Cranston Arts Commission Opening Exhibit For Hispanic Heritage Month

CRANSTON, RI — Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Hispanic Americans in various fields such as art, music, politics, education, and more.

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the U.S. celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, and Cranston will also be celebrating. To celebrate, the Cranston Arts Commission will showcase the paintings of renowned Dominican visual artist José Sejo. His personal exhibition titled "Ancestral Forms" will be featured, along with other exciting performances.

Sejo was born in San José de Ocoa, Dominican Republic, in 1960. He studied plastic arts at the National School of Fine Arts, Santo Domingo, and the Faculty of Arts of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo.

He has participated in several workshops, among which stand out: serigraphy, ceramics, restoration of altarpieces and sculptures, creativity workshop course, and design and illustration of children's texts.

Sejo is a Dominican College of Plastic Artists member. He belongs to the International Association of Plastic Artists, affiliated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. He is classified as an artist of the generation of the '80s and has received awards in numerous art competitions.

The commission said Nilton Cárdenas, an artist, curator, and member of the local arts commission, was instrumental in bringing this exhibition to fruition. He said the arts can foster connections and understanding between cultures by showcasing their traditions and customs.

This exhibit will be on view from Oct. 4 to 31. An opening reception will be held at the Cranston Central Library in the James T. Giles Community Room Gallery from 4:45 to 7:45 p.m. Oct. 11.

The exhibit will also have the folkloric dance group of the Center for the Arts and Culture of the Americas present as part of this celebration, as well as Andean instrumental music from Omar Clavijo. There will also be a Peruvian snack, specially prepared by the Sharks Peruvian Cuisine restaurant in Central Falls.

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