VINYL VOICES with Cucucuy as the Music Guest at Casa de Cultura
About this Event
Have you ever wanted to be part of a live podcast audience? Here's your chance.
Join us at Casa de Cultura for a special evening as Vinyl Voices takes over the gallery for a live podcast taping, set among the Luz y Sombra, music photography exhibition by Violeta Alvarez.
For this episode, Vinyl Voices hosts Gladys Fuentes and Jesse Sendejas sit down with photographer Violeta Alvarez of Space Taking Artist Residency for a conversation about her photography career and life behind the lens.
The mics stay open for a live acoustic set featuring Cucucuy, who will perform and share the stories behind their original music. Cucucuy is a fusion of cumbia, rock, salsa, afrocuban, and world music from Houston Texas with members from all over. Spooky riffs, burning guitar solos, and soul-sacrificing percussion. You don't want to miss this performance.
This is an intimate gathering with limited seating, offering a rare opportunity to experience live storytelling, music, and photography all in one space. Reserve your spot and join us for an unforgettable evening of conversation, creativity, and connection.
Experience
- We invite all guests to leave a handwritten reflection directly on the gallery walls, adding your voice to the growing collective Living Archive.
- Stop by the digital photo booth and snap a selfie portrait.
- Limited-Edition music prints from Violeta Alvarez's archive will be available for purchase.
- Experience the community-built archive installation bringing together objects, photographs, sound, and living materials that explore memory and identity.
Music Guest Performance TBA.
About the Exhibition
Luz y Sombra is a solo photography exhibition by Violeta Alvarez, presenting a curated selection of music photography from her early work with Justice Records to her ongoing documentation of artists across genres. First picking up a camera as a teenage music fan in the late 1980s, Alvarez forged her own path in the industry at a time when women of color were rarely represented behind the lens. Her work goes beyond music history, reflecting cultural identity, visibility, and representation. Her first solo exhibition since 2019. Luz y Sombra on view through August 1, 2026.
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
About Vinyl Voices
Vinyl Voices is a Houston-based bilingual music podcast in its third season, created by Jon Denman and Jason Esparza of Hell N High Water Productions and hosted by Houston Press music writers Jesse Sendejas and Gladys Fuentes alongside bilingual co-host Nayeli Plata. Sylvia Benavidez rounds out the roster of contributors and has worked on both sides of the camera for the podcast. The show has spotlighted local Houston artists alongside national and international acts and streams on YouTube and Spotify.
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 AM
Doors Open/Check-In
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🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:45 PM
Luz y Sombra Exhibition Open Gallery
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🕑: 07:45 PM - 08:00 PM
Welcome/Words from the Resident Artist
🕑: 08:00 PM - 08:45 PM
Podcast Intro
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🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:45 PM
Browse la Casa de Cultura
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
