New exhibit for Hispanic Heritage Month highlights Hispanic community in Waco

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – It’s officially Hispanic Heritage Month and people around the world are celebrating, especially in Waco, where the Hispanic community is a major part of the city’s identity.

Two local artists are helping to share that rich history with an exhibition at Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum Complex this month.

While wandering around the exhibition called Vida A Color, you also come across clues about Spanish culture.

The first half of the exhibition consists of vibrant paintings by artist Ines Alvidres, which she says show one of her favorite aspects of Spanish culture.

“One of the main elements from my culture that I like to incorporate into my work is color,” Alvidres said.

The other half of this exhibition is a community ofrenda. Eric Linares, the artist behind the exhibition, says that in Spanish culture, ofrendas are about commemorating those who have passed away.

“The community ofrenda was the idea of creating a space where our entire community could celebrate, so people could bring photos and gifts of their loved ones,” Linares explains.

This is the fourth year they have teamed up with the Mayborn Museum to create a special exhibit for Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Vida means life, color means color, so we’re actually bringing those two together and blending them… a celebration of life, vida a color,” Alvidres said.

But when visiting such exhibits, many people fail to realize the deep history of the Hispanic community in Waco.

Linares said they have existed since the city’s founding and have helped the city grow and develop over the years.

“There’s such a rich, traditional history of families and cultures that have just come here, that have struggled, that have created their own heritage in Waco, Texas. And then of course there are all these other families that have come to different parts of Waco,” Linares shared, “and you get to go out into Waco today and see the beauty of our culture, the beauty of our communities, and how much we’ve given to Waco.”

And the way to keep Spanish culture alive is to share it with the rest of society.

“Bring people in, get involved, let them see our music, let them taste our food, let them be a part of what makes us special… and share it and see how much of an impact it makes in the city we call home,” Linares said.

So, as you attend and see all the events held as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, be sure to take the time to appreciate Hispanic culture and understand its importance in Waco.