“When I asked Jorge, who has been a PAUSEr since 2024, for an idea for the theme or title of this year’s exhibit to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, he shared “American Voices and Images.” Then, when I taught my last art session at NOVA’s AAPI Intercultural Center, I traced students’ body outlines on the walls and invited the students to fill them in with words, colors, shapes, etc. One student, Ignacio, added the words “I Am Art” all around his shape. I asked him if I could share his art and his words. He agreed. Then I put the two ideas together, and got the title.” ~ Sush
October 2026 - December 2026
Festival Latinoamericano
Oct 3, 2026, 5 - 9 pm
I thought of curating exhibits at Arlington County’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month after we opened the Studio’s Columbia Pike location. Arlington Mill Community Center is 2 blocks away and I was now curating Community Art Exhibits. Could I take the creations of our Latino communities to Festival Latinoamericano? Yes we could! Check out last year’s exhibit here.
Also, last year I got to design the new poster and commissioned artist David Ramos to paint what Hispanic Heritage means to him, as a Latino. He made this painting, Rejoice in Nature, because “every part of Hispanic heritage,” he said, “is connected to nature. The varied landscapes grow our food, the birds inspire our music, and the colors are in our traditional dresses.”
As usual we will have 2 sections to our exhibit: One of the creative work of the Studio’s Latino communities and the Second, the art taught by Bolivian American artist and art teacher, Girasol (Sol) O’Neill, at Carlin Springs Elementary School for Hispanic Heritage Month. Sol has been part of the Studio since he was 16 and now is teaching at the school he went to as a child.
Join us for an evening of fun and learning!
After this event the exhibit will be installed at Studio PAUSE on Columbia Pike and will be on view till the end of the year. We will have a Community PAUSE at the studio date TBD. Stay tuned!
Thursday PAUSE:
Flower-Making PAUSE:
Honoring the rich culture and resiliency of the Latino community with Yessenia Arias
Date: October 8, 2026
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Day of the Dead is about honoring and celebrating the lives of loved ones lost. It is a holiday most well known to be celebrated in Mexico, but is also celebrated across other Latin American countries, like Bolivia, where my family is from. Decorating altars with food and colorful flowers and other decorations is part of the many traditions.
Please join us in a flower making pause in which we will be making paper flowers together to celebrate life. We are honoring the rich culture and resiliency of the Latino community as well to close out Hispanic Heritage Month.
