Mexican artists visit Emerson

Volunteers with Emerson, the Bird Street Community Center, and artists from Mexico met at several events in Boston December 5-7 to collaborate on art and civic engagement. (Courtesy Photo)

Three Mexican artists last week displayed their artwork at the Iwasaki Library and visited the Bird Street Community Center in Boston to volunteer as part of an ongoing civic engagement project between the center and students from Emerson’s Communication Studies Department.

The artists, David Silvah, Nuria Bac, and Antonio Proa, presented their artwork to Donna Heiland, vice president and special assistant to President Lee Pelton, in a ceremony on December 5. In attendance were Associate Professor Gregory Payne and many of his students.

Artist David Silvah presents a painting to Donna Heiland, vice president and special assistant to President Lee Pelton, with Associate Professor Greg Payne (far left), on December 5. (Courtesy Photo)

It was the third year an artist from the group visited Emerson from Mexico as part of the Rediscover Rosarito public diplomacy project overseen by Payne. Rosarito Beach, Mexico, is located 40 miles south of San Diego, California, and is the hometown of the Mexican artists.

This year, the Rediscover Rosarito artists teamed up with Payne’s students who volunteer with Bird Street, which teaches at-risk youth to communicate without violence. The artists painted with the Bird Street students and taught techniques in a collaborative painting session at the community center.

Several of Payne’s students have worked with Bird Street students in the past year. Their work has included filming anti-violence television public service announcements.

There was also a fundraising dinner with the artists to benefit the Bird Street project during their stay; and an art exhibition of their work was held at SOWA Artists Guild in Boston.

Artists David Silvah, Antonio Proa and Nuria Bac display their work at Emerson. (Courtesy Photo)