In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, UIW unveiled the "Cultural Threads" art exhibit in the Kelso Art Center on Friday, Sept. 13. This exhibit showcases and celebrates the diverse identities of the University's community and highlights how shared experiences at UIW weave us together, even beyond cultural backgrounds.

This is the first time the "Cultural Threads" art exhibition has been hosted at UIW. In addition to local artists, UIW students, faculty and staff members were invited to contribute pieces to be displayed. The exhibition showcases an array of art pieces including Guatemalan, Peruvian and Mexican textiles such as huipiles, Argentinian ponchos, a Mexican machete, Huichol yarn paintings and jewelry from various countries.

Claudia Cruz Hidrogo, Kelso Art Center gallery director and Hispanic Heritage Month committee member, helped to organize this event by recruiting artists to contribute artworks, coordinating the collection of pieces and recruiting UIW students to assist in the exhibit installation. It was an effort she was proud to be part of.

"The Hispanic identity is extremely important to UIW, especially as a Hispanic Serving Institute," shared Hidrogo. "The whole purpose behind this exhibit is to recognize the various identities that come together to make up the University. It is often the Mexican identity that is being referred to, but there are many more cultures that participate in Hispanic Heritage Month, and I felt like we really needed to make sure that they were not forgotten."

The exhibit shined a light on the idea that what divides us is far less important than what brings us together. Like the various threads that make up a greater tapestry, UIW's diverse community members come together to make up "One Word," where everyone's individual contributions are celebrated as part of the bigger picture.

"We all decided to come to UIW, whether that be for school, work or both, and we are all connected through our shared cultural identity of what it is to be Hispanic or Latine members of the UIW family," said Hidrogo.

As visitors explored the "Cultural Threads" exhibit at the unveiling, they not only admired the vibrant artworks but also engaged in meaningful conversations about their own cultural identities and shared experiences, expressing appreciation for the representation of various Hispanic cultures. This celebration of diversity serves as a reminder of the richness that different backgrounds bring to the UIW community.

The "Cultural Threads" art exhibition can be viewed in the Kelso Art Center until Thursday, Oct. 17.

Learn about more upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month events here.

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