The latest dual-language photo exhibition (Lele, la muñeca mexicana - Lele, The Mexican Doll) by artist, journalist, and Mexican mom Yolanda Alonso of Latinos en BloNo will open
at Art Vortex Studio (101 W. Monroe St., Bloomington, IL)
on Friday, September 5 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. during Downtown Bloomington’s monthly First Friday.
The opening reception - anticipating the start of Latino/a/e/x Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) - will include opportunities to meet-and-greet with the artist, enjoy refreshments, and engage in Lele-inspired hands-on artmaking for all ages. The exhibition will end during BN Artists’ 25th Annual Art Walk (November 6-8) with a closing reception on Friday, November 7 from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Other dates to view the exhibition include Saturday, September 13 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Friday, October 3 from 5:00-8:00 p.m.; or by appointment.
From the artist:
“Lele dolls are fabric works of art. These colorful dolls are handmade and decorated by Mexican women. Creating them requires design, sewing, braiding, and embroidery skills. The women of the Otomí community have passed these skills down to the girls in their community from generation to generation as a way to preserve their culture and traditions and teach them a way to earn money.
‘Lele’ means ‘baby’ in the Hñähñu language, one of the 68 indigenous languages of Mexico.
Lele dolls wear traditional clothing similar to that worn by indigenous women in Amealco, a small town in the state of Querétaro, Mexico. The dolls represent the traditions, culture, and the roots of indigenous peoples. …
In 2018, the handmade doll from Amealco was designated Cultural Heritage of the State of Querétaro. This designation helped the doll become a cultural, artistic, and tourist icon in Mexico and around the world.
In 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government of Querétaro launched the #LelePorElMundo (#LeleAroundtheWorld) campaign. …In May 2023, one of the large Lele dolls traveled to Chicago, Illinois, as part of Mexico Week activities organized by the Mexican Consulate. …
Every Lele doll featured in the exhibition has been handmade by women from the Otomí community. Girls in this community learn how to make the dolls from an early age by following the example of their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and other female relatives.
Each doll represents a woman who has inherited a craft and transformed it into art over the years. This art form is a means of expression that keeps their stories alive as they sew vibrantly colored fabrics and ribbons characteristic of Mexican culture.”
About the artist:
“Yolanda Alonso is a Mexican mother. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communication and Journalism and a master's degree in Administration and Senior Management. Before immigrating to the United States, she worked as a journalist in Mexico for eleven years.
Yolanda is an immigrant mother of two young children. For her, teaching them about their Mexican heritage is essential. In an effort to share her culture and traditions with her children and the community, she has had the opportunity to create photo exhibitions to celebrate the Latino community in Bloomington and Normal.
Yolanda emphasizes the importance of providing opportunities and spaces where the community can come together to learn about, celebrate, and discuss culture and traditions.
To put together the Lele, la muñeca mexicana (Lele, the Mexican Doll) photo exhibition, Yolanda Alonso traveled twice to México in 2024 to visit different communities where the women create the dolls.
In April 2022, Yolanda Alonso created the Latinos en BloNo blog on Instagram and Facebook. There, she shares information, tips, and recommendations with the Latino community in Spanish. The goal is to serve as a bridge for the Latino community in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois and provide a digital tool to help them overcome the challenges of living in a place with a different language and culture.
Latinos en BloNo aims to provide the Latino community with access to information in their first language and to keep them informed about what is happening in their community. Latinos en BloNo can be found on Instagram and Facebook @latinosenblono
Also check out other Arts events in Bloomington, Exhibitions in Bloomington, Photography events in Bloomington.
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