What have we been doing this year? Read below!

Please help us keep serving the community by scheduling your
CO Gives donation today

Nov. 9th, 2021

CHAC Gallery has had an exciting year! We are so happy to be able to continue to serve the community after everyone has been through so much with the Covid health crises. In order for us to continue to serve our community it is important that we receive your financial support during CO Gives Dec. 7th. Donations can be scheduled today or made on Dec. 7th by clicking CO Gives CHAC or by visiting https://www.coloradogives.org/ and searching Chicano Humanities and Arts Council. Allow me to share a little bit about what CHAC Gallery has accomplished this year and how it has had a positive impact on our community.

● Adult art experiences from CHAC in 2021 = 1,400

● Youth art experiences from CHAC in 2021 = 1,300

● Online art experiences from CHAC in 2021 = 500

We began 2021 with online programming, allowing the community to have art based experiences in a safe way. To help the community be inspired to create we held art classes and cooking classes from across Latin America. United Farm workers civil rights attorney Maurice Jourdane spoke at our online Cesar Chavez Day. In addition to an in person Cinco de Mayo art show at Flourish Gallery we celebrated online with a presentation by Aztec Dancers from Mexico City. CHAC also had Sephardic traditions of the Southwest where author Kimberly Sanchez and musician Elena Klaver shared Judaic traditions of Southern Colorado and New Mexico.

One of the most transforming exhibits this year (in collaboration with Metro State University of Denver Chicano/a/x Studies, Denver American Indian Festival and Thornton Arts and Culture Center) was Nations United Bringing Communities Together (April-June) featuring Latinx and American Indian artists. “This is the first art show of its kind presented at the center,” said Thornton Arts & Culture Manager Alisa Zimmerman, “it provides Thornton residents the opportunity to see a rich range of multicultural artwork normally shown in Denver.” (Click Here news coverage)

Generations (Aug.- Oct.) was a three part exhibit (3D artists, muralist/street artists and visual artists) celebrating the rich legacy Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x artists have in Denver by bringing together artists from different generations to show together.
Hear from CHAC artist and muralist Jay Jaramillo about why your donation matters Click Here.

Our education department has also been busy! In partnership with MSU Denver Journey Through Our Heritage over the summer with Art-to-Go take home cultural art activities we created over 800 experiences for Denver Youth. CHAC artists also taught in person youth workshops; such as, paper flowers (papel picado) and painting pots at Oz Gallery and paper flower, pinatas at ArtPark in Rino, youth Day of the Dead ofrendas workshops and more.
Click Hereto hear about the education programs donations support from Board Member and CHAC Artist Toni Vigil.

Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos is one of CHAC’s favorite times of year. CHAC is among the first organizations to open a public space for the community to celebrate. We have had families coming to share this holiday with us for over 45 years. We get to see families that started with CHAC 45 years ago bringing their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to celebrate this important and sacred holiday.
This year CHAC in collaboration with Denver Public Libraries hosted a La Llorona Celebration, Sugar Skull Workshop and Tummy Tales Book Release-No Pepperonis, Just Chicarones to bring arts education programming to the community for “Recuerdos 2021” honoring Day of the Dead. (Click Here CBS news coverage)
My family has proudly been members of CHAC since I was a child. I have endless stories of visiting CHAC and feeling inspired by the pervasive creativity and talent present in Denver’s Chicanx community. I remember putting up family altars at CHAC, attending art openings, eating little biscochitos, sipping cups of juice, and I’ve always gotten many holiday gifts there for friends. CHAC shows us what it’s like to be surrounded by supportive familia and to be part of a community story. Kali Fajardo-Anstine, author of Sabrina & Corina and longtime CHAC member

CHAC has allowed me a safe place and free space to explore my roots, to navigate with integrity and imagination, to honor and celebrate my ancestors’ knowledge and wisdom. It feels like a soul family, and I am honored to be immersed in a transcendental organization for the arts and humanity. Cal Duran CHAC artist

CHAC Gallery is dedicated to our mission, being an inclusive community of creatives that are dedicated to preserving, showcasing, educating and reflecting the essence of Chicano/a/x, Latino/a/x and other multicultural/multiracial communities. We need your support to continue to serve local artists, youth and families. We strive to celebrate and create a space for Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x artists to reach the community. We cultivate an inclusive space for all people to come create, learn and celebrate.

Consider donating:

$100 receive art print from CHAC artist

$250 receive gift from tiendita (CHAC's little store)

$500 receive gift basket or art from CHAC artist (small-medium size)

$1000 receive gift basket and art from CHAC artist (small-medium size)

$1500 receive gift basket and art from CHAC artist (medium-large size)

Go to CO Gives CHAC or https://www.coloradogives.org/ and search Chicano Humanities and Arts Council to schedule a donation today.

CHAC Gallery & Cultural Center was founded in 1978 by a group of visual and performing artists. The organization was established as a place where Chicano/Latino artists were provided with a venue to explore visual and performance art and promote and preserve Chicano/Latino culture through the expression of the arts.

Sincerely,

CHAC Staff

P.S. Please check out some of our exhibits! www.chacgallery.org, https://www.facebook.com/chac.denver and instagram chac_gallery.