price ranges, and styles. We also have our Buy It Now section with pieces that are first come first serve and available for purchase 🥳 Get your tickets at the link in our bio!

Art Credit:
Cover Artwork
Yellow Hat Vieja by Sam Rodriguez

Image 2
Tlatoani (One Who Speaks, Ruler) by Carlos Rodriguez

Image 3
Amor Sin Pasiòn No Es Amor by Alex Knowbody

Image 4
End of the Beginning by Jet Martinez
#dtsj #maclasj #cultura #arte

Alma Leppla ⁠ Apretación, 2022, charcoal and pi

Alma Leppla ⁠
Apretación, 2022, charcoal and pigment stick on paper ⁠
BUY IT NOW! / RETAIL PRICE ⁠
$350 ⁠
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Alma Leppla is a mixed-race, Cuban-American and queer multidisciplinary artist and educator whose work seeks to build community through the exploration of intersectional identities. They make art about the importance of bodily autonomy for queer and trans people. Apretación was first shown at the Berkeley Art Center in October 2022, as a part of the exhibition Holding/Ceremony. The exhibition was a reflection on process and movement as individual and collective ceremony. Through the process of making this work Alma is exploring themes of embodiment, noticing the ways the body can be our greatest teacher. Some of the works in this series were made with the artist’s own body as reference, while others were made in collaboration with models. Each work is a unique expression of the emerging feelings from that moment in time. ⁠
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The 2023 MACLA Latinx Art Now! The Auction is Saturday May 20th, buy your tickets in our bio! See this piece in person! Our gallery hours are Wednesday - Friday 12-7pm, Saturday - Sunday 12-5pm, or by appointment.

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About MACLA

MACLA is an inclusive contemporary arts space grounded in the Chicano/Latino experience that incubates new visual, literary and performance art in order to engage people in civic dialogue and community transformation.

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