A children’s art exhibit was held Saturday in the Durango Public Library. The exhibit was called “Aquí Estamos” (Here We Are), and displayed the pottery and paint work of Hispanic children from ages of 5 through 10.
The art work is part of a larger program called Construyendo Poder (Building Power), that seeks to strengthen the mental health of Durango’s Hispanic community, a community that has long gone unnoticed by the greater population, said Sara Illsley, one of the organization’s volunteers.
“In our town, they are not really seen,” Illsley said. “They’re in the background. They make up beds and clean up people’s houses, but they are not seen. We want them to know that we see them.”
Construyendo Poder was founded in 2018 by Executive Director, Wendolyn Omaña, along with Illsley and other organizers, who decided to do something to help the people of their community, especially those who have lived their lives as caretakers but have not received much care themselves.
“A lot of these people don’t have health care, especially for mental health,” Omaña said, “and child care is expensive.”
Omaña then decided to bring therapeutic outlets to the ones who could not get it elsewhere.
“We started teaching those in our group how to do yoga,” Omaña said. “A lot of them didn’t know what yoga was. We taught them breathing exercises and how to heal their bodies and minds.”
“We started doing retreats and clinics,” Illsley adds. “Teaching yoga. Teaching massage therapy. We teach about herbs and acupuncture. We’re helping people in our community learn how to cope with stress.”
A large component of Construyendo Poder is providing therapeutic programs for the youths in the community, which includes pottery classes.
“Clay is good for calming the nervous system,” Omaña said. “A lot of our kids have a hard time at school. This helps with their confidence. They can see their art and what they’ve accomplished. It (pottery) also connects them with their Mesoamerican roots.”
“I have a lot of fun with the pottery!” said one of the program’s youths members, Kimberly Robles, 6.
“I never did anything with clay before,” said Kimberly’s father and Construyendo Poder volunteer, Ivan Robles. “I love sitting down and creating something with the kids. When you’re molding the clay, you’re bringing something to life. It doesn’t matter how pretty it is. You made it. It’s something all your own. And you share that experience with others.”
Painted Turtle Studio and Gallery in Mancos has opened its doors to the program to allow children access to a real studio.
“Painted Turtle has been so great to us,” said Gyana Gomar, the program’s pottery teacher. “They’ve gotten to learn about so many things, like what a kiln is. Being in the studio has opened their eyes to a whole new world.”
One of the program’s adult members, Veronica Galvez Zarate, smiles from ear to ear as she discusses what the retreats and clinics have done for her and her family.
“It’s been a really beautiful experience,” said Galvez Zarate. “Many of us have a lot of stress in our lives. We work so hard as Latine people. With these retreats, we feel very seen. We learn how to control our stress. We get massages and practice yoga. We learn how to meditate. We are taught about herbs and how they can prevent diseases. They also teach our children how they can handle their stress through art and other activities. I didn’t know any of this before starting.”
Galvez Zarate then added insight into how Construyendo Poder has changed her for the better.
“I used to be very shy, but now I talk all the time,” she said with a grin. “I feel different. I feel like I have more tools to get through difficult things. I know how to relax more. How to restore my body, inside and out, and continue the fight. I feel more in power than I’ve ever been, and that’s the point.”
molsen@durangoherald.com
