Con Sangre y Corazón: Portrait of Our Community at Casa de Cultura
About this Event
Opening Reception
Con Sangre y Corazón: Portrait of Our Community
A solo exhibition by Violeta Alvarez.
Join us at Casa de Cultura for the opening night of Con Sangre y Corazón, a solo exhibition by Violeta Alvarez.
About Con Sangre y Corazón exhibit:
Born from multiple open-call portrait sessions held during her residency, the exhibition centers community members with roots tied to Mesoamerica. Her work reflects cultural identity, memory, and history, humanizing the community and celebrating the diversity within it.
Con Sangre y Corazón invites visitors to witness, celebrate, and participate in an evolving archive of stories, memories, and cultural pride. More than an exhibition, it is a gathering space where art, history, and community come together.
The exhibition brings together Native Soul, Aquí Estoy (I'm Here), Trenzas: Woven with Pride and Resistance, Danza: Guardians of Ancestral Tradition, Aquí Estamos, and selected works from Violeta's archive. Together, these bodies of work form a collective portrait of the community, centering their presence, strength, and the ways they continue to shape the world around them.
About Casa de Cultura
Casa de Cultura is Violeta Alvarez's Space Taking Artist Residency, a deeply personal project exploring cultural identity, heritage, and memory. Inspired by her mother's journey from Mexico to the United States, the project honors the strength, sacrifices, and ancestral roots of communities native to Mesoamerica. Through personal visual stories and community participation, the residency shapes an archive where reflection, connection, and visibility take root in response to narratives that have tried to erase and diminish presence.
Casa de Cultura is a project as part of the Space Taking Artist Residency program, powered by Fresh Arts, running July through August 2026
Evening Program:
Chicano Boulevard
Celebrating, preserving, and educating through Chicano culture. DJs Mr. Simmer Down & Firme Funk keep the dance floor moving with the sounds that have packed dance floors in our community for generations. Chicano Boulevard sets the scene with a curated classic car display just outside the gallery doors and provides the summer night vibes on the turntables throughout the night.
The Experience
Guests are invited to become part of the installation itself:
• Become part of the growing Living Archive, make your mark and add your own handwritten reflection note directly to the gallery walls.
• Experience the community-built archive installation bringing together objects, photographs, sound, and living materials that explore memory and identity rooted in native Mesoamerican heritage
• Take a selfie in our photo booth and create a personalized piece of the experience to take home with you.
Collect the Work Browse and purchase limited-edition music exhibition prints from Luz y Sombra by Violeta Alvarez.
Community Donation Bin
Visitors are invited to support our community by donating food and essential household items.
Most-needed items include:
Dry beans and rice • Canned tuna or chicken • Peanut butter • Soups and cereal • Pasta and pasta sauce • Baby food and formula • Toilet paper
Every donation helps provide essential resources to individuals and families in need. Thank you for your generosity and support.
Casa de Cultura: The Living Archive by Violeta Alvarez
Space Taking Artist Residency Powered by Fresh Arts
Winter Street Studios #C105 • Sawyer Yards • Houston, TX
Agenda
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Doors Open/Check-In
Info: Check in at the front desk and grab yourself a refreshment before heading into Casa de Cultura.
🕑: 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM
"Con Sangre y Corazón" Exhibition Walk-Through
Info: "Con Sangre y Corazón" invites visitors to witness, celebrate and participate in an evolving archive of stories, memories and cultural pride. More than an exhibition, it is a gathering space where art, history and community come together.
🕑: 08:30 PM - 08:45 PM
Welcome/Words from the Artists
Info: Hear from Violeta Alvarez about what inspired this exhibition.
🕑: 08:45 PM - 10:00 PM
Browse Casa de Cultura & Connect with Community
Info: Immerse yourself in the living archive of Photographer and Artist in Residence, Violeta Alvarez and connect with other creatives and art lovers.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
