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Chicago Tribune
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora exhibit celebrates the joy of Mexican toys
The Santori Public Library in downtown Aurora is offering visitors a chance to relive their childhood as well as celebrate Mexican art and culture with the 'Behind Every Toy, There is a Story' exhibit in the library's atrium through May 30. The exhibit consists of a paper mache tree showcasing Mexican toys, culled painstakingly by Chicago resident Maria Valenzuela, 54, who, according to a press release from the library, 'traveled all over Mexico in search of these toys, going to different markets and asking family to keep an eye out for rare or vintage toys.' To date, she has collected more than 140, an effort that she said 'began during COVID up through now.' 'I travel and go to the little towns there in Mexico and make connections with other artisans and I'm just going back and looking,' Valenzuela said. 'All of these are handmade. I myself come from an artistic family. My grandma worked with different materials, my father, my mother.' The toys themselves boast a wide range of materials including cardboard, plastic and aluminum as well as clay, fabric and wood. Valenzuela said it took her eight months to make the paper mache tree which measures seven feet high and four feet wide. A total of 90 toys were used in decorating it. Library Events and Program Coordinator Ali Lanthrum said that Valenzuela, who is also a child care worker, brought the exhibit to the library thanks to the efforts of another staff member, Kathy Mendoza. 'Kathy designs much of our Spanish language programming and they connected in a variety of ways including an annual Dia de los Muertos altar exhibit,' Lanthrum said. 'This artist created an altar and then reached out to us regarding this additional piece she had created celebrating Mexican history and specifically Mexican toys and asked if she could bring it in.' Mendoza said that 'of all our exhibits, this has been one of our more unique pieces because of the collection of vintage and modern pieces. I've never seen toys displayed in such a unique and fun way.' Mendoza said that during a Spanish book discussion session at the library, a student talked about one of the dolls featured on the tree. 'She talked about how these dolls were so nostalgic and how people couldn't afford a real doll and she mentioned how she had it and I mentioned we happened to have one of these dolls on display,' Mendoza said. 'She said it sounded fantastic and she had to go and check it out. There's been a sense of connection.' Lanthrum said getting the tree was also a celebration of a Mexican children's holiday known as Dia de los Ninos celebrated on April 30 and that 'this was the perfect way to celebrate children and Mexican heritage in a joyful, creative way.' She said the reaction to the exhibit, which which went up April 26, has been noticeable. 'I've seen people stop dead in their tracks looking at this exhibit. It's colorful, it's vibrant, it's a wonderful combination of new and old,' she said. 'There are some really special traditional kids' toys as well as some new ones from the Disney Pixar movie 'Coco.' It's a joy to host.' Library officials expect more than 3,000 people to view the tree before the end of the month. Lanthrum said the tree speaks to 'the joy of childhood.' 'The variety of toys – people will enjoy a sense of nostalgia from their own childhood and it will evoke curiosity about some of the toys and maybe somebody else's childhood and it's just a celebration of all that is fun and joyful about childhood,' she said. Valenzuela said the exhibit is designed to make a connection with those viewing it at the library. 'People have said, 'Oh I have this kind of toy' or they remember seeing something like it,' Valenzuela said. 'It's about creating memories. … That's my intention.'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Remarkable Women winner: Liliana Reyes
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Throughout the month of March, we highlighted Remarkable Women who are making a difference in our communities. Meet this year's winner, Liliana Marquez. She's an artist, and the President of Hispanic Heritage Odessa. 'I have a passion for the community. I have a passion for volunteering. I started volunteering through a client and she was like, 'hey, what are you doing Saturday?' And from that moment on, I felt that love to do that volunteer work,' Reyes said. Liliana said through Hispanic Heritage Odessa, she's worked to help others, and keep tradition alive. 'Try to keep our culture alive through the whole year, Cinco de Mayo, 16 de Septiembre, the parade, Dia de los Muertos. So, to me it's not only, it's an art to be able to communicate with people. It's very easy for me to wake up in the mornings and what I want to do is I want to live the best life each day,' she said. She said it's all about getting the next generation involved. 'I want to push my younger generation to also be leaders in the community and take the steps that we need to take to make this our better community for our children, for my grandchildren, and for everybody that lives in this community in the Odessa, Midland, West Texas area,' she said. While Reyes continues her work, she had a message for any aspiring remarkable woman. 'We all can be anything and everything and the sky is the limit. Dreams do come true.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
