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The Gallery
An Infusion of cultures: Jose Galvez makes an impact BY N’SAUN GENTRY From the constant knocking of neighborhood doorbells for treats to celebrating the dead, the month of October is a month filled with tradition. Every year students and faculty gather around to celebrate LatinX heritage, most importantly known as Dia de los Muertos. Where in the last week of October, the downtown area is closed and reserved for those celebrating and participating in the many festivities. “Día De Los Muertos to me is a way to get reminisce and get back in touch with people close to me and my family who have passed away. It’s a way to celebrate their lives and make sure they’re doing okay where they’ve past on to,” Giselle Santos, senior, clarified. Pulitzer Prize winning artist Jose Galvez is a part of this movement, showcasing the Latinx community’s contributions to society. His most recent work on Hispanic heritage has been put on display in the Durham School of the Arts atrium. This is a place where everyone can view the masterpiece. Every idea starts from somewhere, for Mr. Galvez his journey from coming to North Carolina and studying the different aspects of Latinx life has provided a new perspec-
tive for audiences. “When we first moved to North Carolina, now a little over 15 years ago, we were struck by the wide presence of the Latino community, especially in small towns. They were working in the fields of tobacco, strawberries, Christmas trees and in construction and landscaping. We did a little digging around and realized that they had a tremendous economic impact in these small towns and to some extent in the bigger cities of NC,” Jose Galvez, artist, said. The potraits in the atrium display the hardships and accomPHOTO BY N’SAUN GENTRY plishments of their various communities Galvez’s line of work has spanned over a decade. The importance of Latinx life along with their along with statistics of impact on society doesn’t get the attention that it deserves, but this exhibit will raise awareness their population growth about Latinx culture. over the years since Mr.
Galvez has began working on his studies for his artwork. Even though North Carolina is the main state being targeted due to Galvez’s personal experiences, he showcases their impact that translates to the country as a whole. “I want people to come away from the exhibit recognizing that we are all more similar than we are different. Latinx people are workers, students, store owners, they go to church, buy homes, have their children play in the parks. We all want the same things for our children, for our communities. And we all want to be treated with respect,” Galvez, artist, commented. PHOTO BY N’SAUN GENTRY Many teachers around the Jose Galvez’s lifetime of work is on display in the atrium, leaving his art for everyone school are also in favor of the to see. Galvez is the first ever Hispanic Pulitzer Prize winner, which puts extra emphasis movement as they are head and meaning to his work. facilitators of clubs or pro-
grams that give students of color a voice to speak out about a cause that is bigger than themselves. “I think that as a social studies teacher I have been looking for many ways to be more inclusive about people of North Carolina and from our indigeneous population and to like African American voices to LatinX voices. They are often just missing from the curriculum so to me [the exhibit] symbolizes a whole population that is not only a growing part of our media community, this missing piece to who we are in North Carolina state history,” Mrs. Mace, 8th grade teacher, concluded.
Answers to the riddles a. starting b. footsteps c. piano