New London Cultural Center Inspires Young Artists Through Latino Programming

Photo courtesy of Expressiones Cultural Center
By Taran Lucker
CTLatinoNews.com

Understanding the role art can play in the overall development of a child, Guido Garaycochea wanted to make sure the children in New London’s growing Latino community had a place where they could express themselves artistically and creatively .

To ensure these children would be exposed to their art and culture, Peruvian born artist Garaycochea established Expressiones in 2009 with co-founder Jose Ulloa, who is from Chile and serves on the administrative side of the center as director. They began bringing in artists from across Latin America, giving Latino children a chance to connect with their heritage as well as introducing non-Latinos to the richness of Latino arts and culture.

For Garaycochea, the burgeoning Latino presence in the city was an ideal place for Expressiones. Over the past decade, New London has become increasing Latino, with the Hispanic population growing nearly ten percent since 2000, according to U.S. Census data. As of 2010, Latinos made up more than a quarter of New London’s population with 7,815 residents in the city of 27,620.

The center’s goal is to build multi-cultural bridges through art and education. Garaycochea, Ulloa, and the artists-in-residence spent 400 hours last year with 240 children, teaching and watching them develop their artistic abilities through techniques like watercolors, collage, abstract art, and creating sculptures using recycled materials.

Garaycochea, who moved to the United States in 2003, has earned numerous artistic honors over the years and also founded the Expressiones Virtual Gallery in Chile in 2000.

In New London, he has is glad the center is able to offer many opportunities for children to develop their artistic ability, including a four-week summer art camp and a weekly art workshop that is free of charge to the community.

Primarily, Garaycochea’s goal is to give children a chance to experience art in a new way.

Expressiones has partnered with the Drop In Learning Center, St. Mary’s School, New London Youth Affairs Teen Center, St. James Episcopal Church, and the New London Public Library, to enhance their work with Latino children to help them express their cultural heritage and experiences through art.

Due to budget constraints, Expressiones was unable to host enough gallery openings last year, which prevented about half of its students from showing their work to the public. However, with full support from the Palmer Fund this year, all children will have the opportunity to showcase their artwork.
The increased funding will allow Expressiones to make two field trips to El Museo del Barrio in New York City this year, offering its students the added opportunity to examine works of art inspired by Latin culture.
Expressiones also welcomes non-Latino children to learn more about the diverse Latin culture Garaycochea said is often homogenized and not adequately represented.
The misconception that Latin culture is the same across all ethnicities is an element that “plays a very important part in the inspiration of my pieces,” he said
The daily progress Garaycochea sees in his students only fuels his passion to keep Expressiones running for the community. He remembered a particular child who was reluctant to participate during his first few days at the center and lacked confidence in his artistic ability and creativity.
“He was scared of the blank page; he didn’t know what to do; he didn’t know how to draw anything,” Garaycochea said.
He didn’t notice a change until the day that artist-in-residence Santos Arzu Oioto taught the class about a technique that involved dripping paint onto paper. That was when Garaycochea saw that the light bulb had turned on, and in that moment the student was inspired.
“The student just came alive,” he said. “He suddenly had a clear vision; he was fearless in the way that he was creating, unhindered by the need to represent something. He was free to express himself.”
Although the program has been an arduous learning experience at times, Garaycochea said that the sense of pride he feels when a child completes a work of art is the ultimate reward.