Texas Border Business
By Sara Reyna
The South Texas College (STC) Liberal Arts division recently joined forces with STC’s Library Services to curate a four-day conference prompting STC and the wider community to explore “youth and memory” through a humanities lens.
STC Assistant Professor of Philosophy Andrés Molina Ochoa, Ph.D., spearheaded the conference in 2020 during the peak of the global pandemic as a way for the community to deal with the challenges that quarantine presented. Originally launched on a virtual stage, Ochoa has since joined hands with various academic divisions and multi-state guest speakers to achieve this mutli-day event to the success it is today.
“The diverse art and memory sessions we hosted served as a unique platform for the community and South Texas College to explore memory’s significance through art with our focus being childhood,” Ochoa explained. “Ultimately our goal was to nurture creativity, deepen understanding and create connections within our community.”
Hosted at STC’s Pecan campus, the four-day event was filled with various engaging activities like co-led art workshops for all ages and public humanities lectures all focused on fostering critical discourse, artistic expression and recalling heartfelt memories.
“Youth participants engaged with STC’s instructors and were asked to express memories through visual arts, poetry and storytelling,” said Ochoa. “Parents were also invited to refine their artistic skills through workshops, films and expert-led lectures. We also wanted to expose families to what college is and what it can be. We wanted our participants to also understand the importance of academics and learning. Eventually, the youth will grow up and may see STC as the school suited for them.”
Art Instructor Melissa Terry highlighted the additions to this year’s conference as a two- part exhibit, one featuring art by young people between the ages of six to 18. Terry explained these additions as links to connecting with the South Texas community.
“This year, we expanded our collaborative efforts by introducing two new art exhibits focused on youth and memory. One showcased art by young artists, while the other featured professionals,” Terry explained. “Additionally, we organized a collage workshop and public humanities round table in downtown McAllen which further strengthened our ties with the community, fostering critical discussions beyond campus. I’m thrilled by the conference’s growth and excited for its ongoing evolution.”
Elsa Santivanez-Gomez, homeschool teacher, strategic events manager and mother of Easton Gomez, described the experience as a chance for her 6-year-old to express himself through art and gain confidence.
“We learned about the art and memory conference through our homeschooling network,” Santivanez-Gomez said. “As a family, we felt like this would be a good opportunity for our 6-year-old to put himself out there and gain confidence in his creativity. Witnessing others appreciate his artwork left him feeling inspired to create even more, we know this will be the first of many paintings. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of showcasing our community’s talent and allowing Easton to experience it.”
Gina Otvos, coordinator of STC Library art galleries, expressed her excitement in getting to host numerous young artists and supporting their creative efforts at STC.
“It was exciting to host the exhibit which featured works created by youth and inspired by personal memories or emotions,” Otvos expressed. “The exhibition showcased an array of ideas from local elementary, middle and high schools, including some of our dual-credit students. It was a wonderful experience to witness and unveil such a diverse display of creativity and talent that lies within the youth of our region.”
Philosophy Program Chair, Brittany Leckey, Ph.D, emphasized the importance of fostering inclusivity and ongoing dialogue for community members in hopes to create a space where everyone felt welcomed and engaged.
“It was important for us to give the community a place where they can engage in a variety of spaces that encourage dialogue about our shared experiences, like recalling memories from our childhood in a variety of forms,” Leckey said. “This event has always been multi-disciplinary, we wanted to reflect that by inviting everyone to the table with the diverse topics we covered like immigration, literature or simply having a relaxing night and watching a movie. We hope that this thoughtful connection and dialogue continues within our community.”
For more information about the exhibits hosted at STC visit, https://library.southtexascollege.edu/category/library-art-gallery/lag-future-exhibits/
