News Releases
Up to News/Calendar | Media | News Release Archives


O'Kane Gallery

UH-Downtown O'Kane Gallery Hosts Pride of the Southside Exhibit

Artists Vincent Valdez and Alex Rubio collaborate to portray the barrio culture of San Antonio, Texas

(Houston, Texas, March 12, 2007) Artists Vincent Valdez and Alex Rubio have collaborated to produce Pride of the Southside, an exhibit at the UH-Downtown O'Kane Gallery, March 22 through April 26, which offers a cogent statement about life and culture in San Antonio's Southside barrio.  The exhibit depicts the Southside's people, activities, culture, and concerns, as well as the personal experiences of the artists, both of whom grew up there.  A form of the exhibit will be shown at the Museo Alameda-Smithsonian.

Alex Rubio came from the projects in San Antonio, Texas.  He was an avid producer of graffiti, which he describes as "large-scale spray paint images" placed on the walls of his housing project.  He came to the attention of the San Antonio Community Cultural Arts Organization which recruited and trained him.

Rubio has been winning awards and scholarships since 1987 and has made a career in the art world, teaching and producing art.  His work is prompted by a desire to document and preserve the culture of the barrio. 

"I utilize iconic images in an effort to preserve the cultural bond that connects and promotes inter-generational dialogue within and beyond our Chicano communities," Rubio says.

Vincent Valdez began drawing and creating murals when he was young.  He gave his first exhibit in 1999, before finishing his formal art training at the Rhode Island School of Design.  He has been active ever since, often focusing upon larger-than-life depictions of physical conflict as metaphor for social challenges and inner reflection.   His  paintings in the "Pride of the Southside" series work toward "deciphering an interesting and distinct community" where the modern world is in collision with the traditional. Valdez has been exhibited nationally and internationally.  For a preview of Valdez's work, refer to the portrait of Alex Rubio in this announcement.

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-DOWNTOWN
UH-Downtown is a public university of nearly 12,000 students, offering a wide variety of bachelor’s degrees, as well as master’s programs in criminal justice, professional writing, security management and teaching. One of four distinct universities in the UH System, Houston’s Downtown University is nationally recognized for its student diversity, wireless campus, outstanding academic opportunities and productive community partnerships. At UHD, the emphasis is on excellence in teaching and student success.

Please use UH-Downtown, UHD or University of Houston-Downtown when referring to our university.