Artists Up is a collaborative effort by three funding agencies to improve and expand outreach and services to “under-represented individual artists,” in Seattle, King County and Washington state, including artists of color, ethnic minorities and artists with disabilities.
Their hope, they say on their website, is that “the needs, perspectives and experiences of these artists will be better understood.”
On Thursday, Feb. 20th, the group will host a networking event for Latino/a artists.
The organization began focusing on the Latino/a community in 2013, and has hosted three previous events for artists in all disciplines.
For Thursday, the organization has partnered with La Sala and the Día de Muertos Committee. La Sala is an initiative attempting to mobilize the Latino/a arts community of Seattle. The Día de Muertos Committee attempts to share and celebrate Mexican traditions with the Seattle community, specifically Day of the Dead.
The event will be held at Fulgencio Lazo’s studio, a local Latino artist who has had over 40 solo shows throughout the US, Mexico, Japan and France and enjoys making installations for Day of the Dead at many locations throughout Seattle.
As of the 2010 census, persons of Hispanic or Latino/a origin make up the largest minority population in Washington State at just over 10 percent of the total state population.
With works on display by other local artists Jose Orantes and Jesús Mena, and ambient music provided by local Latino/a artists, the event, curated by Jacque Larrainzar, a Mexican-born civil rights activist, is sure to be a networking hotspot.
The event’s “relaxed environment” will also include homemade tamales, tostadas de tinga and wine.
The event runs from 6-8 pm at Fulgencio Lazo Studio (at Casa Latina -317 17th Ave South, Seattle WA 98144).
Entry is free, but attendees are asked to register in advance.
More racists! Prejudging and grouping people artificially based on skin color and then actively discriminating against the