The Río Mio Project: virtual homage to the Rio Grande – LAST DAY TO BID

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LAREDO, TX – The Río Mío Project, a virtual exhibit of river-themed art and photographs, has gone live at bit.ly/riomio2020. The auction for individual pieces continues through October 22. Auction proceeds benefit the Río Grande International Study Center, the Laredo non-profit that for 26 years has championed the protection of the Río Grande, its watershed, and its diverse wildlife ecosystems.

The exhibit of original art, photography, linoleum block cuts, shadow box, textiles, and prints gives narrative to an important and timely homage to the beauty and life-giving waters of the Rio Grande — timely in the face of the looming specter of a border wall.

Linda LaMantia, event co-chair, whose art is part of the exhibit, said, “I’m so impressed with the artists who have come together to acknowledge and celebrate the Rio Grande. I hope those who see the exhibit and participate in the auction enjoy it as much as we have putting the Rio Mio Project together.”

“The Rio Grande River is a border, but more than that is a river that provides our biggest need for survival: water,” she added. “For those of us lucky enough to live on the border, we know the importance, the strength, and the majesty of the Rio Grande that impacts us and our ecological system.”

This exhibit of touching tributes to el Río Bravo de Norte can also be viewed Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Laredo Center for the Arts at 500 San Agustín Avenue. More than 50 artists, many from Laredo and others who have ties to the city and the river have donated their work for auction. The exhibit is curated by Laredo Center for the Arts director Rosie Santos and the LC4A staff.

Among the local artists who are the heart of the Río Mío Project are:
Maru Alexander Portillo
Samantha Cigarroa
Ana Karen Escamilla
Patty Goldberg
Armando Hinojosa
Francisco Mendoza
Patricia Orduña
Leticia Reyes
Sandra Silva
George J. Altgelt
Ferch De Haro
Sandra Esparza
Janice Gonzalez
Linda LaMantia
Pedro Morales
Blanca A. Peña
Melissa Rendon
Hilda Zavala
Christina Castillon
Raul Delgado
Pancho Farias
Jesse Herrera
Armando X. López
Arturo Nochebuena
Nancy Poinsot
Cuate Santos
Cristina Zorilla Speer
Marisa Cigarroa
Jessica Diez Barroso
Debbie Goldberg
Marisa Heymach
Julio A. Mendez
Joe Olivares
Bruno Rendon
Andy Segovia

Out of town artists include:
Miki Rodriguez, San Antonio
Janet Krueger, Encinal
John L. Dromgoole, Austin
Eric Avery, San Ygnacio
Anne Vela, San Antonio
César A. Martinez, San Antonio
Luis Guerra, Austin
José Toro Martinez, San Antonio
Ben Masters, Austin
Mary Quiros, Fayetteville, TX
Amado M. Peña Jr., Santa Fe, NM
Laurie Mann Beck, Austin

The Río Mío Project is co-chaired by LaMantia, Gabriela “Maita” Fernandez, and Alyssa Cigarroa.

Planning for the exhibit began in March 2020 with a core committee of Fernandez, Cigarroa, LaMantia, Maru Portillo Alexander, María Eugenia “Meg” Guerra, Melissa R. Cigarroa, and Tricia Cortez.

Co-chair Cigarroa noted, “In Laredo, our art and culture have been shaped by the River that shapes our border. Art has the power to impact culture, to influence communities, and move individuals to action. The mighty Rio Grande is a beautiful symbol of our rich history, always flowing forward and bringing life along the way.”

Fernandez called the experience of working with artists who create in diverse mediums “inspiring.” She added, “To pull together to one place this much art about the river and its vital importance to all of us has been rewarding,“ she said.

For further information on the Río Mío Project exhibit and auction, call Manuel Juarez at (956) 718-1063.

Virtual Auction (Oct 15-22): bit.ly/riomio2020

Photos of Artwork: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bcPwtQDUmQhtd4H6I5O90JFh-8Xqv5aq?usp=sharing

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