MAC visitors were able to view the Caminos exhibit for the first time during a colorful reception on July 7.
A woman in festive clothing, posing with one of the art pieces.
Exhibit historian Dr. Alex Saragoza with curator Nancy Marquez.
A historical photo from the archives of the Merced County Historical Society.
The traveling “Caminos” exhibition has arrived at the Multicultural Arts Center (MAC), thanks to the Merced County Arts Council, the Arte Americas art center in Fresno, local community groups and leaders.
The exhibt at the MAC in downtown Merced will be on show through Dec. 23, and will include a three-part series of talks in August, September and October.
A festive reception was held last Friday, July 7, with local guests treated to live music from Mariachi Oro California, as well as cultural dances, cuisine and presentations by supporters.
Caminos (the Spanish word for paths or roads) is an exhibition created with the goal of showing and memorializing more than 250 years of Latino history in the Central Valley, from 1772 to current times. Visitors are able to explore a wealth of history, a beautiful array of photos, and items of cultural significance from across the centuries.
The exhibit traces the caminos of Latinos — from the explorations of the Spanish, to the Mexican period of Alta California, to the transformation of the valley in the Early American period. It follows the growth of Mexican immigration in the 20th century, boosted by the Mexican Revolution (1910 -1920) and the Bracero Program (1942 – 1964). In the second half of the last century, the growing social movement from the fields to the colleges established paths of attainment for the community, despite some setbacks that tested its resilience.
“The exhibit and its occasional programs highlight Latino history that is now braided into Valley history and relevant for everyone,” said MAC Director Colton Dennis.
Notably, the series will feature a number of Sunday “platicas” (Spanish word for talks or presentations) given by Dr. Alex Saragoza, the historian behind the Caminos project. They are scheduled as follows:
- An overview of Caminos – Sunday, Aug. 27, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This presentation will consider the key questions and major themes that frame the content of the exhibition.
- “Those Who Came Al Norte” – Sunday, Sept. 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This talk will delve into the formative building of Mexican communities in the valley at the turn of the 20th century. This is described in the exhibit as a “period marked by the perseverance and fortitude of those who came ‘al norte’ in the first large wave of migration from Mexico, and era also marked by nativism, racism, and enduring inequities.”
- “Progress and Struggle” – Sunday, Oct. 29, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The contemporary era in light of the sources of the diverse character of the Mexican origin population.
“I want to emphasize these talks, because I will be giving them a special Merced flavor,” Saragoza told the Times. “I try very hard, particularly in the text and in the talks, to talk about the multicultural aspect of the story. In other words, we can’t tell the story of the Mexican community here, without understanding the intersections that occurred all over their historical arc. … That is why I need to explain what happened to the Native Americans, African Americans, Japanese, Chinese, and other immigrants that came into contact with the Mexican community. The bottom line is that this story is about workers who came to work, and over time were able to start business, become lawyers, doctors, and whatever. You can’t tell this story without talking about the story of labor here in the Central Valley.”
Saragoza added: “This is just the tip of the iceberg. I can’t tell you how much we have to leave out of the exhibit because the community has been so great with giving us stuff to put on the walls and tell our story.”
The MAC is located at 645 W. Main Street in Merced. The galleries are free and open to the public Wednesday trough Friday, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Call (209) 388-1090. Or visit online at: artsmerced.org.