SAN BENITO — It’s a multi-sensory experience.
Upon entering the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, visitors are greeted by large, colorful multi-media artwork and the sounds of an accordion playing conjunto music.
On Thursday, the museum will host a Gallery Talk with Brownsville artist Cande Aguilar where the community will be able to talk to Aguilar about what inspired his artwork and different art techniques.
Aguilar describes his barrioPOP exhibit as an amalgamation sprung by characters, colors and street phenomena that represent his life immersed in popular border town culture.
Barrio and pop culture images, such as Frida Khalo, El Chavo del Ocho, Superman, and even an opossum playing an accordion can be found in Aguilar’s artwork.
Aguilar hopes his art will be able to take viewers’ imagination to a place where they will gain inspiration for anything they’re striving for or working on.
“Art is a controlled execution of a vision by a human being, which is an artist,” Aguilar explained. “Art is not for practical use. It’s not a building, a car, a piece of furniture or a heart transplant. Art is art. It’s for your imagination.”
City of San Benito Cultural Arts Director Luis Contreras describes Gallery Talks as an art appreciation initiative where artists and audiences can learn from each other.
“Gallery Talks allow the community to come in, look at artwork and understand what they’re seeing,” Contreras explained. “As the saying goes, you become an artist because you want to say something. So this is an opportunity for the public to understand what it is the artists are trying to express.”
Aguilar’s barrioPOP exhibit will be on display in the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum until Feb. 8.
IF YOU GO
WHAT — barrioPOP Gallery Talk with Cande Aguilar
WHEN — Thursday, Jan. 10, 6 to 8 p.m.
WHERE — San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, 250 E. Heywood Street
COST — Free
