Nazifa Chowdhury inspected a beguiling array of prints, paintings, textiles, and photographs in the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation’s Galería. Chowdhury, an incoming senior at Cass Technical High School, teamed up with fellow senior Jasmine Trejo Farias of Cesar Chavez Academy High School to curate and prepare this intriguing and unusual exhibit of donated art, all for sale in a silent auction through September 3. The name of the exhibition, Mezclaro, is a blend of “Mezcla” (Spanish for mix) and “Laro” (Bengali for mix). It is a reflection of the cultural fusion of Jasmine’s Mexican heritage and Nazifa’s Bengali culture.
As Chowdhury looked around the galería, she mused, “The walls, the chairs, the lights, the design—there is art in everything.” Neither Chowdhury nor Trejo Farias consider themselves practicing or aspiring artists. But each said she engages passionately with art. “There are different ways to be involved with art,” said Trejo Farias. “Some people are made to be creative, and some are made to embrace art. If you think there are limits to art, then it’s not art,” she said. “We leave the interpretation to the viewer,” she added. The art was donated to Raymond Lozano, executive director of Mexicantown CDC.
Chowdhury and Trejo Farias had the good fortune to be guided in their internship by veteran Southwest Detroit artist and art educator Vito Valdez, whose work is found throughout Southwest Detroit and beyond. Valdez also drew on his many years of experience working at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Valdez and the interns sorted and categorized over 75 framed pieces, “ending up with a select inventory of paintings, prints, and photos—approx. 50 pieces,” said Valdez. “I suggested having the work presented thematically based on artist medium and content history. For example, one wall of ‘Old Masters’ is dedicated to original paintings and prints in their original frames from the last century.” He added, “I found the interns to be most interested and appreciative of learning how to measure, mark, and hang a framed piece for exhibition,” some of which they learned on a field trip to the Ellen Kayrod Gallery at the Hannan Senior Foundation and the DIA.
As Valdez reflected on the project, he said, “I had the honor of teaching Nazifah how to hold a hammer and properly put a nail into the wall for the first time! She was so thrilled and excited with the biggest smile, very proud of her accomplishment.”
Chowdury said that among the lessons she has learned in this project is the importance of cooperation and communication. And the art? “Art will always have a place in my heart,” she said.
William Bowles is an instructor at Wayne County Community College and Wayne State University. He was a teacher and librarian at Western International High School for 25 years.
