A popular exhibition tracing the rich history of the Central Valley’s Latino community will continue through the summer.
Arte Americas in downtown Fresno has extended the run of “Caminos” through Aug. 31. The historical exhibit includes first-person narratives, photographs, posters, maps, and other visuals documenting the Latino experience in the Valley from 1772 through the present.
“It’s important for us to know about the challenges and the contributions that have been made by immigrants to the Central Valley,” said Lilia Chavez, interim executive director for Arte Americas.
The exhibit revisits little-known facts, including a “fiesta” organized by the local branch of the KKK in the 1920s at the Fresno Fairgrounds. It notes the event took place “in the same year the Mexican community celebrated their own ‘Fiesta Patrias.'”
The “Caminos” project resulted from more than two years of development. The work was led by historian Alex Saragoza, a native of Madera and now professor emeritus at UC Berkeley. Students from Fresno State assisted with research.
Arte Americas is open Thursday through Sunday and there is no charge for admission. The cultural center is located at 1630 Van Ness Ave.
Watch the video to learn more about the unique, local stories told through the “Caminos” exhibit.
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