SANTA PAULA, CA – The 19th De Colores Art Show, a celebration of Latino culture, heritage and iconography, will premiere at the Santa Paula Art Museum on Saturday, October 27 with an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres catered by La Cabaña will be served, and musical entertainment will be provided by the beautiful “Angels on Harp”. Admission is $10.00 for all guests. Students are always admitted free.

The De Colores Art Show was established in 1995 by Santa Paula artist and activist Xavier Montes. Montes resigned as curator of the show last year, but not before appointing highly esteemed local artist Andrea Vargas-Mendoza as his successor. Vargas-Mendoza understands the tremendous meaning of and potential for De Colores, saying that she is “glad to share new artists and textural surprises in the exhibit this year. With paintings by Ricardo Ortega, Antonio Pelayo and Briana Bainbridge, among 30 other accomplished artists working in a variety of mediums, the show speaks nostaligically of home and history.”

The nineteenth show illustrates the long history and many layers of Latino culture, including pre-Columbian iconography, environments filled with vibrant color, a search for identity and most importantly, family. Museum Executive Director Jennifer Heighton says, “De Colores has always been an extraordinary show, and the group of artworks selected this year are quite remarkable. They are diverse in subject matter, but all of the works demonstrate incredible artistic talent and each one has an important story to tell.” The exhibit runs through February 17, 2013.

Reservations for the opening reception are recommended. For more information, contact the Museum at (805) 525-5554, or email info@santapaulaartmuseum.org. The Museum is located at 117 North 10th Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060. The Museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM, and Sundays, 12 PM – 4 PM. Regular admission is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and free for Museum Members and students.