If you would like to see, support, and engage with the local arts scene, as well as the spirit of Merced, you should take a trip downtown to the Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) for the second annual Community Spirit Exhibition.
Here, artists of all types from across Merced are able to showcase what “Home” means to them.
The show will be open through June 4, so put it on your calendar while you still can. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Additionally, the public is urged to attend an artists’ reception event on May 20, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Community Spirit Exhibition is a show that celebrates and showcases the many artists — new and established, young and mature — from our community,” says Colton Dennis, the MAC director. “This year’s theme is ‘Home,’ and our artists have many interpretations of what home means to them. When experiencing the artwork, you learn that ‘home’ means different things to different people. Come and see this show to find out what ‘home’ means to you.”
According to Katt Szyndler, the facility supervisor at the MAC, “Home is more than just a physical structure, it is a safe haven where we find comfort, family, friends, and even our pets. Our community has shown us the true meaning of home, and this exhibition is a celebration of that spirit. The exhibition will be held on the first and second floor galleries of the Multicultural Arts Center, and will include a youth section as well as newbies and advanced artists for the adult section. All the artists are local, and their statements regarding each piece will be displayed, describing how it embodies the spirit of home to them. … Join us in celebrating the spirit of home and the talented local artists who bring it to life. We look forward to seeing you there.”
CAMINOS exhibit
The MAC will be opening a Latino history exhibit titled “CAMINOS” in July and running through December.
CAMINOS follows the history of the Central Valley’s Latino-origin population since 1772, now marking 250+ years. The exhibit is a collaboration with Arte Américas, a regional art center in Fresno, and supported in Merced by local community groups and leaders.
According to MAC Director Colton Dennis, the exhibit traces the journeys of Latinos through the valley — from the explorations of the Spanish and Mexican periods 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 and the Bracero Program. 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 highlights Latino history that is now braided into Valley history, and relevant for everyone,” Dennis says.