A new exhibition titled “From Their Hands to Ours” has opened at MACLA’s downtown San Jose gallery, running from December 5 through March 8. The show is a collaboration between MACLA and the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, co-curated by Alyssarhaye Graciano and Olivia Esparza. It features works by artists rafa esparza, Estefania Ajcip, Miguel Arzabe, Edra Soto, and Arleene Correa Valencia, with a notable installation by rafa esparza that includes an adobe floor made from mud, straw, and manure, incorporating the artist’s own shoes. Each piece explores themes of identity, place, and ancestral heritage, drawing on traditions such as Chicano adobe-making, Puerto Rican fences, and Bolivian textile art.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the importance of cultural heritage and intergenerational knowledge in contemporary art, bringing together multiple artists whose work reflects personal and collective histories. The collaboration between MACLA and Montalvo Arts Center also underscores the role of local arts institutions in fostering community engagement and dialogue around identity and tradition. The show offers free admission, making it accessible to a broad audience in San Jose.