Sedona Arts Center presents the return of ¡Qué Hermoso!, an exhibition that explores and celebrates Latino cultural identity and traditions.

More than 50 artworks by Arizona artists Tato Caraveo, Emily Costello, Cha Gutiérrez, Zarco Guerrero, Lucinda Hinojos, Annie Lopez and Gretchen Lopez highlight histories, familism, forgotten stories and rich personal and collective experiences. The variation of artistic mediums on exhibit — paintings, drawings, prints, photography, mixed-media and sculpture — parallels the diversity of our state’s Latino community.

Playful and serious, bold and subdued, the artworks enhance the viewer’s understanding of their connection to the fabric of American art and life.

¡Qué Hermoso! debuted last summer and was one of our most popular exhibitions resonating with visitors near and far. It is one example of the many ways Sedona Arts Center is expanding programming to ensure diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusivity. Arizona has close cultural ties to Mexico and our state’s Latino populations have shaped its more than 400-year legacy of Hispanic Heritage through music, architecture, food, language and art. An exhibition honoring the cultural contributions of this underrecognized community was necessary and long overdue.

It is a pleasure to amplify these talents and voices and encourage creative growth and expression. Collectively, the artists’ distinct perspectives reveal the beauty, diversity, complexity and resiliency of the Latino community and how it shapes our world. Many of the artworks comment on social injustice and racial inequality and all instill pride, unify community and inspire action. Reoccurring themes like family, nature, duality, aspirations or struggles speak to each viewer and deepen cultural connections and shared legacies for national and international visitors to the Center and, of course, Sedona residents.

Let’s meet our artists!

• The humorous yet dark artworks of Tato Caraveo are influenced by his affinity for surrealism, the artists around him and music. His colorful murals can be found throughout Phoenix, a showcase of his enduring passion and talent.
• Emily Costello is a self-taught painter, printer and mixed media artist. Her art is inspired by her Mexican heritage — its cultural icons and imagery — as well as events that have shaped her life.
• Sculptor, mask maker and performance artist Zarco Guerrero has dedicated his artistic endeavors to create positive social change through the arts. He is instrumental in the development of Latino arts statewide.
• Cha Gutiérrez blends expressive and colorful portraiture with elements of nature, dream-like imagery and personal narratives. She is inspired by the strength and beauty of her subjects, and often focuses on female stories of vulnerability and persistence.
• Lucinda Hinojos is influenced stylistically and thematically by Chicano, Indigenous art and spirituality. She embodies the aesthetic and ideals of Chicano Culture and Native issues and sets it in a contemporary context creating a dialect between art and society.
• The cyanotype photography of Annie Lopez reflects her imagination, personal experiences and family history as a fourth-generation Phoenician. Gretchen Lopez is a descendant of the first Spanish settlers and the California rancheros, with roots stemming from the Chumash and Apache. Her work is inspired by this rich ethnic heritage.

¡Qué Hermoso! opens with an artists’ reception Wednesday, June 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., held in conjunction with Celebrate Sedona. The afternoon features artist demonstrations, food, wine, beer and music by the Andrés Martínez Trío. Both events are free and open to the public.

The exhibition is on view in the special in the Special Exhibitions Gallery through June 28.

For more information, visit sedonartscenter.org.

See you soon!

Julie A. Richard

CEO, Sedona Arts Center