'La guerrera' card, created by Quetzalli Camelia Alvarez, a student at Ernest Righetti High student, depicts a woman with brown hair in braids, gold-tone earrings and a colorful headband. He skin appears to have cracks on her forhead and jawline.
'La guerrera' card created by Quetzalli Camelia Alvarez, a student at Ernest Righetti High student. Credit: Quetzalli Camelia Alvarez
'La Canasta' card by Santa Maria High student Jassmin Y. Lopez-Gaspar, portrrays two musicians with instruments in a brown basket.
‘La Canasta’ card by Santa Maria High student Jassmin Y. Lopez-Gaspar. Credit: Jassmin Y. Lopez-Gaspar

Community members are invited to celebrate the voices and artistic talents of some 300 local students at a gallery event, 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 2 at the Fountain Pavilion, Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg.

The Cultural and Creative Arts Center of the Santa Maria Valley, also known as Corazón del Pueblo, in collaboration with the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD), will host the program to spotlight hundreds of local students who participated in this year’s Nuestra Loteria program.

The event will feature student speakers, live Loteria games with prizes, and refreshments.

Nuestra Loteria was developed in 2021 by Corazon del Pueblo, local SMJUHSD teachers, and local Disney artist Ruben Espinoza, to help students critically analyze the traditional game of Loteria and develop their own Loteria cards as paintings.

The program helps students highlight issues that are important to them through art. It is anchored in the notions of social justice, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. This year more than 300 students participated and will be featured in the gallery.

The Cultural and Creative Arts Center of Santa Maria Valley promotes creative expression in the performing, visual and literary arts, preserving the heritages that make multicultural futures powerful.