Artist Andie Arana Gomez organized 'Cuentos del Centro,' an art exhibition at the Indianapolis Public Library's Central Library featuring paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works by Henry A. Garcia, Leyda Melgar, and Oscar Toloza. The opening reception on May 9 includes music by El Marimbaso and David Avila, with performances by Ballet Folklorico Mosaicos and Maconda. The show runs through May 30.
The exhibition aims to increase appreciation for Central American cultures, which Arana Gomez says are often overshadowed by Mexican culture in the U.S. The artworks do not focus overtly on heritage but are informed by cultural influences. The show highlights the diversity of Central American nations—Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Panama—and underscores the importance of local community arts programming.